Author: Lindsay VanSomeren / Source: Wise Bread
On the surface, bird-watching sounds like a cheap activity. All you really need is a pair of good binoculars, right? But if you’re a true bird nerd, you know that you won’t be satisfied with just that. You can spend endless amounts of cash on outdoor hiking gear, GPS devices, notebooks, and bird identification books.
And that’s before you take into account the cost of guided tours in far-off destinations — some of which run several thousand dollars.With all of these options, it’s no wonder bird-watching is a multi-billion-dollar industry. However, here’s the good news: There are plenty of world-class spots right here in the continental U.S. where you do some serious bird-watching for just the cost of the gas it takes to drive there. Here are some of the best budget travel destinations for bird-watching. (See also: 6 Cheap Date Ideas for Nature Lovers)
1. Kearney, Nebraska
If you’ve ever wanted to see the world’s largest concentration of sandhill cranes, then Kearney, Nebraska’s your best bet. Each spring, the town’s population swells with over 650,000 birds — which is 80 percent of the world’s sandhill crane population. They converge on the Platte River as they migrate through on their way to their northern breeding grounds. The sound of the birds trumpeting through the air is electrifying.
Even better, the Audubon Society and Kearney’s visitor bureau pair up to put on a crane-watching festival each spring, full of free activities you can participate in, such as guided trips and a family crane carnival.
Three-star hotels in Kearney run around $100 a night.2. Roscommon, Michigan
At first glance, Roscommon wouldn’t be your go-to vacation spot. It’s a small town more than an hour’s drive from Traverse City, which gets all the glory as one of Michigan’s vacation hotspots.
But every June, the town brings birders out for a celebration of a very special tiny bird: the Kirtland’s Warbler. This bird, averaging just a half-ounce in weight, is an endangered species, and boy, does it have a story. The Kirtland’s Warbler flies to northern Michigan from Jamaica every summer, and only breeds in a specific species of tree of a specific height and a specific age.
Because of these strict requirements, the species started heading towards extinction, dipping down to just 400 birds in 1971. During this time they were only breeding in one county in the entire world — just outside Roscommon. Happily, the population is climbing back up today, and with a little luck, you can see these amazing birds each June before they head back to warmer climates. (See also: 6 Outdoor Adventures That…
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