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WINGS Birding Tours – Information

Georgia and South Carolina

Birding the American Civil War: Savannah to Charleston

Tour Information

Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Georgia and South Carolina. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.

ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. Consult your nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate.

PACE OF THE TOUR: Although there is one day with a somewhat long drive, this is a fairly relaxed tour. Most walking is done along roadsides or level trails, with the occasional trail in marshy grass. There are no particularly strenuous hikes on this tour, although some of the walks will be about two miles (round trip), all on level ground! Most days we depart around 6:00 or 7:00 AM and return by 5:00 PM. Much of our dining will be at established fine restaurants and some meals might take a bit longer than one experiences on most tours. Since we have two walking tours and a boat trip to Fort Sumter, along with dinner reservations, we will, at times need to keep to a schedule.

HEALTH: Birdwatching in coastal Georgia and South Carolina poses no real health hazards. 

Smoking:  Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a nonsmoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail. 

Miscellaneous: The sun can be intense in April on the coast so bring sun hat, protective clothing and a strong sunscreen essential. 

Chiggers and ticks are present in small numbers and mosquitoes might be present in some areas. Tiny sand fleas can be troublesome, though they are less obnoxious on cool, windy days; insect repellent can be helpful to ward-off these pests. We recommend bringing protective clothing and using insect repellents with a high concentration of DEET. 

CLIMATE:  Spring temperatures are in the 70s and 80s but near the coast a breeze tends to moderate the effect of the heat. Nights remain mild to warm. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, some with brief, heavy rain, are possible. If a cold front passes through it could be much cooler (lows in the 40’s, highs in the 60’s, and windy). 

ACCOMMODATIONS:  We stay in standard accommodations in the center of the cultural areas (where possible) throughout the course of the tour. 

FOOD:  Food is an element of this tour as we’ll be dining at a number of excellent restaurants in Savannah and Charleston.WINGS tours are all-inclusive, no refunds can be issued for any missed tour meals. 

Food Allergies / Requirements: We cannot guarantee that all food allergies can be accommodated at every destination. Participants with significant food allergies or special dietary requirements should bring appropriate foods with them for those times when their needs cannot be met. Announced meal times are always approximate depending on how the day unfolds. Participants who need to eat according to a fixed schedule should bring supplemental food. Please contact the WINGS office if you have any questions. 

TRANSPORTATION: We will be traveling in 12 or 15 passenger window vans or minivan, depending on the group size. Participants should be able and willing to ride in any seat in our tour vehicles.

Updated: 01 September 2022