How to Plan a Birding Trip

Explore the wonderful world of avian delight. Here are a few tips to help you organize a trip.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Walking Shoes
• Binoculars
• Spotting Scopes
• Sun Hats
• Knapsacks
• Cameras
• Film
• Detailed Local Maps
• Planning Calendars
• Travel Guides
• Sunscreen
• Water Bottles
• Insect Repellents

1. Choose the location of your birding trip. Southeast Arizona, the Texas coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Alaska and southern Florida are among the most-visited birding spots in the United States. Use websites like birding.com or trails.com to find bird watching destinations.
   

2. Consider planning your vacation with friends, who can make a birding trip more enjoyable.

3. Contact the Convention and Visitor Bureau or Chamber of Commerce in your chosen birding area, and ask for an information packet and birding information.

4. Call the American Birding Association (ABA) sales office and ask for the best birding guides to the area. An ABA/Lane Birdfinding Guide is an excellent choice.

5. Purchase and study the guidebook, noting the locations that you will be able to visit within the allotted time for your trip. There are also excellent CD-ROMs available that have calls of birds recorded so that you can identify birds aurally.

6. Buy a good pair of binoculars. You may also want to get a telephoto lens for your camera and/or a sketch pad to help you record what you see.

7. Make airline, lodging and rental car reservations after you have chosen your birding spot.

Tips & Warnings

• Many professional organizations offer birding tours in North America and throughout the world. Among them are Field Guides, Wings and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours.
• Carry a current map when navigating around a birding hot spot.
• If there is a particular bird you want to see, find out its migratory patterns and where it will be at the time of your trip.
• Remember, it is easy to scare birds away with loud noises and sudden movements.

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