RainBird Excursions offers some of the best Nature Tours, Birding Adventures, and Eco Hiking Tours on Vancouver Island. Tours including: mountain and canyon hike, bird watching, mushroom tour and many beautiful Vancouver Island scenic views. Your congenial guide, Sandy McRuer, has lived in Port Alberni and worked in the area as a Forester and a Naturalist for 20 years. He has extensive knowledge of birds, plants and animals of Vancouver Island. He is trained in wilderness first aid. And he offers you his experience and 10 passenger van for safe and unforgettable ecotours, birding and hiking trips to see the scenic beauty of the area. Rainbird Excursions has scheduled a exclusive tour to go to two of the best wineries on Vancouver Island and to our own Chase & Warren Winery in the Alberni Valley. The first stop will be at the Zanatta Winery. It was the first Winery to open in the Island. There, top papered chef prepares sumptuous meals in the fully-restored heritage restaurant. Nearby is the Godfrey-Brownell Winery. They are also a class act. They have 105 acres of which 40% is given over to protecting the two salmon streams on the property. In addition to growing grapes, they are experimenting with olives and a selection of herbs. The tour will wind up at the Chase & Warren Estate Winery, where you can compare and contrast our local wines with those you have tried from the more established wineries. The tour will start in a leisurely way at 10 AM, and will return you to your vehicle by 6PM. This tour promises to be a memorable day for everyone. There is only room for 10 people. The trip includes tasting fees, but not the meal. Reserve your ecotours and birding trips and hike in the old-growth pacific rainforests on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Vancouver Island, nature tours, ecotours,excursions, adventure tours, wine tours,day hikes, day trips, birding, hiking, hikes, bird watching, bird-watching, interpretive, educational, bears, eagles, bald eagles, Lady Rose, rainforest, old growth, old-growth, first nations, aboriginal culture, west coast, sea shore, seashore, forestry, forest education, ecology, beach, beaches, rugged shoreline, wildflowers, alpine, outdoor, sightseeing, waterfalls, wine tour, Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Chanterelles, chanterelle, mushrooms, operator, guides, eco-tours, marmots, port alberni" Birding Tours April 28, May 5, May 12th, 2007 This is the time of year when the birds look their best and the migration is on full bore. It is an exciting time to watch birds. The tour will start in Port Alberni bright and early by the Somass River. We will travel to Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park with many stops along the way to bird in various different habitats. Townsend's and MacGillivray's Warblers will be abundant. Hutton's Vireos, and Black Swifts will likely be seen in the woodland habitats. At Long Beach, the shore bird migration will be in full swing. You'll see Western Sandpipers, both Dowitchers, Dunlin, Whimbrel, and others. The timing of the stops will vary from trip to trip to take advantage of the tides at long Beach. The unique birdlife of Vancouver Island will be offset by the spectacular scenery that you will travel through. Your guide will provide lunch and do his best to make sure you see it all! Call Rainbird Excursions to book. 1-866-723-7102, or locally just 723-7102. $109.00 each Wine Tours May 13, May 19th, 2007 Rainbird Excursions has scheduled a exclusive tour to go to two of the best wineries on Vancouver Island and to our own Chase & Warren Winery in the Alberni Valley. The first stop will be at the Zanatta Winery. It was the first Winery to open in the Island. There, top papered chef prepares sumptuous meals in the fully-restored heritage restaurant. Nearby is the Godfrey-Brownell Winery. They are also a class act. They have 105 acres of which 40% is given over to protecting the two salmon streams on the property. In addition to growing grapes, they are experimenting with olives and a selection of herbs. The tour will wind up at the Chase & Warren Estate Winery, where you can compare and contrast our local wines with those you have tried from the more established wineries. The tour will start in a leisurely way at 10 AM, and will return you to your vehicle by 6PM. This tour promises to be a memorable day for everyone. There is only room for 10 people. The trip includes tasting fees, but not the meal. Call Rainbird Excursions to book. 1-866-723-7102, or locally just 723-7102. $75.00 each Summer Tours * The easiest nature tours are the Pacific Rim Circle Tour and the Pacific Rim Escape where all you will need to bring is a sturdy pair of rubber-soled shoes. * For the other excursions there is hiking involved but most are fairly easy for active people. * Each hike is given a difficulty rating to help you decide what you are capable of. The rating system is on the left of this page. * Rainbird supplies a gourmet lunch for all full day trips and snacks for the half-day trips. * The excursions are intended to be relaxing and informative. * Trips can be arranged for 10 at most, but will go with a minimum of 2. * Couples get $5.00 each off any trip. Group rates are available. Guests will be expected to sign a waiver before participating in any trip. Who is Rainbird? Rainbird Excursions is based in the Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The owner and operator, Sandy McRuer, has had a passion for birds, forests and the natural world as long as he can remember. He has also worked as a professional forester in the Port Alberni area and many parts of coastal British Columbia for many years. He has led many forestry survey crews and outdoors club trips.