Some birds travel for thousands of miles every year in search of warmer climates, while others never leave the forests in which they were born. One thing's for sure, quite a large number of bird enthusiasts are willing to travel just as far as any migratory bird to see and snap some photos of these beauties in their natural habitats. But did you know traveling to see birds actually helps to protect them?
Birders are passionate about protecting birds, especially endangered species and their habitats. Birding travel, or avitourism, contributes to bird conservation in several ways. When local people become aware of the commercial and social value placed on their forests and the birds that live in them, they are more likely to invest in preservation and tourism, rather than turning to other means of earning a living, such as hunting or deforestation.
Governments are also more likely to invest in habitat conservation, protected areas, and tourism infrastructure if they know there is a market for tourism in those areas. In addition, higher visitation to bird refuges and reserves usually means more funding for ongoing projects and for the acquisition of new land.
Travelers who book with sustainable hotels and tour operators contribute to bird conservation even more directly, because those businesses have made a commitment to environmentally-friendly practices that protect birds and other wildlife in the area. Many sustainable hotels in popular bird watching areas have partnerships with nonprofit organizations carrying out bird conservation projects or provide facilities for scientists studying rare and endangered bird species.
So if you love wildlife, book with a sustainable hotel or tour operator on your next vacation – it's for the birds!
If you're headed to one of these birding hotspots, consider the sustainable hotels below for your accommodations:
- Reserva El Jaguar – This ecological reserve, hotel, and research station is located in Nicaragua's Isabelia Mountain Range in a tropical cloud forest. The site is home to a famous bird sanctuary that includes Pacific, Caribbean, and migratory bird species. BirdLife International has declared it an Important Bird Area (IBA NI 15).
- Tandayapa Bird Lodge – This Andean cloud forest lodge in Ecuador is specially equipped for traveling birders. Telescopes, binoculars, and camera gear are available for use by guests. The amount of hummingbird species you'll see here is astonishing.
- Bird's Eye View Lodge – Located on Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the top Neotropical birding sites in Belize. They've recorded over 250 resident or migratory exotic Neotropical bird species here, so you're bound to add new birds to your list.
We have over 270 hotels that feature bird watching as a top activity. Click here to see the full list!
