Rough-legged hawks are among the winter raptors that will be the focus of a special birding tour to benefit Project SNOWstorm. (©Aaron Winters)

As we mentioned earlier this season, we’re trying something new this winter — a chance for folks with an interest in raptors to do some small-group travel, see a variety of winter birds of prey and help Project SNOWstorm with a tax-deductible contribution at the same time.

We’re partnering with Destination: Wildlife, a New York-based tour company that specializes in wildlife-watching trips here and abroad that benefit conservation nonprofits. Working closely with us, they’ve put together an eight-day, seven-night excursion to upstate New York and southern Ontario in late January and early February, 2024, hitting some of the best spots on both sides of the border for winter raptors, including famed Amherst and Wolfe islands on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario, and the Cape Vincent/Thousand Islands area along and south of the St. Lawrence River.

The trip will focus on species like rough-legged hawks, bald eagles, short-eared owls and northern saw-whet owls — and naturally, the group will be keeping an especially sharp eye out for any snowy owls that may be in the area, although there’s never a guarantee.

The trip price includes a $500 tax-deductible (for U.S. citizens) donation to Project SNOWstorm. The group is limited to seven participants, and will be lead by professional birding guide Kim Risen, with help from local birding expert Anthony Kuduck. We expect this to fill quickly, so if you’re interested, check out a detailed itinerary and complete details here.