Day 1
Arrival in Denver. Transfer to hotel and welcome dinner. Night in Denver.
Lesser Prairie-Chickens by Linda Rockwell
Day 2
Our first day of birding will start with a short drive from Denver to Loveland Pass. Here we’ll spend some time at 14,000ft searching for the beautiful White-tailed Ptarmigan, our first target bird of the trip. After lunch we’ll make our way to Walden, CO with a few birdy stops along the way. If time allows, we may visit our Greater Sage-Grouse Lek this evening to make sure we hit the right spot in the pre-dawn hours tomorrow. Night in Walden.
Day 3
It’s Greater Sage Grouse day! We’ll be leaving before dawn for the opportunity to get up close and very personal with these amazing birds as they strut their stuff! After we have our fill of Grouse, we’ll make our way towards Craig, Co. Some mountain birding and brunch will be followed by another scouting trip to the lek for the next morning. Both Dusky and Sharp-tailed Grouse will be possible before we finally make it to Craig in time for dinner. Night in Craig.
Day 4
Today, we’ll be targeting the Sharp-tailed Grouse. Most closely related to the Prairie-Chickens, we’ll have an early morning in order to catch these guys in the act at the lek! Brunch will be followed by few hours drive to Grand Junction, CO. were we’ll have a chance to do some afternoon birding and may even find our next target: Chukar! There is the possibility for owling this evening if folks are up for it. Northern Saw-Whet, Flammulated, Northern Pygmy, and Boreal Owls will all be possible. Night in Grand Junction.
Day 5
Lewis’s Woodpecker by Byrd’s Eye Photography
Today we get to sleep in, at least relative to the rest of the trip. We’ll bird the morning looking for Chukars or other local birds like Gray Vireo and Lewis’s Woodpeckers. We’ll slowly make our way south to the impressive Black Canyon where we hope to run into displaying Dusky Grouse! Night in Gunnison.
Day 6
Another early morning, this time in hopes of seeing the very local (nearly a Colorado endemic) Gunnison Sage-Grouse. Views of these dancing birds will not be as close, but still a great view of a wonderful bird. After brunch, we’ll be making the long haul to on the Kansas border with some spots along the way. Mountain Plovers will be possible in the early afternoon! Night in Holly.
Greater Sage-Grouse
Day 7
Once again we’ll be pre-dawn warriors this time doing an actual chicken chase! The highly threatened Lesser Prairie-Chicken is our target today on private property on the Southeast corner of Colorado. Our friend Fred will be taking us to see these amazing birds with an old yellow school bus acting as transportation and blind. Afterwards we’ll have a nice chuckwagon brunch at Fred’s before heading north to Wray, CO. Night in Wray.
Day 8
Our last full day of birding and our last target bird, the Greater Prairie Chicken! We’ll get to experience these amazing birds shaking their stuff at dawn before headed for a nice meal and then making our way back to Denver. If time allows we’ll have a few extra stops including a quick search for breeding McCown’s Longspurs! We’ll have a nice farewell dinner in Denver before heading to bed. Night in Denver.
Day 9
The tour concludes this morning in Denver.
Although we will typically adhere to the above itinerary, the exact schedule of the tour is liable to change depending on local conditions and of course the birds!
Trip Reports
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Photos
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Health Considerations
Colorado presents no major health hazards, however low temperatures, snow and high altitude should be taken into consideration. It is important that participants on this tour bring and use appropriate layers, sun protection whether in the form of UV protective clothing and hats, gloves and/or sunscreen. It is also vital that participants bring their own water bottles on all hikes and outings. BRANT will provide ample fresh water but we cannot provide everyone with a water bottle. Lastly, this tour will be at high elevation at times. While we do not plan on any strenuous hiking at high altitude, it is important to consult your doctor before signing up for this tour if you have any known cardiac or respiratory problems.
Climate
Temperatures in Colorado in April can be notoriously variable. On this tour we can expect the highs to typically be in the sixties with lows in the 30’s. However, temperature is variable as is our altitude throughout the tour. Be prepared for temperatures much lower and well below freezing is possible on some mornings. Showers are irregular this time of year however, late snow storms or thunderstorms are always possible.
Dress
Informal throughout. Good hiking boots are a must. Warm layers are very important.
Group Size
Maximum group size is 8 participants. We typically have 1 or 2 guides for this tour. Unlike most colorado, chicken tours, we strive to keep our groups very small so that we do not disturb birds on leks and so that everyone is afforded great looks at these wonderful birds.
Tour Pace
Most grouse are only lekking very early in the morning. We will be up several hours before dawn on most days of this trip to ensure we get a good opportunity to view our target birds. Luckily, during the later parts of the day, there is often not as much going on. We typically have a very casual late morning and afternoon period with a nice sit-down brunch. This trip also requires a LOT of driving. We will be driving several hours each day of the trip and will not stay in the same hotel for more than one night at a time. This is required if we are to see all our target species. But rest assured, unlike many other tour operators, we will not be crammed into a tiny van, instead BRANT has opted to rent more spacious SUV’s so that participants remain comfortable and have the best possible viewing opportunities. Hiking is minimal for this tour.
Food
Meals will be taken at local restaurants throughout trip. Breakfast may be limited to snacks but we will always stop for a mid-moring brunch if this is the case. We try to focus on local and organic establishments as much as possible.
Transportation
We will be traveling in large SUV’s for this tour. Unlike other tour operators we do not cram into large vans for this trip. Seating and windows on said vans make it very difficult to see some of the lekking grouse and severely detract from participants viewing experience.
Accommodations
Accommodations are in standard, 3-star hotels and lodges throughout the trip. Single occupancy is available throughout the tour for an additional charge.
Non-US Citizens
Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa to enter the United States. You can locate the nearest U.S.Embassy or Consulate here.
Before deciding to register for this tour, please read over the the following information as well as the “What To Expect” tab on this page. After you have read and understood the all important tour information please fill out the Registration Form at the bottom of this page and complete you payment under the “Payment” tab. Please note that your spot on the tour is not reserved until we have received your deposit in full. If you need help or have questions at any time feel free to contact us via email or phone.
What’s Included
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Denver, International Airport, Denver, CO), all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included. Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate. Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Travel to Point of Departure
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Gratuities
At BRANT we value our guides experience expertise and do everything we can to compensate them appropriately. We do not expect you to tip them, and they do not expect a tip (seriously, we are not offended), however if you feel as though they have gone above and beyond to help make your trip exceptional and wish to tip your guides, they would be more than happy to accept. At the end of the tour please present your tip to the lead guide at the appropriate time and he/she will make sure to distribute the tips fairly to all the guides.
Tips for hotel staff, servers, kitchen staff, local guides, drivers, and anyone else are included in the cost of the tour. We hope to eliminate any confusion for our participants by covering all tips in the cost of the tour. However, if you wish to tip above and beyond that you are more than welcome to do so.
Restrictions On Participation
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour. Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet restrictions, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour Confirmation
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour will be confirmed no later than January 16th, 2016.
Tour Cancellations
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Price Increase
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to a 10% increase of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdrawal from the tour without penalty.
Refunds, Transfers, and Cancellations
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable. BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place at least 45 days prior to tour departure date. Once a transfer has been made you will no longer be eligible for a transfer or refund of any amount at any time should you cancel again. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Registration Form
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime. If you would prefer to mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our mailing address can be found here.
Colorado – Chicken Chase Registration Form
Cost
The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
April 19th, 2016
$2,797 (+tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – $480 ($3,277 + tax Total)
Deposit Due at Registration – $700
Payment
Deposits can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a 3% discount, applied at the time of invoicing.
Make checks payable to BRANT Tours and mail them to the following address
7522 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM
87113
To pay the deposit online select your departure date below and click “Buy Now”
Trip Material
After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information packet that will include:
- Detailed tour itinerary
- Bird (or wildlife) checklist
- Study/reference sheet
- What to bring sheet
- Receipt for deposit and invoice for remaining balance owed
- Information regarding travel to and from tour departure location
- Liability Waiver
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
Liability Waiver
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR! You can return the liability waiver to us via post at anytime prior to your trip. Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health Preparations
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trip Insurance
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours,it does however, insure your investment against loss should you not be able to participate in this tour at the last minute.
