Bird Watching Retreat

Welcome to our yearly bird watching event where you can experience an unforgettable meeting with the local bird species!

Here’s a chance to relax and enjoy nature, let the stress of the city go with these beautiful singing companions of the forest. In June birds are everywhere and you can observe them in a unique setting in our remote mountain village. You can spend some time at the Organic Art Ranch and explore the beautiful surroundings of the Apuseni National Park. The surrounding forests are not only fascinating but they are also the home of many species of birds as well as other animals.

Date: 16th of June to 20th of June

Besides carefree roaming in the woods and watching the birds in a silent green setting, the workshop will also have theoretical part where you can learn how to identify birds, learn about their importance, get to know them better. Some of the species you will most likely hear and see are the following chaffinch, chiff­chaff, fire­crest, dunnock, wren, great tit, blue tit, willow tit, mistle thrush, yellowhammer, blackcap, lesser whitethroat, tawny owl etc.

The workshop will be lead by two of Transylvania’s experienced ornithologist who will lead the fieldwork and the bird ringing. These bird exerts will help you identify birds by their songs and by their looks, and teach you how to be able to identify the birds in your environment. This time we will also do some bird ringing together, during which you can take a closer look at the birds in the area and observe them closely.

 

What you will need to bring:

Warm clothes, boots, raincoat, head lamp

What we will provide for the workshop:

Bird identification guides, binoculars

From the schedule:

Thursday evening

Arrivals, campfire dinner, sharing stories and music

Friday

Morning to early afternoon

Guided tour of the surrounding area, forest and waterfall

Afternoon

Setting up the nets, short presentation about the local bird species

Evening

Group dinner, owl call

Saturday

From early morning to afternoon

Bird ringing, observing and identifying birds

Dinner and campfire, short quiz about the species caught during the day

Sunday

Early morning to noon

Bird ringing, observing and identifying birds

Taking down the nets

Afternoon

Guided tour of the surroundings

Monday

Goodbye brunch

Departure

 

We offer partial and full financial support for locals. If you would like to apply, write us an email at info@organicartranch.org

Food and lodging:

Food and lodging at the organic art ranch with possibilities to have a private room with bathroom in a guesthouse nearby.

Food will be mostly vegetarian food and traditionally made local food from ingredients grown on and around the farm. The food is home made and locally produced supporting our secluded community in the mountains.

Registering

You can register now for the workshop to secure your place. 10% off for couples. Early bird registration 10% if you register by the 1st of June. For the registration form, write us an email at info@organicartranch.org. Once we receive the registration form and a deposit you will receive a confirmation email from us with directions to the farm.

There are limited spaces. Reserve in time, reservation deadline 6th of June.

Ode to Birders

Hail to the many who tout their glasses

Amidst the brush to avoid the masses,

We herald the little winged creatures

With all their garn and fanciful features

We traipse over hills and over dales

Mucking through the muddiest of trails,

At times in search of the rarest delight

All through the day and into the night

(Robert J. Gallardo)