(Fwd) Alaska birding in 1999
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Thu, 29 Oct 1998 18:35:26 -0500
It is with some trepidation that I forward this message to MDOsprey.
Normally I don't approve of commercial messages on the list. I do not know
Dan Wetzel but he was vouched for and pointed in my direction by Mark
Garland (ANS Staff Naturalist, Montgomery Chapter of MOS Member). If
you want to follow up on this message, contact Mark Garland or Dan Wetzel
OFF this list. Thanks.
Norm Saunders
MDOsprey List Owner
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 08:32:21 -0900
From: "Dan L. Wetzel" <dwetzel@alaska.net>
Send reply to: dwetzel@alaska.net
Organization: NatureAlaska Toursh
To: osprey@ari.net
Subject: [Fwd: Alaska birding in 1999]
Mr. Norm Saunders
Maryland Ornithological Society
Cylburn Mansion, Baltimore, MD
Dear Norm,
Good morning from the Yukon River Basin in Alaska, where it looks like
early winter finally may have arrived. We had 5" new snow yesterday and
was +9 at 5am. Of course, two years ago on this date it was 27-below, so
+9 looks pretty good.
Our mutual friend Mark Garland wrote Tuesday and enclosed your address.
I've been attending the Arctic Science Conference at the Int'l Arctic
Research Center Univeristy of Alaska the past few days and leaving to hear
the concluding session this afternoon. Mark and Paige were in Alaska
summer before last on their honeymoon, and we had a chance to spend
some
time together kicking around the boreal forests near my home in Fairbanks.
Mark and I come together on a regular basis at the Non-Profits in
Travel(Travel Learning Conference, TLC) in Washington each March.
Beyond our individual roles,(he with Audubon Naturalists Society and
myself with my NatureAlaska Tours) we each contribute to conference's
organizational structure. As luck would have it, we have become friends.
MOS field travel activities and NatureAlaska Tours birding - a new
connection
We have discussed the best way to make a connection between MOS'
organized field trips so the members who travel could come North to
Alaska. Mark didn't attach your phone number and a personal visit is
always a good way to start. The travel industry is full of companies,
peoples and prepackaged tours that gladly will ship you off to Alaska just
to get your money.. I don't do that, Norm.
In fact, my strength rests with my tour program: small as I lead almost
every trip, specialized and thematic, a personal connection between
myself, my guests and the natural world of Alaska. The other half is my
role, what I bring to it: my 32 years in Alaska mixing conservation,
science and wilderness travel.
My main project this winter revolves around getting everything about
NatureAlaska Tours on computer so I can, with the click of a mouse,
easily and quickly send the information. Not only does that include a
website for general inquiries, but a hard-copy portfolio so the travel
program directors, new marketing partners, have a better grasp of what I
do, when, where and why. Until that's finished, thanks for bearing with
me as I write this introduction. Those who don't know me, deserve as
much. Those who do, appreciate it.
In Alaska, we have a short window of opportunity for good nature-based
travel programs.. While general sightseeing and recreational tours
operate pretty much the same itineraries during a 90-100 day season, I try
to coordinate a more focused theme when it is best served. eg,
1) we have about three weeks of prime birding, late May till 20 June,
during the breeding and nesting season. 2) this is followed by the last 10
days of June when the birds are still vocalizing and displaying, the
flowers are first coming into bloom and large mammals are active, thus can
be found. 3)late July/early August is a prime time in the Arctic, along
the Dalton Highway between Prudhoe Bay and Fairbanks, for wildlife
viewing. 4)late August/early September for fall colors and wildlife
migrations 5)March is when I combine northern lights, northern science,
northern landscapes and northern hospitality with includes dog mushing,
skiing, world-class ice sculptures.
Mark thought my birding program would be most suited to most members of
MOS. As illustrated in my material, in my birding program, there is more
to birding than just finding rare birds. Here my eclectic and diverse
background in Alaska brings a fresh, new, and I think, most valuable,
contribution to birdwatching.
Norm, almost everything I do is in concert with an organized travel
program. Basically, the travel program directors sell the trip I
conduct. We work hand-in-hand on this to establish a personal
connection with members. After all, it is their hard-earned monies and
valuable vacation time. They are sending a lot of money to a total
stranger.
But the nature of group travel is that it is the hardest to sell and
fill trips. Because I lead almost every trip, I simply can't generate as
much cash flow as do companies who hire college kids as leaders. Or, as
one company from the midwest who brings a lot more people to Alaska than
I, rely on someone from Australia as their "Alaskan leader."
Operating with travel programs is somewhat of a live and die by the
sword. Usually we are making commitments for my very short season from
9-18 months prior to departure. Once I committ that time, that's it. And
if they don't do their job and sell the trip, I simply am out as seldom
can I at that late date find a new marketing partner.
Which is where I am now. Other than some specialized week itineraries for
the Wild Bird Society of Japan, my birding tour program is two main tours:
Birds of Alaska, May 28 - June 10, which includes Nome, Kenai and Dalton
Highwaynorthbound(Fairbanks across arctic Alaska to Prudhoe Bay.)
Followed by Dalton Highway southbound back to Fairbanks, June 11-16.
No two years are the same. Typcially, I have a birding club,
ornithological society or international nature tour company that that
sells the tours to their members. We will design an itinerary best suited
for their time, interests and monies. The travel program makes some
money, the members feel secure about what they have organized, their staff
person gets most of the trip free with large enough group, and I don't
have to do what I'm not set up to do: sell these trips to individuals.
My main Birds of Alaska Tour is the itinerary normally sold to a group.
This focuses on the three major birding breeding and nesting groups at
Nome, Kenai and the Dalton Highway. We cross the major "natural areas"
of
Alaska: Bering Sea, North Pacific and coastal forests, the Yukon River
Basin, Brooks Range and arctic coastal plain. In addition to these
wonderful and diverse natural landscapes, we'll find 20+ species of
mammals from sea otters to muskoxen, and about 150+ species of birds.
The nice fellow with great connections to a state audubon organization
hasn't gotten the job done. Last week I had one phone call from a nice
lady, and obviously the right person, in Mass. She had seen my ads with
ABA. She and a colleague within days found 14 more people and filled my
Dalton Highway trip. The fellow from audubon has had six months and not
even a single ad printed.
So, at this time and encouraged by the quick response from a devoted
group of friends from the lady in Mass, I called Mark to see if we could
generate something with MOS for part or all of my main birding tour.
Thus, you get a long letter from me. Making these joint ventures
successful depends on two things: (1) MOS has a devoted following of
travelers, and (2)we do our job getting the best information quickly and
in a manner they can work with.
If this looks like it has some possibilites for MOS, please let me know
your thoughts. We can design a birding program that works for your
members. Once the conference is done this afternoon, I am home and
buried
in the office. Hope you are enjoying great fall colors and weather. My
phone/fax is (907) 488-3746. I would be glad to call and follow up from
there. Thanks again Norm for walking through this letter. Except for my
friendship with Mark, you don't know me or what I do, thus deserve as
much.
Best regards, Dan L. Wetzel
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Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net