| Note: Itinerary may change order slightly to maximize opportunities to see any rare birds in the area. Sunday, May 6: Arrival The trip starts with flights into Louisville, Kentucky.
Monday, May 7: Falls of the Ohio State Park and Marengo Cave After an early breakfast, we will enjoy some early morning birding at the Falls of the Ohio State Park. We ought to be building up a good list of migrating and nesting warblers, including Tennessee and Blackpoll. With some luck, we might find a Black-throated Green Warbler. We should also start to build up our shorebird sightings and find several gull species. We should also pluck several Black Vultures from the Turkey Vultures. We should also have good looks at Chimney Swifts and Purple Martins. This is an excellent karst site with the Devonian era limestone, creating the Falls of the Ohio. This area of rapids stopped riverboat traffic during the 19th century before the dam was constructed. This area was frequented by early naturalists, like James Audubon, and continues to attract birders today. Many rarities have been seen here, and rare bird alerts are common at this site. Particularly good for gulls in the winter and migrating shorebirds in late summer/fall. In the late spring the largest colony of Black- crowned Night Herons in Kentucky occurs here, as well as other large groups of Great Egrets and other shore birds. If the water is down, the spot can be good for migrants of all sorts. Springs emerging from below the visitors’ center are responsible for occasional sightings of the Northern Cave Isopod. This site is most famous for being the largest exposed Devonian coral reef in the world. One can not avoid seeing myriads of fossil corals. Other fossils present are a variety of Brachiopods, Crinoids, Bryozoans (moss animals), Snails, Trilobites and even fragments of early fish bones. About noon, we will head towards Marengo Cave to start our discovery of caves in this cave-rich region and to learn more about cave biology. Jerry Lewis is a world recognized cave biologist, and he will be along to assure we see more cave creatures than nearly every other person in the United States. We will spend about 2 to 3 hours of the afternoon exploring Marengo Cave. Marengo Cave is well known for the beauty of the formations, but in the biological world its fame boomed during an expedition by two French zoologists in 1928. They discovered almost microscopic crustaceans living in drip pools that came to be named Jeannel’s Groundwater Seedshrimp and Jeannel’s Groundwater Copepod. Close examination of the drip pools will reveal the presence of Packard’s Cave Amphipod, a small shrimp-like animal, and the Northern Cave Isopod. On the ceiling of the cave, we should be able to find Stygian Cave Cricket and/or the Eastern Pipistrelle Bat. After our introductory cave experience, Norm and Jerry (who have mostly been good decision-makers together since their early childhood) will decide on the best way to spend the remaining part of the day finding a few good bird species. Some special species to round out the day might include American Woodcock and/or Common Nighthawk. • We will spend the night in Bedford to support good birding in the area in the morning. Tuesday, May 8: Buddha Karst Nature Preserve (and Cave) and Blue Springs Caverns • We will start the morning at nearby Buddha Karst Nature Preserve. This location offers both birding and a little cave visit. The 1 mile loop nature trail will provide us the chance to find a number of grassland species, including Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrows and more. We will also take about 10 minutes to look inside Buddha Cave (though more cave exploration can be had later in the day). • Before lunch, we will take a short drive to the Blue Springs Caverns. Here (with some luck) we will have our first chance to see both Northern Cave Crayfish and Northern Cavefish. Due to the limited size of the cave boat tour, we may have to rotate groups here. Jerry will lead the cave group and try to get folks on some of the cave creatures in the cave. Norm will stay topside and show the other part of the groups some of the birds in the area, as we enjoy a nice nature trail which meanders through fields and which features a large wooded sinkhole. • The rest of the day will be spent exploring some of the other birding spots in the area and including the Hoosier National Forest. Here we may find Scarlet Tanager, Golden- winged Warbler (maybe), Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Rose-throated Grosbeak. After rounding out the day with some birding, we will head back to Bedford for the night. Wednesday, May 9: Spring Mill State Park (and Cave) and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge • We may have time for some area birding, before being first in line (ideally) at the cave tour at Spring Mill State Park. Early tours are most likely to see Cave Fish and Cave Crayfish. The tour is sometimes not available if there has been flooding in the area. • Spring Mill State Park has a whole lot to offer for birders and for those who just like to kick back and enjoy nature. We will take some time birding at the Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve, which is the largest virgin forest tract remaining in Indiana. This area is good for species, like Pileated Woodpecker. In the towering trees, migrants like the Blackburnian Warbler are singing high in the treetops. On the other side of the natural park near the entrance to Donaldson Cave, the Red-headed Woodpecker is fairly common. Lunch at the beautiful Spring Mill Lodge will be a nice option, and just wandering around this area is relaxing and fun. Usually on the inn bird feeders are Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wren and more. • By about 1:00, we will head towards Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge for the afternoon. Habitats at Muscatatuck include lakes, marshes, fields and woodlands. The Prothonotary Warbler can be seen in riparian habitats that it prefers. We will also have a chance at some migrating shorebirds and will find numerous duck species on the lakes. Meadows will be filled with the songs of the Eastern Meadowlark, and we should find Field Sparrows, Indigo Buntings and Prairie Warblers. The woodlands here should have Nashville, Black-and-white, Kentucky, Tennessee warblers and several more good birds. • We may have a chance for a visit at Clifty Falls State Park in the late afternoon. Choices here will depend upon birding productivity and time actually spent at Muscatatuck. We will spend the night in Madison. Thursday, May 10: Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge and Cave City • We have arranged for a visit to Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in the morning, and the visit will be worth all the time we can spend here. Birding here is excellent and is a must for a few key trip species -- Henslow’s Sparrow, Cerrulean Warbler, Kentucky Warbler and more. Public access here is limited (as this location was used for military maneuvers). A number of areas are dangerous due to live ammunition hidden in the ground (and we want to stay clear of those parts of the Refuge). We will likely have a park ranger along to keep us in safe areas and to maximize good birding. We are hoping to spend 3 to 5 hours of good birding here during the trip, but we must respect all public access rules here. • Again, public access issues must be respected here (and our sometimes determined by the US military). If we cannot get in this day, we will likely move itinerary around to assure we get a visit here. • A back-up plan here is Clifty Falls State Park, but we will enjoy birding much more at Big Oaks NWR. • At about lunch time, we will head towards Cave City and Mammoth Cave National Park. • We will likely include some birding on the way (especially if we do not get into Big Oaks in the morning) and may take another stop at Creason Park and the Beargrass Nature Conserve. • We will spend the night in Cave City. Friday, May 11: Mammoth Cave National Park: Cave tours in the world’s largest cave, and great birding above ground throughout the Park. Note: Everyone in the group will need to reserve their cave tours far in advance. A large number of visitors to the Park each day guarantee the most popular and excellent tours fill up far in advance. We will support this process, but advance reservations are necessary. Please contact us, after looking at the Mammoth Cave National Park website so that we can make these reservations. We will organize birding at the Park, based upon when people are not in the cave. Jerry and Norm will lead these bird tours. That being said, the day will likely start near the historic entrance to the cave, where we can access the river bottom and old growth forest habitats. Another longer birding hike will be the 1.5 mile Cedar Sink trail (likely later in the day). There are great birding spots throughout the Park, and we will offer numerous meet up times throughout the day for 1 or 2 hour bird walks. Once cave tours are secured (and coordinated), we will develop more specific birding plans for the day. • We will likely try to organize lunch down in the Snowball Dining Room (though food quality below ground may not be the culinary highlight of the trip). Some in the group may prefer a picnic dining experience above ground. • We will spend a second night in Cave City. Saturday, May 12: Hidden River Cave (and museum), Berheim Forest and Beargrass Nature Conserve • After a little morning birding, we will have a great chance for additional cave creature viewing at Hidden River Cave. Jerry has conducted a lot of research here, and this is the location featured in the “Dirty Jobs” television show, featuring Jerry’s cave biology work. He can likely show the group a few underground wonder critters over morning visit here. We may also take some time checking out the museum here. • Likely after lunch, we will head towards the Berheim Forest on our way back to Louisville/Clarksville. This is another great birding location; here we might add a few key bird species to the trip list, including Mourning Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Wood Thrush and Swainson’s Thrush. • Based upon area trip reports, we may also try to add another visit to Creason Park in Louisville. • We will spend the night back in Indiana (across the river from Louisville in Clarksville). Sunday, May 13: Morning Birding at Beargrass Nature Conserve; Afternoon Flights Home • Some trip participants may want to rush home, but most participants will arrange for afternoon flights. • We will offer morning birding at Creason Park (Beargrass Nature Conserve). Throughout the trip, we will try to squeeze in stops here. This Louisville city park and Kentucky state nature preserve has long been viewed locally as a “migrant trap”. A visit during migration usually yields birds like the Tennessee, Magnolia or Chestnut-sided Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. • Migratory surprises are excellent here, and birding here is often filled with rewards and surprises. We will take a full morning birding until about 11:00. • If you are a wise trip participant, you will schedule your afternoon flights after 1:30 PM. This will allow you to enjoy a full morning birding at this wonderful location. Note: The trip itinerary may change to fit our ability to get access to a number of these caves and locations (primarily Big Oaks NWR). The locations described here will be covered if all access issues can be resolved. We will send out a final itinerary to the group about 60 days prior to the trip. |
| Pricing Details |
| Detailed Itinerary and Pricing |
| $1,990 for the main trip, including seven breakfasts, lodging, lodging tax, bird guide, access fees, driver, trip planning and other services for seven days and nights of birding. This is the price for 8 or more participants. Single Supplement: $300 Additional Costs: $130 to $190 will likely be your cost for additional meals at restaurants and/or for picnic lunches. You will pay your own meal tab for lunch and supper. |
| Birding & Cave Biology May 6 to 13 in 2012 |
| Golden-winged Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| Cave Salamander by Jerry Lewis |
| Pipistelle Bat by Jerry Lewis |
| Cave Crawfish by Jerry Lewis |
| Prothonotary Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| For more information or to sign up, call Charles at 888-203-7464 or Charles directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
Birding & Cave Biology in Indiana & Kentucky with Jerry & Norm Lewis |
| Red-headed Woodpecker by Bill Schmoker |
| Cave Millipede by Jerry Lewis |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Bill Schmoker |
| Indigo Bunting by Bill Schmoker |
| Brown Thrasher by Bill Schmoker |
| Cave Crawfish by Jerry Lewis |
| Prothonotary Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| Red-headed Woodpecker by Bill Schmoker |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| Golden-winged Warbler by Bill Schmoker |
| Cave Salamander by Jerry Lewis |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Bill Schmoker |
| Magnolia Warbler by Bill Schmoker |