Destination Birding: 8 of the Best Places, Festivals, and Ways to Get Into the Hobby

Outdoor recreation takes all forms, but there is one outdoor activity that tends to mix well with them all: birding.

Birding is big business. In the U.S. alone, birding is a $41 billion industry, with 45 million Americans participating in birding across the country annually. That industry has spawned massive gatherings at key places across the globe where birders can go to find their lifers—any species a birder gets to see for the first time. If you want to maximize your opportunities to find as many birds as you can, there are eight places and festivals worth adding to your travel list.

With over 1,900 bird species and more birds than anywhere on the planet, Colombia is a birder’s dream trip. There are eight species of hummingbird that can only be found in Colombia. This density of species has opened up trails over the years with an estimated pre-pandemic value of $46 million annually, creating 7,500 new jobs. It has also provided an incentive for conservation.

The Colombia Birdfair, which hosts speakers, workshops, and provides guides, occurs every year in mid-February. Though parts of Colombia come with travel warnings, visiting during the festival provides an opportunity for guided tourism with experts and added safety.

From March to early April annually, 600,000-plus sandhill cranes migrate from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Platte River in Nebraska, where birders gather in Grand Island, Kearney, and North Platte. Sandhill cranes are an ancient species of bird and they have been making this trek to Nebraska for upwards of 2.5 million years.

There is nothing like seeing tens of thousands the birds lift off at the same time each morning. Birders regularly get tickets for a space at bird blinds available at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney or at the Crane Trust in Grand Island. Booking starts in January and is open until full.

Every year in April and May, the largest migration of warblers can be found—along with other amazing shorebirds—during the Biggest Week in American Birding festival. The festival is sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory at Magee Marsh just outside of Toledo Ohio, and can draw in an international crowd of 90,000 people, bringing around $40 million to the local economy. Occurring from May 3-12, 2024, the festival has special events, guides, and speakers like Christian Cooper and Amy Tan.

There is no shortage of amazing birding in Canada, like the Huron Fringe Birding Festival at MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Ontario, where 170-plus species can be found for two weeks in May and June. But another worth considering for those along the Pacific is the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration held from May 11-26, 2024, where you can find 250 species of local and migrating birds. Bird walks and events including virtual events, are available for birders. May 11 is also World Migratory Bird Day in Canada and the U.S., which inspired the festival.

Pre-pandemic, the birding in Belize had an economic value of $47 million, providing jobs for guides and local businesses. The Belize Birding Festival was revived in 2023 and occurs in October. The dates for 2024 haven’t been announced as of writing, but birding in Belize opens the door to discovering the 600 bird species that both belong to the region and are passing through.

Florida may be the spring break capital of the United States and home to too many theme parks to list here, but there is a host of wildlife there that aren’t animated (or alligators). If you’re a birder, Florida will have to be on your radar at some point, and the Florida Nature & Birding Festival in October is a good time to go.

The festival occurs during peak migration, providing guests with opportunities to learn from experts, hear prominent speakers in the birding world, and experience field and boat trips for exclusive access. This year the festival happens October 17-20.

Held annually from November 6-10, the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival is said to bring in roughly $2 million to the Valley. Over 300 native and migrating species can be found during the festival. If you’re from the north, the festival is a good opportunity to take in warmer tropical weather, while also getting to have migratory birds come to you. The festival’s guides and events make finding species easier.

Birding provides opportunities for citizen science, where birders use apps like Merlin, which can identify birds by call or photo, and eBird, which allows birders to record what they’ve seen on lists, which are analyzed by scientists. But even if you can’t travel, the best place to bird is your own backyard. In mid-February every year, birders take part in the Backyard Bird Count and turn their own backyards into their own private birding destination.

Lead photo credit: Brandon Withrow