Many happy campers take their RVs to nature’s most stunning sights, making it easy to turn incredible locations into your very own backyard. Birdwatching is a popular hobby for RVers, with plenty of ways to spot feathered friends while out in the RV. Whether you’re camping in travel trailers, Class C toy haulers, or any other type of RV, you can easily bring along equipment for a memorable birdwatching adventure!
Before you hit the road in search of your birdwatching destinations, check out our RV birdwatching guide for tips to help you make the most of your birdwatching trip!
What is Birdwatching?
Birdwatching, also known as birding, is an increasingly popular outdoor hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical fitness levels. People who participate in this hobby are known as birdwatchers and can watch for birds virtually anywhere their travels take them.
Birding consists of searching for birds in their natural habitat, such as in nature preserves, at the beach, on hiking trails, or even in parks. Birdwatchers often identify species and types of birds using guide books and websites. Often, additional tools like binoculars or photography equipment are used to document the birding adventure. Hobbyists may also keep a journal of the species they see with a notebook or using online tools to archive their sightings.
Benefits of Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a hobby that brings potential benefits for both mental health and physical health. First, it can get you out into nature and onto hiking trails, the beach, or other scenic destinations. Time in nature can help lower stress, improve mood, and even reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders. The act of birding itself compounds the benefits of being in nature by encouraging patience, relaxation, and improves well-being overall. Ask any birder how they feel about their hobby and they’ll likely tell you all about how relaxing it can be!
Birding by RV
You’ve got the 5th wheel, Class B RV, or any other recreational vehicle type packed with your birding equipment and you’re ready to hit the road. Whether you’re relying just on your eyes or you’re bringing some binoculars along for the birdwatching adventure, any RV should easily fit your birding equipment.
So now that the RV is packed and ready for a birdwatching adventure, where should you go? There are birdwatching areas throughout the country that are perfect for seeing famous feathered flyers. Explore some of our favorites or go on a journey to discover some new birding areas.
5 Best Birdwatching Areas
The best birdwatching areas are locations that have a large variety of species to see. There are destinations all around the country that are wonderful for birding, with many that are perfect for RVing.
Everglades National Park, Florida
After spending time at our Tampa RV resort, we invite you to drive south to Everglades National Park. This wetland habitat stretches through several South Florida counties and includes areas that can be visited on foot, by car, or by boat. There are over 360 bird species to be observed in The Everglades, with 16 different species of wading birds to see. This includes the ibis, wood stork, and herons.
Denali National Park, Alaska
With 160 different bird species to see, there are beautiful birds to spot in all seasons at this northern National Park. There are birds that live in the area, along with migratory birds that visit every season. This includes multiple types of falcons, hawks, eagles, loons, cranes, and much more. Explore the full Denali National Park birding list before hitting the road!
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
There are many sights to enjoy at Yellowstone, including beautiful birds of all types. Birds of Yellowstone include the bald eagle, osprey, peregrine falcons, owls, swans, and cranes. Birding in Yellowstone is a popular activity for hobbyists of all ages as there are many types of birds to see throughout the year. There are also many opportunities for RV camping around the park.
Toledo, Ohio
Once a year, northwest Ohio becomes the Warbler Capital of the World, with springtime migration of many species bringing them right into Toledo. These songbirds descend on northwest Ohio every May during their seasonal migration that brings them through the area. Birders can see over 20 species of warblers plus additional species.
Southeast Arizona
Our Tucson RV dealership is in the middle of some of the country’s most popular birdwatching areas. Southeast Arizona is a unique area for birding because it combines several landscape types that attract a variety of species in close by destinations. Popular destinations for birdwatching in this area include The Chiricahua Mountains, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, and The Huachuca Mountains. Visit the National Audubon Society website to learn more about the species and birding areas of Southeast Arizona.
RVing to Birding Destinations
Many of the country’s best birdwatching destinations are easy to visit with your RV. Follow these tips for easily RVing to your birding areas:
- Keep all birding equipment accessible in the RV
- If birdwatching from your RV, park far from other campsites for optimal silence
- Keep all windows and doors closed when birdwatching from your RV
If you’re leaving the RV to go birding, follow the general hiking safety guidelines of the area you’re visiting.
Birdwatching is an increasingly popular hobby that’s perfect for RVers. We offer a large selection of new and used RVs for sale, visit today to find your birdwatching RV!
