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Located in northern Alabama, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of a diverse set of habitats which collectively provide a winter home for thousands of waterfowl and cranes every year. The refuge, consisting of 37,000 acres, is a mosaic of wetlands, pine uplands, riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and back water embayments, which supports Alabama’s largest wintering duck population. As if the hordes of geese, ducks and Sandhill Cranes were not enough of a spectacle, varying numbers of the federally-endangered Whooping Crane have been seen in the refuge every winter since 2006.

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Small travel company based in Asheville, NC, specializing in birding &amp; nature tours both locally &amp; worldwide.

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<p>Located in northern Alabama, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of a diverse set of habitats which collectively provide a winter home for thousands of waterfowl and cranes every year. The refuge, consisting of 37,000 acres, is a mosaic of wetlands, pine uplands, riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and back water embayments, which supports Alabama’s largest wintering duck population. As if the hordes of geese, ducks and Sandhill Cranes were not enough of a spectacle, varying numbers of the federally-endangered Whooping Crane have been seen in the refuge every winter since 2006.</p>

About this trip

It turned out to be a beautiful day, not too hot, and it was a small group. We saw or heard some great birds like the Canada warbler.The guide was so knowledgeable, as well as pleasant.  Thanks for a great day

Escape the Heat - Cool Birding!

Thanks so much to Kevin Burke, our guide for Southern Arizona in July. He did a fantastic job of curating a wonderful experience.

His birding skills, infectious good humor, in-depth preparation and flawless execution made it a perfect trip.

The birds are important, but the experience is much more than that. He has a real talent and mindset for understanding and delivering what the client wants.

He put us on rare birds. We made the ABA Rare Bird Alert on 3 different days. He put me on 43 life birds bringing my total for 2022 to 446 and counting.

I’ll see him again on a future trip.

Southeastern Arizona Specialties 2022

Great time birding with our small group. Clifton was great.

Birding the Craggies & Black Mountains 2022

Ventures birding is the real deal. We scheduled a half-day local trip near Asheville while friends were visiting from New York. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable.  His ability to identify nearly every bird by even a brief snippet of song made spotting them really quick.  Besides that, he’s a nice guy, easy to talk to, and fun to spend time with.  
Ventures Birding has our enthusiastic recommendations, and we look forward to more time with them!

Private Half Day Tours (2021/2022)

Fantastic! Great guides. Absolutely no complaints!
Susan P.

Iceland 2022

This was a magnificent trip!  Great leaders who were knowledgeable about the area as well as the birds.  They were respectful of the country, people and environs of Iceland which made the trip especially enjoyable.  
At the end of the 8 days on Iceland, we felt we had seen highlights of the country having circumnavigated the whole island on Highway 1.  It was lovely and perfect.  
Both guides were excellent drivers and I never felt insecure along the challenging roads.  Had all 9 of us been in the 9 passenger van, it would have been uncomfortable and unpleasant.  Since one of the group rented an additional vehicle, that major issue was alleviated.  We were all grateful for that extra vehicle!  
Iceland was awesome.  The food was great.  Accommodations were excellent.  Guides were the best.  

Simon took six of us into a lovely ascent through multiple habitats and many bird species. It must have been challenging as our group ranged from rank beginner to expert, yet we all interacted comfortably with our guide. Nice job by ventures and a great day! One highlight was our best ever looks at a singing  Swainsons Warbler on territory. 

It was a great day.Guide was very knowledgeable, pleasant, gave great tips. I learned a lot. Thanks

Beginning Birding Workshop Henderson

We had a private half day birding tour in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Arranging the tour was easy, and the price was very reasonable. Keith, our amazing tour guide, communicated multiple times with us in order to establish exactly what we wanted to see and where we wanted to go. It was very personalized. We saw and heard a lot of new birds, and learned a lot about them and the areas we were birding in. I couldn't recommend Venture and Keith more. It was the highlight of our trip.

Excellent trip! Kevin was flexible and persistent. He adjusted to the early fog so that we had good birding the entire day, and was very persistent in finding the bird that several of us were eager to see (Cerulean Warbler). He was patient with describing identification details and excellent at identifying songs and calls. It was a lovely day!

Blue Ridge Birding - May

We had an awesome time. Kevin was great and always helpful.

Dauphin Island, Alabama 2 2022

We came for the birds and the birds came for us! Really enjoyed our experience with Kevin Burke, who led us to multiple locations throughout the day in search of spring migrants. Kevin was attentive, informative, relaxed, and he made sure that we saw what he saw (or heard). And there were a lot of good ones, including Wilson's Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo. We had such a great experience that we can't wait to sign up for our next trip!

Spring Migration in Henderson County

Trip had us walking along the Green River which provided opportunities to see various warblers but even more were heard by our small group.  Kevin shared some of his favorite birding sites with us so that added to the success and enjoyment of the morning.

Green River Cove

We had a great time!! Kevin was an awesome guide and we saw many birds!!

Had a terrific time with Kevin in the Green River Gamelands! Managed to get in a fabulous assortment before the projected rain deluge began in the early afternoon. The company and leadership were first rate. I got a lifer, the Swainson’s warbler, and one of the participants got 4 lifers! Can’t wait for the next trip!

For North American birders seeking a nice way to learn about many of the warblers that pass through or nest here in the spring and summer, this tour is for you.  The guide was expert and knew where to find various special in the Asheville NC area.  We were transported in a clean safe van. Some trips required up to 30 minutes on unpaved but  maintained roads (in case that matters to you). The evening meals at local restaurants organized by the tour guide were a highlight.  I would go again.   

Warbler Weekend Spring 2022 - 2

What a perfect day.  Not many showed up possibly due to the rains that moved in, but it made for a small intimate group.  We had fabulous birds up close and personal, pre and post rain showers.  Keith did a fabulous job calling in Summer and Scarlet Tanager's, Blue Grosbeak's male and female, a Yellow Billed Cuckoo, and a Prothonotary Warbler that stayed with us during lunch.
The day could not have been better!

Spring Migration at Seven Islands State Birding Park

A good trip with a good guide and a very compatible group of birders.  Though I did not add to my life bird list, it was good to see the many found on the island.  Accommodations were very adequate and the weather cooperated.

Got to witness some amazing birds. The golden winged warbler was showing off for several minutes. Simon really knew how to get the birds around us and point them out. It was an amazing time and I look forward to the next outing.

Spring Warbler Workshop at Max Patch

Had a fantastic time exploring Dauphin Island and all the birds it had to offer. Added 31 new birds to my life list! Kevin is excellent as guide and host and I highly recommend this tour.

Simon Thompson and Johnny Wilson are very accomplished guides. They are well-connected in the birding community and knew where to god to find  the desired birds. Everyone got along well. I had a great birding experience with many lifers.

Texas; Rio Grande Valley and Hill Country 2022

Chatham County Early Migrants

My wife and I had a wonderful 6 hour local birding trip with Susan Campbell in Chatham County, NC. 57 species (!).  She's very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.  While we bird regularly in our area (which includes Chatham County), she introduced us to a new hotspot that was pretty amazing (12 warbler species).   A very worthwhile day of birding - 

This was an excellent trip:  290 species recorded and I got 42 lifters.! I must say this was not a trip for sissies.  We started early and rarely got back to the hotel before 8 or 9 o'clock.  Usually 12-14 hours of birding a day.  Bottom line: if you want go get a lot of birds  join Simon on this trip.

Simon is all you could ask for in a trip leader.  His birding abilities are unreal.  Hears the bird and then finds it.  Johnny Wilson is an excellent guide and I wouldn't hesitate to go on a trip with him as the leader.  We got 235 species and I got 116 life birds.  3 of which are so rare in US that they don't appear on any range maps.  Very empathetic to the photographers.  Always makes sure each member of the group sees the bird before moving on.  There were other tours in the area who were not getting the birds we did.  Bird Ventures is the best company for bird expeditions.  Highly recommended.

Aaron is a great leader. Very knowledgeable and so pleasant to deal with!

Spring at Sandy Mush

Aaron is an extraordinary bird guide; he is knowledgeable and he pointed out individual birds using his laser light and scope and that made the experience much more personal. He spotted quite a diverse collection of birds including those that I would not have seen on my own. The scenic Sandy Mush Gamelands is a wonderful place to spend a Spring day in nature. 

Thanks Kevin for sharing your experience and enthusiasm.  I had a wonderful time enjoying such a diversity of habitats and birds. 

Whip-poor-wills and Woodcocks  - April 2022

It was a very enjoyable and productive birding outing. Experienced guide with great skills, especially great bird sounds and song recognition and spotting.

Morse Park and Lake Lure 2022

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing!  Especially liked the small size of travelers, just eight in our group, for that gave us all the opportunity to get to know each other and learn from one another.  Kevin Burke was the Ventures guide and our local guides were Jay and Pablo, each knowledgeable, each making sure we all saw the birds and making this trip truly a fun experience.  Our accommodations were excellent, food delicious and weather couldn't have been better.  We would highly recommend this trip and we certainly look forward to another great Ventures Birding trip in the future.  Thank you all!!

Costa Rica - Quetzals, Hummingbirds, & More

It was a wonderful trip! Kevin Burke is a fantastic birder and guide and is great fun to travel with. Kevin was always helpful and flexible. The local guide was extremely knowledgeable about Costa Rica and where to find specific birds. Our driver, Pablo Jimenez, was a terrific help and also an excellent birder! 

Kevin Burke is a great trip leader. We had a beautiful afternoon and evening looking for local migrants and birds of the spring, and then an exciting culmination seeing and hearing whip-poor-wills and Woodcocks. Lifers for me! Thanks Ventures for another excellent day trip.

Whip-poor-wills and Woodcocks 2022

Ah, the Platte River Valley and  its two forks revealed its beauty on the Sunday to Sunday trip across Nebraska March 13-March 20, 2022.  Nebraska is a large diverse state with grassy prairie, farm fields, flat arid places, box buttes, the Sandhills. and two time zones, Central and Mountain.  And, of course, the Sandhill Cranes which numbered in the thouands.  Participants watched the  Cranes come to the Fort Kearney bridge across the Platte in the evening and leave the following morning from blinds along the Platte at the Crane Trust.  Many other parts of the state were highlighted and visited during the trip.

Leader Michael Plauche did an admirable job of planning and executing the trip.

I would recommend doing the trip a couple of weeks later in the month to view more of the migration as birds fly into spring. Cranes would still be visiting.          --Susan Quinn

Great Plains, Platte River, NE 2022

Had a really good time! We saw many species, particularly some early warblers, a wood duck floating peacefully down the Broad River, a lone loon, and all three nuthatches in one trip! Michael is a terrific guide, knowledgeable, fun, and easy going. Looking forward to more trips with Ventures.

Excellent experience in a new country for me and leader Simon worked extensively searching for endemic species and being so very successful!   Appreciated the difficulty identifying suitable lodging in the areas we traveled.  Local guides were effective although I was unable to coax one guide to pay more attention to his group as a leader.  

Dominican Republic 2022

Great trip, as I've come to expect from Ventures (thus the 5 stars). My only complaint was the timing, presumably to coincide with peak crane migration. We could have seen lots of cranes and dozens more birds if the trip was pushed back a few weeks. This would facilitate picking up lots of shorebirds (we had a single Greater Yellowlegs) and many more migrant passerines that pass thru Nebraska in April.

Excellent day. The weather and location was beautiful. Simon is a terrific guide with tons of experience and knowledge. Saw lots of beautiful birds. I learned a lot from the other participants as well. Lunch with Bill and Anita was an extra special treat. 

Cleveland County, NC - 2022

We had a perfect day. Warm, sunny. Kevin is a great leader. Good time birding.

Lake Conestee February 2022

Wake County Winter Hotspots

Was a really good trip, go to learn a lot about Wake Count Birding hotspots and saw some amazing birds!

This was a sensational tour.  By the end of the tour I saw a total of 173 birds, compiled 147 check lists, and got 23 lifers.  You can't do much better than that.  Kudus to Simon and Chris for a job well done.

New Mexico - Bosque del Apache, Las Vegas, and Sandia Mtns

THIS WAS A FABULOUS TRIP.  SIMON THOMPSON IS A WORLD CLASS ORNITHOLOGIST AND BIRDER.  HE GUIDED US THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF HABITATS IN NEW MEXICO AND ON PUT US ON MANY RARE AND UNIQUE BIRDS.  HIS PERSONALITY MADE FOR A VERY ENJOYABLE EVENT.  HIS TEAM, INCLUDING CHRIS, WERE SUPERB.

FOR A BIRDING EXPERIENCE, VENTURES IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST.  I WILL TRAVEL WITH THEM AGAIN.



In spite of the cold weather, Kevin made sure we all saw many different species.  It was a nice hike and well organized.

Winter Bird Hike

This trip exceeded our expectations   on all fronts. The Holiday Inn Expresses were new, roomy and clean. The hot breakfast was essential for days spent in the cold. 

Our guide Kevin was knowledgeable about the birds, the area and the restaurants. He kept us on schedule with almost no wasted time. Beyond that he was fun to be with. 

We saw 5 life birds including all the target owls that were present. 

We will recommend this trip and Ventures to our friends. 

Northern Minnesota 2022 - Owls & Winter Finches

Thanks to the knowledge, patience and persistence of the Ventures birding guides I saw 16 "lifers" in a state that I have lived in all my life.  If the birds were around we saw them.  If they were not there we tried hard.  After a full day we enjoyed a delicious meal together sharing stores of birds seen and hopes for the next day.

Northern Minnesota 2 -2022

The class was awesome. Keith’s knowledge and ability to simplify sparrows was very helpful. I hope he teaches  more birding classes in the future. 

Sparrows of the Southern Appalachians

Very helpful. I've always been terrible identifying sparrows. This presentation offered a logical way to think about the similarities and differences. Looking forward to trying it out on some live examples. 

This was an outstanding trip. We have always been amazed at the birds we see and the excellent tour guides when we go with Ventures, but this one stood out to us as one of the best. We saw a multitude of birds and many new ones to us. 
Not only were Craig and Pam knowledgeable of the area and keen at sighting birds, they were also a treasure trove of information. We feel that we learned an amazing amount from these very patient instructors who also followed up quickly after the tour with additional helpful information. We cannot say enough about our experience. It was definitely a 5* +++ trip

I had a great time. Michael Plauche is an excellent birder and guide, and is very pleasant to spend time with. Communication with him and with Ventures Birding was excellent. 

Wheeler NWR - Cranes, Waterfowl & More

Wheeler NWR - Cranes, Waterfowl & More

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