Bird Watching Around the World: A Soaring Hobby You Can Start at Home
Bird watching (or birding, as it’s affectionately called) has truly taken flight in recent years. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 17 million new birders joined the flock in North America alone. In the UK, binoculars sold out, birdseed became a pantry staple, and even casual nature lovers began tuning into the feathered world around them.
Whether it started with a backyard feeder or a walk in the woods, birding gave people a reason to step outside, pay attention, and reconnect—with nature, and themselves.
What Is Birding, Really?
At its simplest, birding is the act of observing and identifying birds in their natural habitat. But once you get started, you’ll realize it’s more than a hobby; it’s a community, a lifelong game of discovery, and a beautiful excuse to go explore.
Birders also have their own lingo. A few terms to know:
Lifer: The first time you see a bird species in your life. It’s a milestone!
Twitching: Traveling long distances to see a rare bird.
Patch: A birder’s regular spot, like a favorite park or trail.
Dip: When you try to find a bird… and miss it. We’ve all been there.
Famous Birding Destinations (and When to Go)
The more you bird, the more your curiosity grows, and suddenly, you're dreaming of spotting toucans in Costa Rica or puffins in Scotland. Here are some legendary birding destinations across the globe:
🌿 Costa Rica: With over 900 species, this small country is packed with colorful birds—resplendent quetzals, toucans, motmots, and more.
🌸 Japan’s Hokkaido (in winter): For stunning red-crowned cranes and snowy owls.
🌅 The Pantanal, Brazil: A birding haven, home to hyacinth macaws, jabirus, and more.
🦩 Rift Valley, Kenya: Flamingos, bee-eaters, crowned cranes—and so much more.
🌊 Isle of Mull, Scotland: Puffins, sea eagles, and charming coastal landscapes.
🌴 Papua New Guinea: The elusive birds of paradise are a true birder’s dream.
🗓️ When to go: Migration seasons are golden. In most places, that means spring and fall, when birds are moving between breeding and wintering grounds. Tropical areas vary, so it helps to work with a travel advisor who knows the feathered patterns of the region (wink wink).
The Best Birding Tool You Can Carry
If you haven’t already downloaded the Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology…do it now. Seriously.
Merlin lets you identify birds by photo, location, or even sound. That’s right! Just hit record, and it’ll listen for chirps, trills, and hoots, and give you real-time suggestions. It's like having a field guide in your pocket, and it’s completely free.
It’s also really, really accurate. Just find a quiet spot and listen. It will pick up birds you had no idea were even in the area.
Backyard Birding: Your Passport Starts at Home
Here’s the best part: birding doesn’t require a passport. Your own backyard (or balcony!) might surprise you with how many birds pass through each year.
Put up a feeder or bird bath, and soon you’ll be spotting chickadees, hummingbirds, goldfinches, even hawks and owls if you’re lucky. Keep a journal or use the Merlin app to track what you see. You’ll quickly start racking up lifers and itching to see more, in new habitats around the world.
Cool Birds from the Cold Ends of the Earth
If you’re ready to level up your birding bucket list, why not go polar?
🧊 In the Arctic, birders can spot:
Snowy owls
King eiders
Ivory gulls
Long-tailed jaegers
Arctic terns, which travel from pole to pole every year (yes, seriously)
🐧 In Antarctica, it’s all about:
Adélie, Gentoo, and Emperor penguins
Skuas
Snow petrels
Albatrosses soaring over the Southern Ocean
Polar birding is next-level—often paired with zodiac boat tours, towering icebergs, and wildlife like seals and whales.
✨ Thinking about a birding trip to the Arctic or Antarctic? I’d love to help you plan something unforgettable! As a certified Polar Pro, I can help guide you to find the birds and adventures of your dreams in the most remote places on Earth. See more here!
Coming Up: My November Trip to Tanzania!
This fall, I’ll be heading to Tanzania—one of the most bird-rich countries in Africa—for the East African bird migration. November is an incredible time to visit: over 1,100 species can be found here, from flashy hornbills to fish eagles, bee-eaters, sunbirds, and more.
I'll be sharing updates (and maybe even some lifers) from the field, so stay tuned or reach out if you’re curious about joining a future birding adventure! I love to help people find the wildlife of their dreams, and we can do it together, even better.
Final Thoughts: Why Birding Hooks You
Once you start paying attention to birds, something shifts. Their colors, songs, and migrations pull you into a world that’s always been there. You just hadn’t looked up.
It’s peaceful, thrilling, accessible, and endless. Whether it’s a sparrow outside your window or a penguin colony in the Antarctic, birding offers moments of quiet awe, wherever you are.
Ready to start your birding journey, or take it global? Reach out anytime. I’d love to help you plan a nature-filled escape, with binoculars in hand.
