You can choose a
camping vacation for your bird watching tour or stay at a local hotel and visit your areas of interest each day. If you choose a campground for your bird watching vacation you are likely to have the most fun and see the most birds.
After all you will be right in the middle of their home - with the rare opportunity of watching them from your tent or while sitting around the campfire. There is very little to beat this kind of bird watching vacation and it's definitely recommended.
Once you've chosen your accommodation for your bird watching vacation make a list of all the birds you would like to spot and read up on their habits and behavior so you will have some idea of the best places to find them.
The best time for bird watching is early in the morning when they are at their most active. Weather is always a consideration on a bird watching vacation so you need to make sure you have the right attire and equipment for very hot or very cold weather.
Before setting out make sure you have all the equipment you will need for your bird spotting: field guide, bird lists, weather information, route maps and binoculars. Take plenty of water and food if you are likely to be out on the trail for most of the day. A bird watching vacation may also include trips in the car to destinations that are further away so make sure the car is ready for the journey.
Plan the route you want to take and set out, leaving plenty of time to arrive back before nightfall if you are camping on your bird watching vacation and still need to cook your evening meal! Now all that's left to do is keep you eyes peeled for your favorite feathered friends.
Try to stop several times along the way and just sit quietly. This way you won't alarm or disturb your subjects and will have the greatest chance of observing them behaving naturally. Your bird watching vacation should never be intrusive to the birds you are studying.
If you are keeping score on your bird watching vacation , mark all the birds you observe in your field guide and maps so that you can read up on them later. If not, just enjoy observing the habits and behavior of each bird you see. Notice what the bird is eating, how he eats, and what shape its beak is.
Try to decide if the bird you are looking at is a male or female and if they are traveling in mated pairs or alone. Can you spot any very young or adolescent birds? Are the birds in flocks or solitary and what trees or bushes do they favor? Try to notice each birds special markings and try to figure out if its colors and patterns help it to hide in its environment. Make your bird watching vacation interesting by asking questions and trying to uncover the answers by watching the bird.
If your bird is startled, try to see if there are large birds of prey in the area. Try to make your bird watching vacation as memorable as possible by becoming more in tune with the natural ebb and flow of the bird's behavior.
Ask yourself these and other questions constantly during your bird watching vacation and you will find that you have gained a wealth of knowledge about each bird in a very short time.
The main goal of a bird watching vacation should be to have fun and learn as much as you can about each bird but don't become too bogged down with details or you'll miss all the fun! Above all you should take away something positive and inspiring from each birding trip. Happy bird watching!
