How to Plan a Fall Birding Trip

Although you may miss all of those colorful migrating spring warblers, a fall birding trip can include a wealth of shorebirds and some fantastic pelagic birding.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spotting scopes
• Binoculars
• Birding Checklist
• Maps
• Hats

1. Read about the best fall birding destinations in birding magazines, or get recommendations from other birders. A few excellent fall choices are Cape May, New Jersey; Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania; Southern and central California; and the Southwest desert.

2. Decide if you'll be taking the trip on your own, or if you'll be going with a tour group.

3. If you want to go with a birding tour, call tour companies and inquire about fall trips. Choose one and sign up.

4. If you're going on your own or with friends, choose a destination.

5. Contact the American Birding Association (americanbirding.org) and order field guides and checklists for the area you'll be visiting.

6. Obtain maps and visitor information from the area's chamber of commerce or visitors bureau.

7. Study the literature to acquaint yourself with what species you might see and where.

8. Make transportation and lodging reservations, if necessary.

9. Once you arrive, call the local rare-bird alert, Audubon chapter or bird club for tips and/or directions to the best birding spots.

Tips & Warnings

• While a birding tour removes the hassle of finding lodging, restaurants and so on, it costs substantially more than what you'd spend if you went on your own.
• Fall is a great time to consider a pelagic trip. Boats depart from several locations on both the West and East coasts, notably Monterey Bay and Bodega Bay, California; Hatteras, North Carolina; and Cape May, New Jersey.
• Be prepared for any kind of weather in fall.

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on 11/22/2005 Ask your local Audubon Society about trips they know about and places they recommend. Better yet, join this great group of people. They do more than stare at birds. They help clean up the environment, teach kids, maintain hiking trails ...