If you’re a lifelong bird watcher — or even a newbie — these five locations along the East Coast are great options for an autumn trip. Bird watching gets you out in nature and can reduce stress and improve your mood, so book a trip to see some feathered friends in action.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Plan a quick getaway to Chincoteague to visit the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to shorebirds, waterfowl, and other various seabirds. The refuge’s hours in October are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. From November through March, the hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are also yearly Christmas Bird Counts, the National Audubon Society’s annual censuses conducted to measure population trends and conservation efforts.
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May has been a top destination for birdwatchers for more than 200 years. The location is ideal for birds because of its variety of habitats such as salt marshes, swamps, pine forests, and grasslands. The Cape May Bird Observatory offers weekly walks, a School of Birding, and other educational opportunities.
Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts is visited by more than 300 bird species every year. And staying in Boston gets you close to multiple wildlife sanctuaries and other places perfect for bird watching. Mass Audubon has programs to fill a long weekend of birding, from Thursday morning bird walks, to events at the Museum of American Bird Art Education Center in Canton and the Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont.
Delaware
When it comes to bird watching, a quick trip to Delaware will not disappoint. Thousands of varieties of birds, both year-round and migratory, visit the state each year. Delaware is home to multiple parks and refuges that many birds stop by during their annual migration south. A popular place to visit in-state for birders is the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, which was named one of the country’s Top 100 Important Birding Areas by the American Bird Conservancy. There’s also organized birding events like Delmarva Birding Weekends.
Florida
If the chillier fall weather has you craving summer temperatures again, Florida is a paradise for both humans and birds. The state has more than 500 species of fowl who call the area wetlands and coastal shores home. Visit the North Shore Birding Festival (about a half hour from Orlando) in December for scenic walks, photo trips, and boat tours to catch your favorite type of bird.
Feature image of northern mockingbird courtesy Emily Isaac/Mass Audubon
