|
Not a cold-weather person? Then how about a bird watching vacation in sunny Florida
which, apart from having really delicious orange juice, also boasts some 200 bird
species for you to identify! Or perhaps your spirit of adventure is calling you
southward to the Carribean for a bird watching tour which will thrill you with
exotic birds you're just not going to bump into in your own backyard.
At present, one of the most popular bird watching vacations being offered in the
U.S. is to Arkansas, for that once-in-a-lifetime chance of spotting the Ivory-billed
woodpecker, believed to be extinct until its recent headline-making discovery.
Wherever you choose to go, you know you're in for a chance to see birds which
are meaningful to you, because you are not used to seeing them around the garden.
Every avid birder knows that happy feeling of spotting a bird they've never
seen before. Imagine having that experience at every turn, simply because you've
changed your geography!
Where you choose to take a bird watching vacation depends on several important
factors - budget, free time and personal preference. Obviously, domestic-based
bird watching tours will be more affordable. You can go with a package deal which
includes lodgings and dining, or you can go to a location which boasts a good
bird population or a bird reserve and set up your own accomodations, taking hikes
or tours during the day and keeping costs down by having a choice of hotels to
stay at.
At American Bird Guide, we like to make every day a mini bird watching holiday,
but our vacation time is limited, and for us, it isn't possible to pick up and
head off for Argentina to visit the penguins for a month. Your free time will
help you determine how long of a bird watching trip you can book, and how far
away you can reasonably travel.
Personal preference regards health concerns, climate issues, and your biggest
dreams. Some bird watching tours require strenuous hiking, so if you're not
the active sort, you need to find out in advance how much physical activity
will be required for you to reach the locations of the birds you want to see.
Wild Bird preserves can be helpful for people with health issues, as some
of them have vehicle-enabled tours that will allow you to zoom in comfort to
the birding sites. Climate is another issue to consider. It really is freezing
in the arctic, and it's mighty muggy in the swamps of Arkansas. If you're not
used to such temperatures, and do not adjust well to climate change, consider
that you may not feel your best for the first few days of your birdwatching
vacation, and you may need to pace yourself accordingly. Lastly, your dreams
should be the main factor that determines where you take your bird watching
holiday. It may be something you get to do every year, or something for which
you save up and plan all your life. Whatever the case, we encourage you to
be bold about deciding which birds would be most exciting for you to see. Even
if it means going to Patagonia!
The Internet is such a wonderful resource for planning your next bird watching
tour. You can research what birds live in which parts of the globe, to help
you decide where you'd like to go. Be sure to inform yourself about climate
and geographical conditions so that you know what kinds of clothing to bring,
including what kind of shoes you'll need for hiking. Buying a bird guide for
the area you will be visiting is a must. And most importantly of all - don't forget your
bird watching binoculars!!!
|
