Birding Tour Companies

Taking a trip with a birding tour company is a great way to see new birds, new locations and to make new friends. Tour companies are sometimes able to arrange access to otherwise private locations. Tour leaders also stay up with the latest sightings and can help participants find rare or targeted species.

These are some of the better-known and most successful birding tour companies.

Bird Treks

Field Guides
World Wide

King Bird Tours
The Asia Specialists

Naturetrek
UK based

Seabirding Pelagic Trips
Departures form the Carolinas

Shearwater Journey's
Pelagic specialists, California coast.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT)
World wide

Wings - Birding Tours World Wide

Up and coming...

Cheepers! Birding on a Budget 
Destinations include Ecuador, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, Peru

By State:

Florida

Central Florida Nature Adventures, LLC
Jenny Boyd
35830 County Rd 439
Eustis, FL
Phone: 352-589-7899
Web: www.floridabirdwatching.com
Email:jenniferkayaks@yahoo.com
Description: We provide guided bird watching tours in Central Florida via our kayak excursions. Novice or experienced, we pride ourselves in accommodating the nature lovers, birders, photographers and paddlers alike.

Indiana

Interlude Tours
Contact name:    JoAnn Carr
Address 1:    7816 N Chester Av.
Address 2:   
City:    Indianapolis
State:    IN
Country:    USA
Phone:    317-913-0387
Fax:    317-576-0232
Web:    www.interludetours.com
Email:    joann@interludetours.com

North Carolina

The Cape Fear Naturalist
Joseph Abbate
Wrightsville Beach Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Wilmington, NC
910-200-4002
Web: http://www.capefearnaturalist.com
Email: captainjoe@capefearnaturalist.com
The Cape Fear Naturalist can help you discover the wonder and variety of nature in the Lower Cape Fear region. Guided eco-tours are offered to a wide variety of habitats and ecosystems. Join us on our customized 28 foot Beach Catamaran, by sea kayak, or on foot for a unique, ecologically based, outdoor excursion. Eco-tour components may include waterbird and shorebird identification, freshwater and saltwater ecosystem dynamics, changing water quality issues, or other topics by arrangement. The Cape Fear Coast is a wonderfully diverse area and discovering its intricate ecosystems can be fun, exciting and, yes, even educational.

International by Country

Costa Rica

Birding on a Budget Costa Rica
Hacienda Atenas #38
Atenas, Alajuela
Costa Rica
www.birdingonabudgetcr.com
birdingonabudgetcr@gmail.com
Skype 4252961444

Gambia West Africa

Puerto Rico

Birding Puerto Rico
Hilda Morales
Uroyán 1102
Alturas de Mayagüez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
PUERTO RICO
Phone:    (787) 530-8311
www.birdingpr.com
Email: hilda@birdingpr.com
Half, full, and multi-day guided birding trips, plus all-inclusive birding packages in Puerto Rico. Fully licensed company with 18 years of experience.

Birding Destinations

Ecuador
San Jorge ~ The Magic Birding Circuit
Cheryl Korowotny
Km 4, Antiqua Via Cotocollao a Nono
Quito, Ecuador       
South America
877 565 2596 toll free USA & Canada
www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com/ecuador_bird_watching.shtml
birdwatching@eco-lodgesanjorge.com
Magic Birding Circuit of Ecuador- San Jorge Eco-Lodges & Botanical Reserves owns 4 private birding reserves and 3 beautiful lodges at the reserves. Our tours offer over 1,000 possible species and 60 varieties of Hummingbirds. Visit San Jorge Botanical Reserve (High Barren Plains/Highland Rain Forest - Quito Foothills), San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary (Cloud Forest), San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve, (Subtropical Rainforest), San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Bird/Wildlife Reserve (Eastern Slope), adjoining Antizana NP. NEW!! San Jorge de Tandayapa Eco-Lodge has recently opened in January 2009! Visit San Jorge de Milpe Eco-Lodge with pristine birding trails, cascading waterfalls.

Portugal
Algarve Bird Watching Tours
Henrique
Tavira Algarve, Portugal
Phone: 00351 960170789
Web: http://www.algarve-birdwatching.com/
eMail: henrique@taviratours.com
The Algarve has a wonderful variety of birds and many places where to find them. At almost any time of the year there is something of interest to see. Tours may cover several different habitats dependent on season and tides - salinas, saltmarsh, hills, steppe grasslands and woodlands. These tours are specifically designed for those who like to learn and have fun while bird watching.

South Africa

Rockjumper Birding Tours
Adam Riley
PO Box 13972
Cascades 3202
KZN
South Africa
Phone:    +27 33 3940225
Fax:    +27 88 033 3940225
Web:    www.rockjumperbirding.com
Email:    info@rockjumperbirding.com
Rockjumper Birding Tours was founded in 1998 and has grown to become one of the largest and most successful bird tour companies in the world. They operate over 150 tours annually to more than 60 countries throughout the world, these include set date scheduled departure and private customized tours, all guided by professional bird tour leaders.

Photographs by Glenn Bartley

Questions to Ask the Tour Company

If you are not familiar with the tour company, give them a call and ask a few basic questions.

1. Who is leading the tour?

2. How much experience does the tour leader have in the area you will be visiting? First trips to an unfamiliar region may not be as productive as they might be.

3. Many tour companies use local experts with local knowledge. Ask if this is the case.

4. Try to visit with one of the leaders for the trip. A short conversation can sometimes reveal a personality conflict. Trips can be tiring and personal conflicts can occur.

6. Be sure you know what is included in the cost of the tour.

*Transportation to a specific departure area is usually not covered. This may include overseas air costs.

*Meals may not be included.

*Determine if there are additional optional expenses, such as a better room or side trips.

7. Ask if you can contact a previous participant, and then ask that participant for another contact.

Most major tour companies do an excellent job. If the tour company has been in business for several years, it is a good bet they know how to take care of their customers.

Suggest A Tour Company

We will be glad to include established tour companies or trip leaders on this page. Just submit the form below to recommend a company, including your own.

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