General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Crane Creek, Point Pelee, and Michigan. 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 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 & CANADA: Everyone, including US citizens, will need a valid passport, and non-US citizens may need tourist visas to enter the US.
HEALTH: Although Ontario, Michigan and Ohio present no real hazards to the visiting birdwatcher, there are several factors to be considered. Biting insects are occasionally a problem in northern Michigan and possibly elsewhere if it is a very early spring. It is best to have bug repellent along just in case. Dog ticks are present in numbers in southern Ohio; while it is unclear how effective repellent is against these ticks, they are readily visible, unlike the smaller deer ticks.
PACE OF TOUR: The tour is moderately strenuous, with rather long days, early departures, and moderate walks. Most mornings we will depart at dawn or shortly thereafter. There will be few afternoon breaks other than driving between spots. Most days we try to end our birding by 6:00 p.m., unless we do something after dinner.
As for walking, other than on the first full day, the terrain is level. At Pelee one should be prepared to walk several miles at a stretch, and at Tawas Point we may walk a few miles at a stretch, including a few hundred yards of soft sand. At Pelee there is the option of catching the tram and meeting us back at the Visitor Center. On a few occasions there will be the option of resting in the motel rather than birding. All told, however, if one has trouble walking, this tour will be difficult.
CLIMATE: The weather in the Midwest can be extremely variable in mid-May with temperatures possibly ranging from the mid 30’s (even high 20s) to the high 80’s F. There is a good probability of rain during the course of the week as various weather systems pass through and it can be windy as well.
HOTELS: We will stay at standard motels throughout.
DRESS: Dress will be informal throughout.
TRANSPORT: Transportation is by 12-passenger van or minivan, depending on the size of the group.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited 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, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, the stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS 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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario 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.
Updated: June 2009