Tips for Planning Your Own Birding Trip

For a better birding experience, understand where you’re going and the birds you’re likely to see.

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Tips for Planning Your Own Birding Trip — In Illinois, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, along with officials from the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Great Lakes Audubon Society, search for birds during a kickoff for the fall bird-watching season at Eggers Grove in Chicago on Sept. 6, 2022. Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

5/25/2024Updated: 6/3/2024

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By Star Tribune staff From Star Tribune

Planning a birding road trip? Whether you’re going by hike, bike, car, or plane, some planning will help you make the most of the trip. Here are some tips from birders and travel planners:

Study a regional field guide to know what birds to expect in your destination for the given time of year.
Consult online resources to find out what birds have been sighted recently along your route. The Cornell Lab’s eBird service (eBird.org) and other online databases assembled by the American Birding Association (ABA.org) can help narrow your focus. See BirdCast.info to track migration.
Identify the target birds that you hope to spot.
Plan your route. Google Maps’ trip planner is a helpful tool that lets you find nearby lodging and eateries and add notes about each destination. See Routific.com/blog/google-maps-trip-planner
Check the weather forecast along your route to help you pack.

Here are some planning resources:

Planning the ultimate birding trip: BirdNote.org/explore/field-notes/2018/06/plan-your-next-birding-trip

Destination birding travel tips: HolbrookTravel.com/blog/birding/ten-tips-planning-your-birding-trip

Birding while biking: FWS.gov/story/birding-while-biking and 365DaysOfBirds.com/2022/07/13/ebike-birding

Is hiking your thing? Check out ABA.org/aba-area-birding-trails