Delta Adventures Update! March 3, 2010

IN THIS ISSUE:
- Canoe/Kayak Poker Paddle -- Deadline for Registration = March 3rd
- Wildlife & Nature Photography Hike
- WildNative is Hiring!
- Safari & Pirate Themed Birthday Parties @ 5 Rivers

This weekends Forecast for the Delta! --
Mostly Sunny with a high near 65 --

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*LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER*
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Canoe/Kayak Poker Paddle - Sunday, March 7th. 11am - 5pm.
An all ages event. A beginner level paddle with a twist!

Compete against other teams as you paddle through the delta following clues and picking up playing cards along the way. A BBQ will be held at the end of the course and the boat with the best poker hand of cards will be our grand prize winner.
Entry Fee: $20 per boat. Registration required by March 3rd.
Canoe & kayak rentals are available.

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*SCHEDULE CHANGE*
As of March 1, 2010 our Delta Eco-Tours aboard "The Pelican" will depart
Wednesday thru Sunday, at 11am. Reservations are recommended.

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*Wildlife & Nature Photography Hike* Saturday, March 6th. 10am - 12pm.

Guided hike around the 80 acre property of 5 Rivers Delta Center. Focus on nature and beauty as well as local wildlife. Bring your own camera and get tips on how to shoot nature photos.
All participants can enter online photo contest to win prizes.

Cost is $10 per person. Reservations required.

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*Delta Canoe/Kayak Paddle & BBQ* Saturday, March 20th. 10am - 4pm.

Join us for an exploratory paddle of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The exact location of our paddle has yet to be determined. Any suggestions? Anywhere in particular you'd like to explore? Please let us know. We are always happy to plan trips to areas that folks want to see.

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Canoe & kayak rentals are available any day of the week. Please call in advance to arrange a guided or an unguided canoe/kayak excursion.
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Party Party Party!
We also now host Safari and Pirate themed childrens Birthday Parties.
Maximum of 30 Children.
Party Favours, Cake, Games and much, much more
Reservations are required: For more information and a brochure, email info@5rds.com or call 1-877-411-SAFARI (7232).

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PLEASE NOTE:
1. All the above events can be arranged for groups any day, any time.

2. Canoe & Kayak rentals are available any day of the week. Please call in advance to arrange a guided or an unguided canoe/kayak excursion. Canoe/Kayaks can be launched from a variety of locations across the Delta.

3. Our ever popular Wine Tasting Sunset Cruises will be starting again in March - Dates to be advertised in the next issue.

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Hovercraft Sale:

Finally, it has come time for Five Rivers Delta Safaris to sell it's Hovercraft to make way for our new 2010 model. If you are interested in owning a hovercraft of your own, please contact us for more information.

You may have noticed the new WildNative () sign at the Convention Center in South Water St, Downtown Mobile. This heralds a whole range of new Tours and Charters aboard the "Native Princess", our 49 passenger bay boat. Keep an eye on this space, call 1-800-508-ADVENTURE (2383) or email mailto:info@wildnative.com?subject=Native for more information.


We will be combining the WildNative and 5RDS newsletters for a short time, before providing the opportunity for everyone to choose the items that interest you most.

I look forward to seeing you all aboard very soon.

Captain Michael Dorie
Manager
Five Rivers Delta Safaris, LLC.

5RDS is a WildNative
Company

Upcoming Delta Adventures & Events

A quick update on upcoming Adventures including moonlight paddles, poker runs, hiking, eco tours, hovercraft and more!

In order of events:

• Dead Lake Canoe / Kayak Paddle and BBQ - Saturday, February 20^th (10am - 4pm)
• Meet at Mobile Convention Center by 9:30am and carpool to launch site.
• Explore the sloughs of Dead Lake, near Creola, with a large group of paddlers.
• Cost is $5 per person (with own gear) and includes BBQ lunch.
• Equipment rentals are available.
• Reservations are required: For more information email mailto:info@wildnative.com?subject=Deadlake Paddle & BBQ, Saturday February 20th or call 1-800-508-ADVENTURE (2383).
  

• Moonlight Paddle & BBQ - Saturday, February 27^th (4:30pm - 10pm)
  
• BBQ at 5 Rivers begins at 4pm. Launch boats after 5pm.
• Enjoy a famous Delta sunset, followed by a full moon rising. Paddle after dark.
• Cost is $5 per person (with own gear) and includes BBQ.
• Equipment rentals are available.
• Reservations are required: For more information email mailto:info@wildnative.com?subject=Moonlight or call 1-800-508-ADVENTURE (2383).
  

• Wildlife & Nature Photography Hike - Saturday, March 6^th (10am - 12pm)
  
  • Guided hike around the 80 acre property of 5 Rivers Delta Center.
  • Focus on nature and beauty as well as local wildlife.
  • Bring your own camera and get tips on how to shoot nature photos.
  • All participants can enter online photo contest to win prizes.
  • Check-in at Delta Safaris ticket counter, 5 Rivers.
  • $10 per person fee.
  • Reservations are required: mailto:info@5rds.com?subject=WildLife or call 1-877-411-SAFARI (7232).
    

• Canoe / Kayak Poker Paddle - Sunday, March 7^th (11am - 5pm)
  
• An all ages event. A beginner level paddle with a twist!
• Compete against other teams as you paddle through the delta following clues and picking up playing cards along the way. A BBQ will be held at the end of the course and the boat with the best poker hand of cards will be our grand prize winner.
• Entry Fee: $20 per boat.
• Canoe & kayak rentals are available.
• Registration deadline is March 1^st.
• Reservations are required: For more information email mailto:info@wildnative.com?subject=Canoe/Kayak or call 1-800-508-ADVENTURE (2383).
  
  

• Don't forget our Daily Delta Eco Tours (11am - 1pm)
• Pontoon boat eco-tour onboard the "Pelican."
• Explore the Lower Delta as we share stories and facts about the history, characters, fauna and flora of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
• Check-in at Delta Safaris ticket counter, 5 Rivers.
• $22 each adult, $19 each senior, $14 each child.
• Reservations are required: For more information email mailto:info@5rds.com?subject=Daily or call 1-877-411-SAFARI (7232).
  
  

• We also now host Safari and Pirate themed childrens Birthday Parties.
• Maximum of 30 Children.
• Party Favours, Cake, Games and much, much more
• Reservations are required: For more information and a brochure, email mailto:info@5rds.com?subject=Please or call 1-877-411-SAFARI (7232).
  
  

• PLEASE NOTE:

• All the above events can be arranged for groups any day, any time.
  

• Canoe & Kayak rentals are available any day of the week. Please call in advance to arrange a guided or an unguided canoe/kayak excursion.
  

• Our ever popular Wine Tasting Sunset Cruises will be starting again in March
  

Hovercraft Sale:

Finally, it has come time for Five Rivers Delta Safaris to sell it's Hov Pod Hovercraft to make way for our new 2010 model. If you are interested in owning a hovercraft of your own, please visit our Ebay listing for more information:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260554939713&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123

You may have noticed the new WildNative () sign at the Convention Center in South Water St, Downtown Mobile. This heralds a whole range of new Tours and Charters aboard the "Native Princess", our 49 passenger bay boat. Keep an eye on this space, call 1-800-508-ADVENTURE (2383) or email mailto:info@wildnative.com?subject=Native for more information.



We will be combining the WildNative and 5RDS newsletters for a short time, before providing the opportunity for everyone to choose the items that interest you most.

We look forward to seeing you all aboard very soon.

Five Rivers Delta Safaris, LLC. (www.5rds.com)

5RDS is a WildNative Company

5 Rivers Delta Safaris, LLC.
30945 5 River Blvd, #7

Spanish Fort, AL,
36527, U.S.A.

Ph: (251) 259 8531

Another Bird & Gator Filled Day on the Delta!

Today's tour was great. The temperature was nice and the water was like glass. We had a good crowd of families and friends spending time together.....away from the mall! Great to see on this "Shopping Weekend" right after Thanksgiving.

Passengers on the boat were treated to a great diversity of wildlife. Before even leaving the dock we saw Osprey circling looking for fish and a Double-Crested Cormorant did a fly-by just as we cast off. Along the way up river we saw a Snowy Egret and some American Coots, all feeding in the shallow waters along the Blakeley River. We made our way into the Appalachee River and saw a flock of White Pelicans overhead. We then encountered a Great Blue Heron and some more Coots. All of the birds we had seen to this point were then trumped by the sun-bathing American Alligator! We sat quietly and observed this gator for some time. In fact, he was so intent on basking in the sun that we drove off with him still sitting there. Our presence never disturbed him. On our way downstream we saw more White Pelicans and a KingFisher. All in all a great day in the Delta.

~ Captain Michael Dorie
www.5rds.com

Birthday Parties Now Available at 5 Rivers!

Adventure Themed Birthday Parties for Children of all Ages.
Themed birthday parties are a great way to celebrate your child's birthday. Up to 20 children can play a variety of age-specific, educational focused fun games while enjoying the outdoors.

Safari Theme - Go on Safari at 5 Rivers!
Experience the world through an animals eyes with games like Awesome Opossum, Blind Bat-Brown Bat, Scavenger Hunt, Obstacle courses and more!

From 5 Rivers Birthday Parties

Pirate Theme - Hunt for Hidden Treasure!
Follow a pirates treasure map to gold and glory. Along the way come across obstacles such as enemy pirates, dangerous animals and rugged terrain.

From 5 Rivers Birthday Parties

Booking Fees:
$250 for up to 30 Children. Prices include themed birthday cake.

Additional items can also be added, such as boat rides, food and beverages, etc. Please contact us for pricing on these items.

To make reservations, please call us at: (251) 259-8531

5 Rivers Delta Safaris
http://www.5rds.com/


Don't forget 5RDS provides unlimited access to all the Delta has to offer!!. From eco-boat tours to guided overnight expeditions and corporate group adventure activities, let 5RDS introduce you to OUR Delta!

Visit our website http://www.5rds.com/ for more information or email info@5rds.com

Next Delta Kayak Paddling Safari - September 5th, 2009

For those looking for an outdoor adventure close to home, the Mobile Tensaw Delta provides just that. This 250,000 acre wetland, considered to be the second largest in the country, gives many a chance to see nature firsthand.

5 Rivers Delta Safaris has just announced a kayak tour that would make experiencing such a vast ecosystem even easier. On September 5th, 2009, at 9am, the outdoor adventure company will host a paddle that will be guided by three guides whose experience range from zoology & marine biology to herpetology. The trip will provide those interested in getting an up close and personal experience with nature the opportunity to do so, whether it’s for bird watching, nature photography or just the enjoyment of nature. This six mile paddle is not only great for those already familiar with the sport of kayaking, but it is also great for anyone who is just giving the sport a try for the first time. (see previous blog regarding a recent trip below).

The price of the trip is $54 per person and includes transportation to the drop in site as well as the guide service. Discounts are available for groups of 4 or more Paddlers. It does not, however, include rental of a kayak. Delta Safaris can arrange for rental of one at an additional price. Space for the trip is limited so call and make a reservation soon.

5 Rivers Delta Safaris is located at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center on US Hwy 90/98. To make a reservation for this, or any other trips offered by 5 Rivers Delta Safaris call at 251-259-8531 or visit their website at http://www.5rds.com/

5 Rivers Announces October 11 Trip To Bottle Creek Indian Mounds

5 Rivers Delta Resource Center and Five Rivers Delta Safaris have always offered those looking to get an up close and personal view of the 2nd largest wetland in the country just that: an intimate look at what animals reside there, what plants can be discovered there and what a unique habitat like the Mobile-Tensaw Delta holds. For the first time, 5 Rivers is now offering the chance to learn of other secrets held by the Delta.


On Sunday, October 11th, 2009, 5 Rivers will host a guided tour into the history of the Delta by visiting its highest point: The Bottle Creek Indian Mounds. This collection of 18 earthen mounds was built using only raw manpower and primitive tools somewhere between 1200 and 1450 AD, with the tallest mound being 45 feet high. This trip gives people the rare opportunity to experience for themselves how this rich natural environment supported those who built these extensive mounds. The sight is largely undisturbed by tourists because of it's remote location and is patrolled and preserved by the Alabama Historical Commission to prevent vandalism.

The trip itself will begin at 9am with an introduction to Bottle Creek and the Mississippian Indian culture. Shuttles will then take participants to Lower Bryant Landing to board the pontoon boat, "The Pelican", for the 45 minute boat trip to Mound Island. On hand to answer questions and provide information will be the University of South Alabama's archaeologists Dr. Greg Waslekov and Bonnie Gums, herpetologist Joel Borden and 5 Rivers biologist Hank Burch. Morning coffee, lunch and snacks will be provided on the trip as well. There is a short 3/4 mile hike up to the mounds and back.

The cost of the trip is $60 per person and space is limited. Children under the age of 12 may not find this trip suitable. For reservations or questions please contact Kellie or Shonda at (251) 625-0814. Information is also available at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center's Facebook page or website at http://www.alabama5rivers.com/.

Paddling Safaris in the Mobile Delta

Article by Adrienne Watkins, Mobile, AL.

The perfect fix for any outdoor junkie is by far kayaking the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The Delta consists of over 200,000 acres of wetland environment with a plethora of plants and wildlife to observe. With over 300 species of birds that make their way through Alabama each year the Delta is easily a bird lovers delight.

Even with this in mind, while out on my own personal excursion, I had no idea I would see such a variety of birds as I did. Although common in this area it is always pleasant to spot the Brown Pelican dive-bombing into the water with their massive wingspan, or the Osprey plunging feet first to display their awesome hunting ability. Amongst the usual variety of Gulls and Terns we saw varieties of birds that are rarely seen in everyday life around buildings, roadways and human settlement.

The first great sighting of the day (besides several alligators) was a rookery of Prothonotary Warblers, with their breath taking neon yellow color. One paddler even saw a hummingbird but was unable to identify it because of its speed. Upon entering Little Bateau Bay we came across a family of Moorhens, who literally let me observe from just a few feet away. Along the same lines as a Moorhen we also spotted the brilliantly colored Purple Gallinule.

The wading birds were of great variety, we saw Great Blue, Little Blue and Night Herons and even the gorgeous Green Heron. We observed Great and Snowy Egrets as well as several Anhingas that were basking in the suns warmth after feeding. We then encountered the Glossy Ibis and White Ibis which were unmistakable with their long curved beaks.

Perhaps my favorite find of the day was the Black-Necked Stilt, which browsed along the waters edge alone, walking gracefully while picking up food with its long needle-like beak.

Overall, the trip was amazing, a definite fix to my outdoor addiction. The greatest part of all had to be the diversity. The amount of wildlife we saw in such a short period of time was almost overwhelming. I can only hope that everyone has an opportunity for such an experience in the Delta.

Thank you 5 Rivers Delta Safaris!