I was on a pelagic with my friend Scott Tsagarakis one day. in 2020. We chartered a boat that took us a hundred miles offshore to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Carlos Pedro chartered the boat and luckily for me, I was invited to go. Every year, Carlos charters a boat to go see warm water pelagic birds. The boat holds six paying customers (and the Captain and a mate). We refer to it as a six pack. When Carlos goes out, he invites the same people every year. Rarely do any of the group turn down the invitation. In the case someone can't make it, it is very easy for Carlos to fill the spot despite being a very expensive boat ride.
Because so many people were interested in going, Carlos scheduled a second trip. Tim Metcalf, Jess Bishop, Linda Gardrel, and myself got to go. I felt very fortunate to be invited. Though the trip was only "average", because I was a newbie everything was exciting to me. We saw pods of Pilot Whales, Dolphins and a couple life birds. We chartered a tuna boat and we all went home with Bigeye Tuna steaks and some Mahi-mahi also.
While we were sailing out, Scott was telling me a story about a pelagic that goes out every year in Georgia. A guy rents out a boat every year that holds fifteen passengers. He invites back the same fourteen people every year. As you can imagine, the people on the outside looking in are annoyed and jealous of this. They don't think it is fair that the same clique goes out every year. Many of those on the outside do not think its fair that it is a "who you know" boat trip. As you are reading this, you are probably thinking that it doesn't sound fair. He should take people that have never gone out on one of these pelagics.
But here is the thing, anyone of those jealous people could make the effort to charter the boat themselves. Scott pointed out this fact to me and he is right. The people that feel they were left out, hurt, or insulted they weren't invited could have made a phone call and chartered the same boat on a different day. If it bothers them that much or if they really want to go on a pelagic they should try to set one up instead of whining about it.
Of course, planning a pelagic is pretty difficult. It might be harder to plan a pelagic than a vacation. Very few boats will cater to birders. Even when you find one that does, you need to find an open day on their calendar. More importantly, you need to find people that are willing to pay the steep price. Those people also have to be reliable. If someone backs out last minute, the person that planned the trip is out the cost of another body. The charter that I went on had a steep price tag of $2400 for the day, divided by six (I looked at it as a once in a lifetime trip). No one wants to eat the money of an unpaid no show! This is probably the main reason that the same people get invited back year after year. Because they can be trusted to show up and pay their share.
So if someone was unhappy that the same clique goes every year wanted to plan a trip, it is work. You need to invite people that you trust. But, if they want it bad enough, then there is no excuse not to. The Carlos Pedro's of the world don't owe it anybody to include you (or me).
That one conversation with Scott has had a big impact on me. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how right Scott is. Since that conversation, I have not relied on other people to make plans or plan trips. In fact, I am the instigator more often than not. I enjoy planning trips anyway so the planning part is not a hassle for me, it is fun.
I organized a whale watch a couple of years ago (pre-Covid and pre-life altering conversation). I put a message out on Groupme and we had about fifteen people participate. I had to get a rough head count and let the Francis Fleet know we were going. That wasn't difficult other than that I hate making phone calls, but it was rewarding to schedule a trip for others. I would have tried to set up a RI whale watch every year but, you know, Covid. However, a few of my friends and I do go out on a whale watch every year in July. However, because of Covid, they have not been bird club sponsored, nor have I invited everyone on Facebook or Groupme. But again, there is no reason why others can't set up a whale watch with their closest friends.
Over the last couple of years I have earned a reputation for planning trips.
I went to Machais Seal Island to see the puffins and invited my friend Sue. A few months later my friend Laurie and I met Sue at Ding Darling in FL in November.
I got to North Carolina a few days before everyone else in May, I went to Alligator River NWR for a day. When they got to NC, we went back and I was basically a tour guide. I showed them a Pileated Woodpecker nest, where the bears were, and the trails to see Prothonotary Warblers. I'm going back to North Carolina this June and invited a few of my friends.
I am hoping to do a Plum Island trip for the bird club this spring. Do not hold me to this because, again, Covid. But it is something I have dreamt of doing for two years. I go to Plum Island every year and would really love to share the trails and birds with others. I know for some, it is a"mystical far away place". But it's really only about ninety minutes from the RI/MA border. There are numerous motels and Salisbury Beach has a campground. Time will tell if it can happen.
Over the last year, because of guiding him in Alligator River and planning a few other small trips, Scott has given these trips the nickname of "Nick's Nature Tours". As you can imagine, I relish the nickname. So much so, that I'm writing it in this closing paragraph. However, if you take anything from this post, just go do what it is you want to do. Don't be jealous that you weren't one of the six to go on a six pack. Make it happen for yourself. If I can't plan a trip to Plum Island, go for yourself in May. You might hit a fallout. Go on that whale watch and see if you can get all the Shearwaters. Don't be mad you aren't in someone else's clique, make your own. Don't hope someone is going to plan a trip, plan your own. If it's in your budget there really shouldn't be any excuses why didn't do something fun!