General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Maine and New Hampshire (New England). Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure taht 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: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. Consult your nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate.
Note: US citizens should carry some sort of photo ID (such as a driver’s license) in case such identification is asked for when we go to the Roosevelt-Campobello Island International Park in New Brunswick, Canada.
HEALTH: Birdwatching in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine poses no major health hazards. Black flies, mosquitoes, and deer flies may be locally bothersome, depending on rainfall amounts.
PACE OF THE TOUR: All walking is of short to at most moderate duration, with no major climbs. Due to very early sunrises, departures will sometimes be as early as 4:30 or 5:00 am to capture peak bird activity; early departures will be balanced by afternoon siestas.
CLIMATE: The weather can vary from very warm (80s F) and humid near Portland to possibly cool and damp at the top of Mount Washington or likely cold (50s) and damp on boat trips off the Maine coast. The temperatures are usually pleasant in most places. Rain is possible anywhere, and especially likely in the White Mountains. Layered clothing and proper rain gear are essential.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We will be staying in comfortable, standard motels throughout the trip, except in Pittburgh, NH, where we might be in rustic cabins.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
TRANSPORT: Travel will be in a fifteen-passenger window van.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklist sessions, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field we ask that you smoke well away from the group (100’) and downwind. If any location where the group is gathered has a more restrictive policy than the WINGS policy, the stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information & Conditions. 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 for the tour. If you don’t have access ot the WINGS website, please ask the WINGS office to send you a copy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Maine and New Hampshire will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information 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: July 2008