The South Texas Birding Experience 2016

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All-Inclusive Bird Photography Safari June 2-6 2016

Fee includes room and board (double occupancy) and all private ranch shooting fees.

Minimum group size: 4 photographers

If you want frame-filling shots of small birds, then this is how it's done. The 2016 South Texas Birding Experience gets you up-close and personal to a diverse group of feathered friends, some of which aren't seen anywhere else in the USA, like golden-fronted woodpeckers, Harris' hawks, and green jays. Our locations are on private property, not open to the general public or individual photographers. We stay at a private game lodge, with all meals provided, including happy hour with complimentary adult beverages each evening. During the day, I'll personally assist each of the photographers with post-processing and camera techniques.

Our shooting locations feature two ranches, each of which has multiple blinds that are optimized for either morning or afternoon light. All of the blinds feature small ponds, so you'll be able to get shots of the birds as they bathe and capture their reflections. Lots of other animals frequent the properties, too, including squirrels, javelina, snakes, frogs, and lizards. The animals are accustomed to the blinds and often show up within minutes of us settling in to our positions.

I've been taking clients to these ranches since 2006 and I know that it is about as close you'll ever come to a guaranteed wildlife photography experience. I have never been in a better setup for close-ups of birds and wildlife.

Last year, our species list included 35 different birds!
Many of these species are not present in other parts of the US, including the green jays, Harris' hawk, and golden-fronted woodpeckers. You can see some of my client's images here (https://www.meetup.com/jason-odell-photo/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=26135285). We also photographed lizards, squirrels, rabbits and insects.

Recommended Gear
I recommend a 400mm lens or equivalent (300mm + 1.4x extender) on a crop-sensor DSLR or a 500mm lens or longer with a full-frame DSLR. The Nikon 80-400mm VRII lens on a DX body is an excellent option; Canon shooters might consider the 100-400mm zoom on a crop body. If you don't have a long lens in your bag, you might consider renting a lens for the week from a reputable dealer such as lensrentals.com (http://www.lensrentals.com). You'll also need a sturdy tripod and a flash (optional). You can bring a macro lens for insect/reptile photography during other parts of the day when we're not in the blinds.

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Fees and Tuition (what's included)
The tuition fee of $2499 per photographer includes:

• Shooting sessions in the private photo blinds, providing close-up access and clean backgrounds for perfect photographs of rare and unusual species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. These blinds are meticulously maintained by photographers, for photography, and offer some of the best settings for bird photography possible. These are some of the best photo blinds in all of Texas.

• "Ask me anything" tutoring every day. Camera settings, post-processing, workflow... you name it; I am there as your personal guide and tutor to ensure you nail the shots and get the most out of them. We'll have time to review and critique images and I'll work with you to answer whatever questions you may have about cameras and processing software.

• Four nights double-occupancy lodging at an air-conditioned private game lodge with Wi-Fi Internet access, where we'll be able to review photos and process our images each day.

• Home-cooked meals; including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour (this is absolutely one of the best parts of the trip). Beer, wine, and bottled water are also included. Rib night is to die for, and did I mention there would be pie?

• Transportation to and from the field shooting sites each day

What Isn't Included

• Airfare to and from McAllen (MFE)

• Transportation to and from Campos Viejos Ranch

Reserve your seat today as this trip always sells out!
Use the "I'm going" button at the top of this page to place your deposit and reserve your space. The tuition balance will be due on March 1, 2016.

Deposits are non-refundable unless the trip is cancelled by the leader. Please do not book any non-refundable travel until I confirm this workshop with you! Cancellations after April 1, 2016 are not refundable unless I can back-fill your slot with another participant.

Travel Insurance: Due to the nature of this workshop, I am unable to offer refunds after April 1st, 2016 unless I am able to back-fill your space. If you are concerned about a cancellation, I recommend purchasing trip insurance to cover the costs of the workshop in the event you are unable to attend. I recommend getting a quote from Squaremouth.com (http://www.squaremouth.com), a travel insurance broker that lets you choose a custom coverage amount and can also provide medical evacuation coverage.

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