Issue Date: May 7, 2006

Travel

Bird-watching is looking up

More than 46 million Americans enjoy this fun activity. Here's how to get started -- and where to go next.

By Kimberly Lisagor

Have you ever wondered what kind of bird squawks outside your window every morning? Finding out could be your foray into one of America's favorite pastimes. There are upwards of 46 million bird-watchers in the United States, and most of them got started in the same place: at home.

"The first place to look for birds is in the backyard," says Mike Parr, vice president of the American Bird Conservancy. Start by outfitting yourself with some backyard birding gear: a feeder from a local bird or pet store, where the experts can help choose the right seed for your area; a regional field guide to backyard birds; and some binoculars. Parr recommends a pair between 7 x 30 and 10 x 50, enough magnification to spot birds in the treetops without limiting your field of vision.

Then, seek the company of other birders; it's an essential part of the learning process. Look for regional chapters of the National Audubon Society, which often hold classes for budding birders and offer local field trips led by experts.

Once you've gotten to know the avian species closest to home, you may be inspired to go farther afield. Hundreds of National Wildlife Refuges are scattered throughout the country, and "Important Bird Areas" lie within the borders of many of them. Many of these refuges were designed with birds in mind, protecting areas where birds tend to gather. Explore them on your own, or go to fws.gov/refuges to look for birding events. A great time to meet other wildlife watchers is International Migratory Bird Day, May 13. To find out about IMBD festivals near you, visit birdday.org.

Locating birding opportunities in the United States has become much easier in the last decade. In 1996, Texas gave birders a specific route to follow. Since then, more than half the states have followed its lead. Many of these trails are marked with signs and have companion maps that point out noteworthy birding sites and their resident species. The American Birding Association (americanbirding.org; 800-850-2473) has information on the nation's birding trails, including these hot spots:

Central Coast Birding Trail, California (ca-ccbt.info): The breathtaking coastline between Ventura and Monterey is home to nearly 300 bird species, including the brown pelican, the yellow-billed magpie and the endangered California condor.

Lake Champlain Birding Trail, Vermont and New York (lakechamplainbirding.org): Be sure to explore the new Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge visitor center before setting out on this 300-mile trail in search of snowy owls and migrating waterfowl such as Canada geese.

The Great River Birding Trail, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri (audubon.org/bird_trails/great_river.html): You can catch a glimpse of the elegant tundra swan along this 1,366-mile Mississippi River trail, which soon will stretch all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail (www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/coastal): The nation's first formal birding trail remains its longest, covering approximately 2,100 miles of Texas' Gulf Coast. Official trail maps divide it into three regions: upper, central and lower. Look for roseate spoonbills in the north, great blue herons in the middle and green jays in the south.

Travel writer Kimberly Lisagor is the author of "Outside's Wilderness Lodge Vacations."

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The holy grail of birds
Spotting a rare bird in the wild is one of the great thrills of bird-watching. Unfortunately, America's birds are becoming more rare every day. In fact, one in four U.S. species is on the decline, primarily because of habitat loss. Here are some high-profile members of the endangered-bird community that you can look for at various places around the country:

California condor
One of the world's biggest flying birds, this member of the vulture family has a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet. Look for it along California's central coast, where the species has been reintroduced from Big Sur to the mountains of Los Angeles.

Whooping crane
Fewer than 300 of these distinctive, long-necked birds are known to live outside captivity between the Gulf Coast of Texas and the Canadian border. If you're lucky enough to happen upon one, you'll know it by the snowy white feathers, black legs and impressive stature: It stands up to5 feet tall.

Ivory-billed woodpecker
This large woodpecker was thought to be extinct until 2004, when it was rediscovered in Arkansas. It has glossy black plumage, a red crest, a white stripe that runs from under its eye to the side of its back, plus that ivory-colored bill.