Everglades National Park, Florida

Everglades National Park in Florida is a haven for birdwatchers, boasting a diverse and vibrant avian population. The park, which covers 1.5 million acres of wetlands, sawgrass prairies, and mangrove forests. It provides a unique habitat for numerous bird species. Bird enthusiasts flock to the Everglades to witness the impressive array of feathered residents and migratory visitors.

December to March is prime birding time in Everglades National Park. Visitors can spot as many as 360 different species of bird in this stunning and unique watery habitat. The anhinga, also known as the snake bird or water turkey, can be found here as well as the roseate spoonbill, the white ibis, the purple gallinule, several heron species, and many shorebirds. A wide variety of duck species and marsh birds also call Everglades National Park home.

Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey

Nestled along the East Coast, Cape May Bird Observatory in New Jersey is a birdwatcher’s paradise, teeming with a vibrant tapestry of winged wonders. As the sun begins to illuminate the coastal landscape, avid birdwatchers embark on a journey through the observatory’s carefully curated trails, eager to witness the avian spectacle that unfolds. The most impressive time to visit is during spring and fall migration. This is when thousands of birds travel to their breeding and wintering grounds, respectively, in one of the largest bird migration routes in the U.S. Visitors may witness the majestic silhouette of a Peregrine Falcon in hot pursuit of its prey, showcasing the raw power and agility of these apex predators.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a 2,600-acre natural area in southeastern Pennsylvania that is famous as the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. Today, visitors flock to Hawk Mountain each autumn to watch the annual hawk migration. Between August 15 and December 15 an average 18,000 raptors fly past its ridgetops, often at eye-level. It’s state bird is Ruffed Grouse

In the 1930s, conservationists bought the land that now makes Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. This purchase brought an end to the annual slaughter of hawks. Now birdwatchers congregate here each fall and see 20,000 birds of prey fly past the North Lookout. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is located in eastern Pennsylvania, just north of Hamburg. September and October are great months for hawk migration. Late spring and early summer are better for watching nesting songbirds. Other birds to watch for are kestrels and eagles and southbound raptors.

 Big Bend National Park, Texas

Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Texas, Big Bend National Park beckons birdwatchers with its diverse avian treasures. Big Bend National Park stands as a testament to the dynamic beauty of birdlife. dThis national park is a bird migration route, so you are bound to see flocks of birds overhead. Expect to see species such as lucifer humming birds, black-capped vireo, and Colima warblers, according to Expedition Wildlife. The park get its name from its location on the bend of the Rio Grande. It’s hard to decide whether the views or birds flying across this area are more stunning.

Nome ,Alaska

The city of Nome is fronted by the Bering Sea coast and surrounded on three sides by tundra. As the ice begins to break up in spring, migration begins. The Seward Peninsula contains valuable nesting areas for many bird species including most North American waterfowl. From mid-May until the snow flies. Usually at the end of October, 350 miles of roads are open allowing unparalleled access to the surrounding lands and several small villages. Birding in Nome is excellent during the summer months. At that time about 200 migratory species arriving or passing through from May 15th – June 15th. Again in the fall as the cranes and swans exit. Long- tailed Jaeger, Northern Wheatear, Bluethroat, Bristle- thighed Curlew, Arctic Warbler are the common breeder around the river valleys of Nome.