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For those without the bandwidth to take a strenuous and often costly African safari, traveling to see exotic birds might be just the thing to allow your wanderlust spirit to take wing. A vacation need not be entirely “bird-focused,” but rather the itinerary can include activities and side excursions to give the traveler a bird’s-eye view of our avian, global co-inhabitants. Welcome to the world of ecotourism.
National Geographic is calling 2018 The Year of the Bird, a decision not arrived at arbitrarily; this year marks the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, under the Trump administration, that law, which establishes a Federal prohibition on the intentional or unintentional pursuit, capture, killing, transport, or business practice that endangers any migratory bird, or any part, next or egg of any such bird, (16 U.S.C. 703) was altered to punish only intentional threats to the essential bird populations.
This naïve change in the law opened the door to the return of deadly practices disguised as innocent faux pas.
So what can the bi-pedal traveler do to help offset the law being pushed out of the nest? Visiting Audubon centers as part of your adventure travel is a great way to start. By visiting these centers, and perhaps even donating to their foundations, you will know that your leisure time and travel experiences have dual purposes.
Here are a few of the numerous places to get you started:
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, PA
With several trails at different levels of difficulty, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, just 45 minutes north of Reading, PA by car, has stunning vistas on mountain overlooks accessible from the trails. Here you can witness the migration of raptors from sharp-shinned to red-tailed hawks to falcons skirting or soaring across the vast panorama of blue sky and green countryside. Circling overhead in ominous orbits are turkey vultures following the scent of the life’s natural processes. Bring binoculars and sneakers with good treads as some of the more challenging trails require limber strides on rocks that could be moist with morning dew.
Donations can be directed to Mary Linkevich, Director of Development
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Broad Channel, NY
One might not expect to find a gem for birding so close to a major airport in a metropolitan area, but visitors to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge can witness the wings of birds and the wings of commercial airlines sharing the same airspace. Gravel paths lead birders on an oval circumference around a section of the bay, or past ponds and gardens. There is also opportunity to go off-path, however signs prohibit nature lovers to tread on areas set aside for terrapins (turtles) and nesting plovers (shorebirds). Jamaica Bay has had 332 species of birds over the past 25 years, including a wealth of shorebirds and wading birds, warblers, herons, swallows, osprey, snow geese, numerous duck species, and the list goes on.
Donations can go directly to NYC Audubon.
Dry Tortugas, Florida
The Florida Keys owns bragging rights to the best location for seeing migratory birds. Some of the most exotic species can be found among the numerous birding locales within the many islands and estuaries in the Florida Keys. One of the stars of the show is the Roseate Spoonbill, a bird that was once nearly endangered from hunting (the colorful feathers were much sought after).
Hummingbirds, falcons, vireos, boobies, terns, cuckoos, cormorant, owls and warblers round out the vast cast of winged characters. Accessible only by sea plane or ferry, Dry Tortugas is an adventure as well as an opportunity to support a serious cause.
Donations for the fragile wildlife of Dry Tortugas can be found here.
The places to see migrating birds are almost as plentiful as the number of birds themselves, from rooftops to mountainsides, from bird blinds to Audubon centers. Though 2018 is The Year of the Bird, every year should hold that distinction. Each traveler can take part in this important campaign through donations or even simple awareness.
Before man ever existed, birds were sending out tweets.
John James Audubon stated, “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” Perhaps the intersection of conservation and vacation can begin with birds.
