Tour Information
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa or visa waiver. Consult your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate. U.S. citizens should bring some form of identification such as a driver’s license.
Please note that non-US citizens are required by law to carry passports/visas with them at all times. We suggest you carry these documents with you in your day pack or some place that is easily accessible (not locked in your luggage). Given our proximity to the US-Mexico border, US Border Patrol checkpoints will be encountered on the roads and foreign nationals may be required to produce passports.
PACE OF THE TOUR: A fair mix of some walking and some birding by car, as well as being on a boat for two days. The walking is all easy to moderate. Mostly on trails or dirt roads, but there will be a couple times of walking short distances on sand beaches. The length of the walking would be 1-2 miles depending on the desires of the participants. Please consider bringing motion-sickness medication if needed, or just in case.
HEALTH: North Carolina presents no real hazards to the visiting birdwatcher.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. While in the field or traveling, use of a smokeless alternative such as nicotine gum is requested. Please do not smoke at short stops while traveling. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group and leave ample time between smoking and getting back into the vehicle. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If any lodge, accommodation or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than WINGS’ policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail. The leader reserves the right to modify this policy if the situation warrants it.
CLIMATE: The climate of North Carolina is most certainly warm in late May/early June. Daytimes highs average from the mid 70s-mid 80s (22-30C), with nighttime lows dropping to the low 60s (15C). Short-sleeves and sandals are acceptable field wear for at least some of our birding outings. However we will be on the coast a bit and it can be windy so having a long-sleeve shirt may be handy at times. Certainly it can be cooler over the ocean and a light jacket for our pelagic may be needed. Rain is always a possibility and raingear with boots or shoes to keep your feet dry will possibly be needed. Be sure and bring hats and sunblock.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay at standard motels throughout the tour, and at a historical inn while in Hatteras.
FOOD: Food is North American standard with most breakfasts and dinners taken at our accommodation or in in local restaurants. Lunches will be a combination of picnic lunches and local sandwich shop visits. We hope to have a few good seafood meals, as well.
Food Allergies / Restrictions: We cannot guarantee that all food allergies can be accommodated at every destination. Participants with significant food allergies or special dietary needs should bring appropriate foods with them for those times. Tour meal times are almost always approximate. Participant who needs to eat according to a fixed schedule should carry supplemental food. Please contact the WINGS office if you have any questions.
TRANSPORTATION: We will be traveling by 12 or 15 passenger window van or minivan, depending on the group size. Participants should be able to ride in any seat in tour vehicles and are expected to change seats with others daily.
Created: 21 September 2020