Birding and birdwatching are interchangeable words for observing these feathered animals yet public interest in them is encouraging tourism boards, city officials and nature groups to flock toward telling where to find them.
Birdwatching is the observing of birds either as a recreational activity or citizen science. Birding means being an active and focused pursuit of birding. Nonetheless, destination reps have created marketing materials and online and in-person resources for bird sightings. Here are some prime examples.
A Guide To Birding In Tennessee
In late July, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development unveiled their Guide to Birding in Tennessee, a statewide resource highlighting the diverse birdwatching experiences found across the state. Their 30-plus-page, free guide offers seasonal tips and regional recommendations for spotting bird species such as bald eagles, sandhill cranes, warblers, waterfowl and rare migratory visitors.
The guide, written by avid birders, also lists Tennessee’s birding festivals, responsible conservation practices and a curated list of accessible trails, boardwalks and scenic overlooks.
“Interest in birdwatching, along with nature tours and wildlife viewing, has steadily grown across Tennessee,” said Communications Manager Chelsea Trott. “The new Guide to Birding in Tennessee is designed to support and enrich that interest.”
The guide is available both as a printed publication at Tennessee Welcome Centers and available online as a downloadable PDF. It points out many destinations ranging from Radnor Lake State Park near Nashville, a spot for observing herons, owls, and other resident birds throughout the year, to Reelfoot Lake State Park in West Tennessee, known largely for its winter Bald Eagle population.
Representatives throughout Tennessee also promote their respective birding locations. For example, Sevierville markets birdwatching in their region through outdoor media outlets and content pieces.
“The American Eagle Foundation recently opened its new headquarters in Sevierville and provides a sure-fire way to see majestic birds of prey up close and personal while learning about them,” said Amanda Marr, Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s marketing director. “You can even reserve a ticket for [their program]
‘Talons & Tidbits’ and feed the birds during a special encounter experience.”
Maine Birding Trail
Other states have been promoting birdwatching or birding through various initiatives.
Visit Maine highlights the Maine Birding Trail, a collaborative project between Maine Audubon and Maine departments of Conservation and of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Championed by birder and former state legislator Bob Duschesne, the trail is a network of more than 260 birding locations all around Maine.
“Birdwatching means different things to different people — some birders go on dedicated trips and keep detailed lists, other birders just like to watch and listen to birds on the back porch with some coffee,” said Nick Lund, Maine Audubon’s advocacy and outreach manager.
In tracking users of eBird, a website project by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Lund said it was found that around 120,000 checklists with bird sightings in Maine were uploaded to this website in 2024.
While the Maine Birding Trail lists many birding sites in the state, Lund added there are certain places or habitats beloved by specific birds. Northern Maine’s boreal forests, including in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, are home to millions of breeding songbirds like warblers, vireos, and thrushes.
Kennebunk Plains hosts several species of birds that are rare or endangered in Maine and Monhegan Island is famous for hosting huge numbers of migratory birds in the spring and fall. Even Maine Audubon offers birding events such as free walks, helps out with Maine’s birding festivals and seven volunteer-run chapters across the state.
“The wonderful thing about birding is that almost anywhere can be a hotspot. Birds are our most widespread and conspicuous large animals, and there are birds to be found in every backyard, urban area, forest, pond, coastline and marsh,” said Lund.
A Digital Birding Board in Georgia
In the Georgia city of Sandy Springs, the Morgan Falls Overlook Park now has an interactive digital birding board powered by open-access eBird data.
Developed by the City’s Digital Innovation team, this real-time display uses open API wildlife data to spot the latest feathered visitors to this park.
“The desire was to make the birds that call Morgan Falls Overlook Park home more discoverable to the residents and visitors who enjoy the park,” said the city’s Mayor Rusty Paul.
According to Jason Green, the city’s Digital Communications Manager, a custom cloud-based application was created to automatically call bird sighting data via the eBird API and present it in a visually engaging format.
“The display highlights bird species recently reported in the park—the name and photo of the species, the date reported, and who reported the sighting—providing near-real-time insight into the local avian population,” explained Green. “The goal is for birdwatchers to see the birds they report appear on the display by the time they finish their walk, creating a positive feedback loop.”
In Florida, Experience Kissimmee had developed a past Kissimmee Birding Club campaign and digital birding resources such as an online list of birdwatching hotspots and a past Kissimmee Birding Club campaign. In addition, the Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society remains an active local group that has previously led field trips and programs in the region.
Kissimmee also sits in the heart of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a network of more than 500 birding sites and 2,000 miles of trails statewide.
“We’ve seen consistent growth in interest around birdwatching in Kissimmee, fueled by travelers seeking outdoor, nature-forward experiences,” said Casey Leppanen, Experience Kissimmee’s chief marketing officer.
Nebraska Sandhill Crane Migration
Every March through early April, Nebraska becomes home to the world’s largest sandhill crane migration. More than 80 percent of the world’s population of sandhill cranes are said to converge on the Platte River Valley in Central Nebraska.
Through special viewing blinds and biologist-led excursions, travelers can experience one of nature’s greatest spectacles in an environmentally responsible way. Their proceeds support conservation efforts in the area.
“The annual sandhill crane migration along the Platte River is one of Nebraska’s most iconic natural events, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Brad Mellema, executive director of Grand Island Tourism. “Each spring, communities across central Nebraska see a meaningful boost in tourism—from lodging and dining to guided tours and local attractions.
Idaho Birding Trail
The Idaho Birding Trail, the state’s guide for bird watching, recently expanded to 250 sites to visit, with added GPS coordinates and eBird information tailored to each spot.
The Idaho Fish and Game regional offices contributed to each of their area’s local knowledge for the birding trail, and worked with local birders and universities in building out the materials. Free regional fold-out guides are available to the public at all Idaho Fish and Game regional offices.
As part of the Mississippi Flyway, the Illinois city of Rockford offers rare access to migratory and local species. From Bald Eagles and Cooper’s Hawks to Goldfinches and Barn Swallows, the region offers year-round viewing with peak migration in early fall.
Rockford also brings birding to the streets with its Audubon Mural Project and offers immersive conservation experiences at places including the Severson Dells Nature Center and the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. that’s open to the public.