Traveling For The Birds

Bird watching tours are a popular form of alternative vacation. Bird watching itself is one of the world's most fascinating hobbies, especially in America, Europe, and Asia. There are actually many different kinds of tours you can take specifically for birdwatching. Some of these will mix bird watching up with wildlife viewing in general, while others are exclusively dedicated to avians. For example, the more than 24,000 acres of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve protect homes for the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo -- as well as the Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion, the Tooth Cave spider, the Tooth Cave ground beetle, the Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle, the Bone Cave harvestman, and the Bee Creek Cave harvestman.
Tours hosted by wildlife preserves provide great opportunities for concentrated, close up bird watching. It doesn't take long for birds and other wildlife to realize they are safe and protected while they are on preserves. This means you'll be able to see the birds in their natural environment, as well as enjoy the spectacle of their interaction with other forms of wildlife in the area. A good set of binoculars are still needed, and if you are an avid photographer you'll still want to carry telephoto lens as well.
The City of Austin operates two types of preserves. The Preserves are sanctuaries for native plants, native animals and unique natural features. They provide educational and scientific opportunities for the people of Austin.
They are managed in perpetuity for the primary benefit of their wildlife communities, unique species, and natural terrain.
To get yourself consistently up close and personal with the wildlife on a preserve you can offer to work as a volunteer.
Bird Ecolodges
Tobago is found in the gentler half of the nation state of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the most southerly islands of the Caribbean island chain. The island is 16 miles long and 7 miles wide.
Tobago is famous for: White-tailed Sabrewing, Magnificent Frigatebird, Green-backed Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Broad-winged Hawk, Great Black Hawk, Merlin, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Pale-vented Pigeon Eared Dove, White-tipped Dove, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Orange-winged Parrot, White-tailed Nightjar, Gray-rumped Swift, Short-tailed Swift, Rufous-breasted Hermit Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin hummingbird, Black-throated Mango Hummingbird, and the Ruby Topaz Hummingbird
Aviaries and Bird Sanctuaries provide dedicated tours for birdwatchers that take place inside special forms of wildlife preserves that house only birds. These tours are fun because the tours are designed specifically to showcase the birds.
While wildlife preserves show a variety of animals, aviaries showcase birds in huge screen cages, making it easier to see them up close.