The American bald eagle, a “rite of passage” for many bird watchers
Photo by: Rob Sylvan (Stock Exchange)

A while back on AllCampgrounds, we got started with a great new series where we’ll show you just where to go to enjoy some of nature’s most spectacular creatures while you enjoy your tent camping or RV camping vacations. We got started with some of the top camp grounds in the nation for seeing bald eagles and other rare and amazing birds, but there’s just one thing missing: a guide to getting started in this fascinating hobby. After all, everybody should be in on the fun. So, we’re going to talk Birding 101 today.

Basic Equipment for Beginning Birders

Virtually all campsites have some bird population, but if you’ve ever tried to “sneak up” on one, regardless of species, you know that getting a good look can be tricky. Some basic equipment and skills can go a long way toward enjoying your birding trek. The first thing you’re going to need is a strong pair of binoculars, and in this case, a good, long-term investment often beats out a bargain. You’ll need to be able to see your quarry clearly from hundreds of feet away, and they have the advantage of flight – low-end binoculars are tempting, but not if you can’t make out the birds!

The other thing you’ll need to get started is a printed field guide to the local birds. Some of the camp grounds we showcased before do offer detailed descriptions and photographs of nearby species, along with their habitat and dietary preferences; but if you plan to identify your finds, you’ll need to carry a birding guide with you out in the great outdoors. A good birding guide will also offer tips to finding the notable birds in your area, state, or region, with full-color illustrations so you know just what you’re looking at. Some smartphone applications can simulate this, but full-sized pictures are best.

Optional equipment includes a bird call – one that sounds like the birds who live in the area, naturally – and a rough-and-ready camera suitable for outdoor photography. Luckily, camera technology is so advanced these days that you probably won’t have to spend too much to get good shots of birds who are relatively close by. There are even some disposable cameras that do pretty good work in full daylight conditions (but forget about night photography or action shots if you go that route.)

Bird Watching Organizations to Help You Get Started

All campsites known for bird watching are bound to have some helpful information for beginners. But if you’re eager to go camping quick and get started right away, consider joining a bird watching organization. These are stacked top to bottom with eager enthusiasts who are always happy to share their hard-won knowledge with newcomers, and professional bird researchers are often involved. Try the American Birding Association, Association of Field Ornithologists, or the National Audubon Society.

The black-headed bunting, one of about 2,000 bird species in North America
Photo by: Akbar Nemati (Stock Exchange)

Today on AllCampgrounds, we embark on a whole new journey to find the best camp grounds for your nature-watching needs.

Just about everyone who loves camping loves to enjoy nature up close, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than a good, clear view of local wildlife you just can’t see day-to-day.

Of course, we all know that you’ve got to “leave no trace”, and nobody is better at this than experienced bird watchers. So, to get started, we’ll be picking out the best of all campsites for birding.

Great Camp Grounds and Guides for Birding

Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Chickasaw, in Oklahoma, is the home of the famous annual Bald Eagle Watch Tour. During the winter, the area sees up to 1,000 migratory bald eagles, and is one of the most important regions for the ongoing return of this once-endangered species to American skies. Eagle watch programs are abundant from October to January, as the locals are justly proud of their role in protecting eagle habitats. There are six public camp grounds to choose from, including year-round tent camping near the Lake of the Arbuckles, which is prime birding territory.

Bean’s VIP Campground: Bean’s, on the eastern edge of Texas in Sabine County, is one of the smaller campgrounds we’ve showcased here: it has only 20 RV sites and 8 places for tenting, all campsites including both water and electric. But where it really shines is in the huge variety of activities for seeing and enjoying wildlife, including bird watching. The camp area is home to over 40 species of bird, including the bald eagle, great blue heron, cardinal, painted bunting, and many more. For birding photos from around the park and region, click to the Toledo Bend Gallery, an affiliated site.

Coronado National Forest: Sprawled across almost two million acres in southern Arizona and New Mexico, Coronado National Forest offers a lush variety of local desert and forest dwellers for your viewing pleasure. For maximum birding fun, try out Tohono Chul Park, occupying a corner of Coronado. There are plenty of guided tours, outreach programs, and other great cultural enrichment activities set at Tohono Chul, and you can see curve-billed thrashers, cactus wrens, and other southern species.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Found in Bryce, Utah, Bryce Canyon has a rim elevation up to 9,100 feet and is pleasant for most of the year, though snowfall and sub-freezing temperatures can occur between October and April. Bryce is known for stargazing, which has been organized in the valley for almost 50 years, and – of course – bird watching. Bryce is a great place to start an amateur birding odyssey, since – in addition to terrific tent camping and the kind of service you’d expect from a national park – it offers all kinds of materials to help you find local birds. Check out the Bird Checklist, for example. Plus, a quick search yields detailed pages on just about every native species.