Joy of Birding
June 9–14, 2024
Description:
Have you been hoping to find a hands-on way to build upon your skills as a birder while experiencing the incredible spectacles of birdlife in coastal Maine? If so, then this session is for you! This session aims to provide a better understanding birds while expanding upon your skills in identifying by sight and by ear. Surround yourself in the splendors and nurturing land and seascapes of coastal Maine, while living on a quiet island surrounded by birds.
With a multi-talented staff to help guide you, the emphasis will focus on building upon your birding skills to enhance your joy of birding, while showing you some of the iconic coastal Maine bird life. Think puffins, terns, guillemots, warblers, Bobolinks, and more! We’ll provide engaging workshops, field trips, and programs each day, offering you a front-row -view to dynamic seabird colonies, lush summer landscapes on the mainland, and the rich and historic forests and trails that exist on Hog Island itself. We’ll spotlight: Birding by Ear, Field Trip Leadership Skills, Optimizing Optics, Using Apps for Birding, Community/Citizen Science, Birding for wellness, and more. You will take-away new birding skills and expand on those you already have – useful for wherever you go.
Join us in experiencing the transformative magic of Hog Island Camp. Absorb nature’s rich boost of relaxation, a renewed sense of wonder and discovery, while learning with new friends. It will be a joy that will last a lifetime.
Prerequisites: Please note that for these programs, there are NO prerequisites, and less experienced/enthusiastic spouses/friends are more than welcome to enroll in all sessions
Note: This session runs concurrently with Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens.
Director
- Holly Merker, Birding Guide, Author, and Educator
Instructors
- Cory Husic
- Whitney Lanfranco, Nature Sales Manager, Leica Sports Optics
- Carver Hauptman, Junior Instructor
Guest Instructors
- Lorna Gibson
- Angelika Nelson, former curator, Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics, Ohio State University
- Eric Snyder, Facilities and Operations Manager, Audubon Seabird Institute
- Rosy Tucker, Manager of Public Programs
"All mind-bogglingly wonderful! I had such a great time. I not only learned a lot, but it hit me for the first time, how much the birding leaders know: Weather, geology, geography, botany, entomology, predator-prey relationships........egad! I was frankly a little awed by being in the presence of such great leaders in the field. So impressive!" – Jan, occupational therapist, Connecticut
Pricing:
The prices listed below are per person and include meals, housing, instruction and all boat trips. Participants must arrange transportation to and from the Audubon dock in Bremen at the start and end of the session (see directions page). Check with your local Audubon chapter or bird club for scholarship opportunities.
- $1690 – Standard Room: shared room (2 twin beds), shared bathroom
- $1590 – Shared loft (women's only)
- $1890 – Puffin Room in the Crow's Nest, 2 twin beds, private 1/2 bath (dbl occupancy)
- $1990 – Single room, shared bathroom
- $1990 – Osprey Room or Blackburnian 2 twin beds, private bathroom (dbl occupancy)
- $2190 – Helm Cabin, 1 queen bed, 1 twin bed, private bathrooms (dbl occupancy)
If the program or your preferred housing option is sold out, please add your name to the wait list. There are usually a few cancellations, and the first people on the wait list are almost always able to enroll. For questions regarding the wait list status, program, registration, lodging or meals, please contact the Audubon Camp program manager at hogisland@audubon.org or (207) 360-7733. Also, some questions may have answers on our lodging and frequently asked questions pages.
All participants must agree to the Camper Guidelines - please read before registering.
Registration:
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
NOTE: Audubon reserves the right to alter itineraries, instructors and particular arrangements, or to substitute similar itineraries or arrangements, at no penalty. If Audubon cancels a session, it will issue full refunds of all deposits or payments to the paid participants.
How you can help, right now
Instructors and Staff
We have some of the most brilliant ornithologists, authors, artists, and educators as part of our staff.
Camp Sessions
Learn more about our birding and nature camp sessions for adults, teens, and families.