Birding Trip Checklist 
from WildBirds.com

6-24 Months Before You Leave: Make sure passport is current   -- valid for 6 months after return date   -- Has blank pages for Visa stamps Get Visas if necessary Arrange airline transportation Buy trip cancellation insurance (optional) Sign up with bird tour company   -- or create your itinerary and   -- make motel reservations  Buy Field Guide for the area Buy audio tapes for the area Study Field Guide and audio tapes	One Week Before You Leave: Arrange for pets to be boarded Spray clothes with Permethrin Double-check airline schedules Start taking Malaria pills if necessary Pay bills Arrange to stop mail Arrange to stop newspapers Gather emergency phone numbers Gather emails and addresses [Study Field Guide - last minute review]
One Day Before You Leave: Remove rings and jewelry for safekeeping Leave itinerary with contact person Take garbage to neighbor’s Switch to a travel purse Pack your suitcase and carry-on Take pets to boarding place	1-2 Hours Before You Leave: Turn off computer Change message on answering machine Turn air conditioner up or heater down Turn pool heater off Turn off water (optional) Set alarm Turn off lights Lock all doors
Pack in Carry-on: Plane tickets Passport Xerox copy of passport Visas Itinerary Copy of traveler’s insurance Traveler’s checks Cash 1-2 credit cards Yellow fever certificate Passport carrying pouch Binocular Extra binocular Field Guide Camera/extra batteries and cards Malaria pills Prescription drugs Notebook (Rite in the rain) Pen Earplugs Eyemask Extra glasses Underwear and socks for one day	Pack in Suitcase: Bird checklists Tennis shoes Hiking boots Wellington’s (tall rubber boots) Shirts  (spray with permethrin) Pants (spray with permethrin) Underwear Socks  (spray with permethrin) Extra socks Pajamas T-shirts Shorts/swimsuit Rain jacket Rain pants Jacket Sweater Gloves Hat Water bottle Backpack Ziplock bags (many sizes) Sunglasses Washcloth for trail (sweat) Alarm clock Flashlight Sun screen Chapstick Deet/insect repellent Umbrella Pocket knife Snacks/cookies/trail mix Instant hot chocolate mix
Pack in Medicine Kit: Woolite packets Kleenex Toilet paper Feminine products Polysporin Lamasil Cipro Advil Asprin/Tylenol Ammodium AD Bandaids Cortaid Razor/shaving cream Comb/brush Toothpaste Toothbrush Shampoo Soap Beauty items Scissors Water purification tablets	Extra Things Not On This List: [I can tell you now, you packed too many pants and not enough socks.]