Iceland - Land of Glaciers and Volcanoes:
While most people know about Iceland from news reports of the spectacular volcanic eruptions there and images of the Northern Lights, naturalists know that Iceland is a place of great beauty and abundant wildlife.
Bill will take you on a photographic tour of the Snæfellsness Peninsula, and for a walk along its rugged coastline to view nesting seabirds and wildflowers. He will describe his visits to island fishing communities, show you the amazing volcanic and glacial features that create Iceland’s rugged and awe-inspiring landscapes, and take you for a virtual hike to the top of a semi-dormant volcano on the Westmann Islands. You will see cliff-side nesting colonies with Common and Thick-billed Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes, remote islands where Common Redshanks and Red-necked Phalaropes nest within feet of fishermen’s homes, geologic formations crafted by both glaciers and volcanoes, the oldest parliament in the world, and much, much more.
Crossing Bhutan - The Kingdom in the Clouds, Land of Dragons
Bill Gette has visited the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan three times. What an awe-inspiring place it is! During his most recent trip, he traveled the length of the country, entering in the east from Assam State, India, and concluded his adventure at the Tiger’s Nest in western Bhutan.
Bill will share his photographs of the country’s beautiful wildlife (e.g., Blood Pheasant, Gould’s Sunbird, Plumbeous Redstart, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Gray Langur), magnificent scenery, and inspirational religious art and architecture. He will also recount some of his exciting adventures such as crossing the Thrumsingla mountain pass (12,402 feet above sea level) in a blinding snowstorm, watching ceremonial dances, hearing chants and music in historic temples, and hiking to the Tiger’s Nest, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Buddhism.
Beautiful Belize
The Central American Republic of Belize is a wonderful place to explore. While many people know about the beautiful Caribbean coastline and offshore islands, Belize has so much more to offer, including extensive Mayan ruins and lowland tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife.
Bill Gette has led more than ten travel programs to Belize and has worked with conservation organizations to train Belizean naturalist guides and educators. During his presentation, Bill will take you on a virtual tour of some of the best wildlife viewing areas, including Crooked Tree Lagoon, New River Lagoon, Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, and Punta Gorda. He’ll show you photographs of Snail Kite, Boat-billed Heron, Great Curassow, Oscillated Turkey, the amazing Northern Potoo, and a wide variety of song birds.
A highlight of Bill’s talk will be a virtual tour of Mayan archeological sites at Lamanai, Caracol, and Xunantunich. It’s a thrill to walk among these historic ruins and marvel at the richness of the Mayan culture.