BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:3b5e847ca746fdf6ac388ada9050bf8a CATEGORIES:Caribbean CREATED:20170802T120421 SUMMARY:Cuba DESCRIPTION:
Cuba:< /span> the very name evokes a certain mystique. To most Americans, who have been restricted from travel there for half a century, Cuba remains an enigma as big as the island itself. At 780 miles long, it is the largest i sland in the Caribbean Sea, and arguably the best preserved. While other Ca ribbean islands have been overtaken by resorts and the myriad accoutrements of tourism, much of the Cuban environment remains refreshingly intact. Ove r 20% of its landmass is officially protected. As a result, Cuba boasts the largest tracts of undisturbed rainforest, the largest unspoiled wetlands, and the largest and healthiest coral reefs in all of the Caribbean. However , hurdles remain to Americans wishing to experience the natural splendors h ere. We are pleased to offer a unique research opportunity in partnership w ith Cuban ornithologist Arturo Kirkconnell. This tour is officially license d by the U.S. government to be conducted as a research trip. This program w ill facilitate interaction with local conservationists, study of Cuban cult ure, and – of course – appreciation of Cuba’s tremendous avian resources. W e will gain experience with many of the 28 endemic species. The impossibly miniscule Bee Hummingbird – called “zunzún” by locals – is not only the sma llest bird in the world, but also the smallest warm-blooded animal! With pl umage perfectly matching the colors of the country’s flag, it’s hard to ima gine a more suitable national bird than the Cuban Trogon. Some endemics, su ch as Cuban Nightjar, Bare-legged Owl, Gray-fronted Quail-Dove, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Cuban Tody, Cuban Martin, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler, Yellow-headed Warbler and Cuban Blackbird, are thriving. Others, such as th e stunning Blue-headed Quail-Dove, the elusive Gundlach’s Hawk, Cuban Palm Crow, Fernandina’s Flicker, Giant Kingbird, and Zapata Sparrow are endanger ed – some critically so. We will also learn about the role that conservatio n of the Cuban environment plays in the lives of birds we see in the United States. Many birds that we consider “ours” actually spend only a fraction of their lives in North America. Over 280 species that breed in North Ameri ca utilize Cuban habitat to survive either their wintering or migration per iods, aiding in their return to enrich our lives each spring and summer. Ou r program will not overlook the human aspect of this unique place. Cuban cu isine, art, and music reflect the island’s Spanish roots, but – nonetheless – is heavily influenced by African, indigenous, and other cultures. The Cu ban people themselves are as warm and inviting as their tropical homeland. Join us as we explore “the real Cuba!”
Leaders: Cuban conservationist Arturo Kirkconnell strong> & Jo hn Yerger
Cost of Cuba includ es all accommodations, all meals, all transportation, and all entrance fees beginning and ending in Havana—$5795.
TO REGISTER: Print out a&n
bsp;PDF Registration Form, call us at (520) 558-2351 or <
span id="cloakd947b857dc75a7ea215be88a08fab003">This email address is being
protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Photo: B
ee Hummingbird
Photo by: John Yerger
em>