Astro-Birding in New Mexico
New Mexico Astro-Birding Trip with the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association
This November, journey to New Mexico to tour astronomical sites, geological wonders, and join the "Festival of Cranes." Don't miss this unique trip which has been designed as part of MMA's celebration of the Year of Science 2009 and the International Year of Astronomy. Led by Dr. Vladimir Strelnitski, MMA Director of Astronomy, and Dr. Bob Kennedy, MMA Director of Natural Sciences, participants will enjoy the experience of a once-in-a-lifetime combined "Astro-birding" trip to New Mexico, November 14-21.
The itinerary (see below) includes visits to famous astronomical sites of New Mexico:
The Very Large Array
Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory
Apache Point Astrophysical Observatory
Image of Very Large Array, courtsey Gord McKenna
Also, we will be visiting:
National Parks at Carlsbad Caverns and Whites Sands
"Festival of the Cranes" at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Travelers will begin in El Paso, TX. As the group travels through New Mexico there will be ongoing opportunities to bird with Dr. Bob and to study the gorgeous New Mexico night sky every clear night with Dr. Vladimir. Group departs on November 21 from El Paso.
For more information, or to reserve your spot, please call the MMA administrative office at 508-228-9198.
Itinerary for New Mexico Astro-Birding Trip
Image courtesy Renee Ann Wirick
Price: $1600/ppdo; $400 single supplement. Price includes accommodations, admissions, ground transportation in New Mexico (van), a welcome and farewell dinner. Airfare, daily meals and personal gratuities are not included in the price.
$500 non-refundable deposit due 15 October 2009; Balance due 1 November 2009.
Limited capacity -- Book NOW!!!
Nov 14, Saturday
Arrive in El Paso, TX, prior to 6 pm.
Check in at the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel and Water Park, which provides free shuttle service from the airport.
Welcome dinner in El Paso at 7:00 pm.
Nov 15, Sunday
7:00 am Breakfast in El Paso.
8:30 am Depart by car or mini-van for two hour drive to Guadalupe National Park, for birding at several locations within the park, including Manzanita Springs at Frijole Ranch and along McKittrick Canyon Road. Picnic lunch in the Park. This will be our introduction to the wildlife and natural beauty of western Texas/southeastern New Mexico.
Late afternoon arrival in Carlsbad, NM where we will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express. Dinner on your own.
Nov 16, Monday
7:00 am Breakfast.
8:30 am depart for Carlsbad Caverns (30 minute drive). We will explore the cave through self-guided tours of the Big Room and Natural Entrance and through a guided tour (10 am) of King’s Palace.
Late (1 pm) lunch in the vicinity of Carlsbad Caverns.
Afternoon birding along Walnut Canyon Desert Drive inside Carlsbad Caverns National Park or visit to Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park.
Return to Holiday Inn Express for Happy Hour. Dinner on your own.
After dinner: Constellation tour (weather permitting). This tour starts a brief course “Introduction to Astronomy Under the Live Sky” that will be taught to the group by Dr. Vladimir during the trip. The course will include some elements of Celestial Navigation.
Nov. 17, Tuesday
7:00 am Breakfast.
8:30 am drive to Alamogordo (3-4 hours) with scenic stops along the way. Lunch in Alamogordo and then check into the Hampton Inn in Alamogordo.
Afternoon: visit White Sands National Monument - the largest pure gypsum dune field in the world. We will take Dunes Drive and stop to walk some of the more accessible trails to see the unique birds and habitats of this area. We will have a picnic dinner at White Sands and stay to watch the sunset (5:01 pm) and view and study the stars and planets as they appear in the evening sky.
Night in Alamogordo at the Hampton Inn.
Image courtesy Jesse Davila
Nov. 18, Wednesday
7:00 am Breakfast. Check out of the Hampton Inn and drive to Sunspot, NM, near Alamogordo, visiting the Apache Point Observatory and the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, both inside the Lincoln National Forest. A guided tour of the Solar Observatory and possible guided tour (or Dr. Vladimir’s comments) at the Apache Point Observatory.
Late lunch and then leisurely drive through the New Mexico countryside to Socorro, NM, stopping occasionally to look for birds and to enjoy the unique desert surroundings. Evening in Socorro at the Best Western Inn. Dinner on your own.
After dinner: Viewing and studying stars with Dr. Vladimir (weather permitting).
Nov 19, Thursday
7:00 am Breakfast. Morning drive 50 miles west of Socorro to the Very Large Array – one of the world’s largest radio interferometers whose “view sharpness” is equivalent to a huge single telescope, 22 miles across. Self-guided tour of the (excellently organized) Visitor’s Center and the Array, with Dr. Vladimir’s comments.
Lunch on way back to Socorro, in a little rustic restaurant in Magdalena.
We will then stop by the hotel for a short rest and around 3 pm we will head to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to view one of the great bird spectacles on the planet, the Festival of the Cranes, the fall staging of Sandhill Cranes in the shallow waters of the Rio Grande River. We will remain on the refuge until dark and return to Socorro for dinner on your own. Night in Socorro at the Best Western Inn.
Image courtesy Clare and Ben
Nov 20, Friday
Early wake-up call today and light breakfast so that we can return to the Bosque del Apache Refuge before sunrise (7:17 am) to view the departure of the Sandhill Cranes. We will spend the morning on the refuge and return to our hotel late morning for check-out. Lunch in Socorro and then take a leisurely drive to El Paso with frequent stops along the way. Arrive in El Paso late in the afternoon to check into the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel and Water Park. Happy Hour and Farewell Dinner.
Image courtesy Jim Frazier
Nov 21, Saturday
On your own. Our hotel has free shuttle service to the El Paso Airport so you can depart El Paso at your convenience.
Thanks for Joining Dr. Bob and Dr. Vladimir in this once-in-a-lifetime combined astro-birding tour of New Mexico!!!