What to Expect
Overview
The Bird’s and Conversation in BC’s Columbia Valley tour is a moderately paced birding tour. We focus on finding a diversity of birds. You can expect some early mornings and the occasional post-dinner walk.
Food
We generally have breakfast at the hotel before we head out for the day. Sometimes we will have optional pre-breakfast walks. We often take a picnic lunch in the field, but will occasionally stop at a restaurant for lunch. Dinner is usually at the lodge or a nearby restaurant. Each evening after dinner we compile the day’s checklist, review the day’s activities, birds, mammals and other observations, and plan the next day’s activities.
Accommodation
Generally we stay in standard hotel rooms in locations close to where we want to go birding.
Walking
The walking on this tour is rated easy to moderate. Most birding is done from roads and well-marked trails, but we occasionally traverse low brush, swampy and uneven terrain, and there is some hill hiking. We walk at a slow pace, stopping frequently to observe fauna and flora. When we have two leaders, we sometimes split into “faster” and “slower” groups.
Driving
Driving times will vary from 1 – 3.5 hours of driving when transferring to a new location. We will have many rest stops along the way when moving to a new town.
Climate
The weather in the Interior of BC is usually dry and sunny in Spring, but rain is a possibility. It is best to check the weather the week before the tour starts and pack layers!