If you’re planning to take an airboat ride with Wild Florida soon, you’re sure to find many of our feathered friends hanging out and flying around our Wildlife Park. This is a great chance to immerse yourself in the beautiful nature surrounding us and learn more about the birds in our area. To truly enjoy the richness of our wildlife, it helps to know how to spot these birds. Here are four tips that will help you watch out for them while cruising along in the Florida Everglades.
1. Catch them when they’re out
If you want to get a good glimpse of the birds in our area, try meeting them when they’re out and about. Most of them are usually out during the day searching for food, so taking a morning or early afternoon airboat ride will increase your bird-spotting chances. Winter in Florida is the ideal time to spot birds that have migrated here from northern states, so you might have a better chance of spotting more bird species if you take an airboat ride during these months, too. Not to mention, Orlando’s weather is beautiful this time of year.
2. Bring the right toolsWidening your visibility while you’re out on the water is a must if you want to spot as many birds as you can. Bringing a pair of binoculars is a good idea to make sure you get the most out of your airboat ride.
3. Know what birds are in the areaResearching what birds are native to this area will help you identify the birds you spot. Another tip for identifying them is snapping a picture of the bird first, and going back later to your resources to identify it. The bird might be gone before you know it, so it’s important to not let the moment pass you by.
Our airboat captains are also a great resource when it comes to learning about the native animals and birds you’ll spot on an airboat ride, so be sure to ask them, too!
And as we all know, there’s an app for everything nowadays, and birdwatching is no exception. An app like this one can help you identify over hundreds of different types of birds so you can get the most out of your birdwatching experience.
4. Make it a family affairBringing family or friends along with you who enjoy birdwatching, and comparing your findings with them, can take your knowledge to the next level. Chances are, with more people watching out for them, you'll spot and identify more species. So put the kiddos to work and see how many hawks, ibis, and egrets you can find!
To all the birders out there, we’re just a short drive away from Orlando and overflowing with winged pals for you to observe. We can’t wait to see what you’ll find!
