Birding in Belize is the Best!
Birdwatching has ceased be known as such. Forget the old, cliche image of the bespectacled, clumsy professor wearing a pith helmet peering into bushes and jotting down notes. Although there might have been a few ornithologists and birdwatchers like that at some point in time, most folks who watch birds nowadays wear whatever clothes or hats they want, carry cameras just as much as binoculars, and come from all walks of life.
These days, we go “birding” and although the hobby continues to be popular among retirees, a growing number of birders are twenty and thirty somethings. Birding has become discovered by the younger crowd, has become “a thing”, and Belize is one of the best places to do it, with a thriving community or avid birders.
1. Anyone Can Watch Birds
It’s true, one of the best things about birding is that anyone can do it. Walk outside, look around and start paying attention to the birds you see and that’s about it. Use binoculars because that makes it easier to appreciate and identify them, and use a field guide app for Belize to put names on everything seen in hotel gardens and during day tours.
2. It’s Easy, Lots to See!
Birding is easy to do no matter where you go but it’s even easier in Belize. This is because Belize has lots of habitats that harbor literally hundreds of species. Many are common and it’s simple to start watching them at nature lodges and any number of hotels.
3. Toucans and Other Exotic Birds
One of the most exciting things about birding in Belize is the number of interesting birds waiting to be seen. Toucans, parrots, tanagers, and many other tropical bird species are fairly common and not that difficult to see. The Keel Billed Toucan is very special in Belize as it has been designated as the national bird and revered with pride throughout the country.
4. Enhance Any Trip to Belize with Birding
Another fun thing about birding in Belize is that it makes for a simple means of enhancing any trip. Even if you just spend one daybirding, seeing parakeets, toucans, and other exotic birds is an unforgettable adventurous experience.
5. Experienced Birding Guides
Birding is easy enough to do on your own but it gets ten times better with a practiced, local guide. Take a day trip or a longer birding tour and one of the many qualified Belizean birding guides will show you one new tropical bird after another. The country is so forested that birders can sometimes spot up to 50 species in a single excursion, and over 200 on a single trip.
Day trips are an easy ways to see lots of birds on a vacation in Belize. Visiting Belize in October? Check out the Belize Birding festival! No matter when or where you go in Belize, don’t forget to pack binoculars. There are a lot of cool birds to see!
