Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Georgia and South Carolina. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Citizens of countries other than the US need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa—consult your nearest US Embassy or consulate for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate.
MAPS: Maps of Georgia and South Carolina are available on line in the Castaneda Collection of the University of Texas. Historic maps of Georgia and South Carolina during the American Civil War are also available for reference, as are nineteenth-century maps of Savannah and Charleston.
HEALTH: Birdwatching in coastal Georgia and South Carolina poses no real health hazards. The sun can be intense on the coast in April, making a hat, protective clothing, and strong sunscreen essential. Chiggers and ticks are present in small numbers, and mosquitoes might be present in some areas. Tiny sand fleas can be troublesome, though they are less obnoxious on cool, windy days; insect repellent can be helpful in warding these pests off.
CLIMATE: Spring temperatures are in the 70s and 80s F, but breezes tend to moderate the warmth near the coast. Nights remain mild to warm. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are possible. If a cold front passes through, it could be much cooler, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s F.
PACE OF THE TOUR: Although there are some long drives, this is a fairly relaxed tour. There are no particularly strenuous hikes, and most walking is done along roadsides or on level trails. On most days we’ll depart around 6:00 or 7:00 am and return by 5:00 pm.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay in standard accommodations throughout the tour.
FOOD: Both Charleston and Savannah are increasingly well known for their fine restaurants. An abundance of recent articles provide introductions to the food culture of each city: you can read on line about Charleston and about Savannah (please note that we will not necessarily be eating in the specific restaurants named in these overview articles). We make a point of indulging in very good food on this tour; most or all of our lunches will also be at nice restaurants.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any lodge, accommodation, or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than the WINGS policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information and Conditions on the WINGS website; if you do not have access to the internet, please contact the WINGS office for this information. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare.
FINAL INFORMATION: Final Information pages with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Updated: April 2010