Here are the most popular national parks for birdwatching this spring
The spring bird migration is a relatively short period of time between February and June when birds leave their winter homes in the south and begin their journeys north.
These were the most visited national parks and memorials of 2022
Of the more than 400 locations across the country, these were the most visited national park sites in 2022 as reported by the National Park Service.
Spring is here and with temperatures rising, bird watchers across the U.S. are gearing up for one of the most awe-inspiring times of the year – spring migration.
The spring migration is a relatively short period of time between February and June when birds leave their winter homes in the south and begin their journeys north.
And with this exciting time of year upon us, experts with the birding app Birda have revealed the top national parks you can travel to in order to check out the beauty of spring migration.
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Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona features one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Birds at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona include the Peregrine falcon, California condor, Common raven, Steller’s pinyon, Red-tailed hawk, Scrub jay and Canyon wren.
Birda says that the park hosts at least 370 bird species, and while some species are of a more common there are also rare birds, like the California condor, Yuma clapper rail, and Mexican spotted owl.
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California: Pinnacles National Park
FILE - Unusual rock formations and oak and pine trees dot the western edge of Pinnacles National Park as viewed on April 12, 2018, near Soledad, California. Pinnacles National Park is a designated wilderness protecting a mountainous area located east of the Salinas Valley in Central California, about 5 miles east of Soledad.
(George Rose / Getty Images)
Birds within Pinnacles National Park in California include the California quail, California condor, Turkey vulture, Golden eagle, Prairie falcon, Acorn woodpecker and Steller’s jay.
Birda says that although Pinnacles National Park is small and less visited, it is a great birdwatching location with more than 160 bird species.
There are several woodland birds and birds of prey within the park, and it’s also one of few parks where you can see the California condor, a species released at the park after it was bred in captivity.
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Florida: Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is vital in preserving the wetlands habitat of South Florida.
There are more than 300 species of birds within Florida's Everglades National Park, including the Wood stork, Roseate spoonbill, White ibis, Green-backed heron, Snowy egret, Red-tailed hawks, Anhinga, Indigo bunting and Red-bellied woodpecker.
Birdwatchers at the national park can observe birds of prey, land birds and wading birds within the Floridian wetlands, according to Birda.
Millions of birds live in the Everglades, so the chances of seeing your favorite bird species are high. Birda says the best birding spots include the Homestead, Anhinga Trail, Paurotis Pond, Nine Mile Pond and Mrazek Pond.
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Hawaii: Haleakala National Park
FILE - Haleakala National Park 38-mile Haleakala Highway, Nene goose crossing sign.
(Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
The birds in Hawaii's Haleakala National Park include the Hawaiian short-eared owl, Nene goose, Honeycreeper, Maui petrel and Mauri Parrotbill.
Hawaii is one of the most remote archipelagos in the world, and the birds found there are unique, according to Birda. Many birds are native to the area, endemic, and have ancestors who landed on the island millions of years ago.
Birda added that the best birding spot is on Hosmer Grove Trail, right near the campground of the same name.
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Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Park
FILE - A ranger giving a guided tour of Miller Woods at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
(Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
Birds at Indiana Dunes National Park include the Virginia rail, Red-throated loon, Green heron, Great blue heron, Waterfowl and warblers, according to Birda.
The national park is home to about 285 species of birds, as well as the endangered Karner blue butterfly.
Birda suggests the best time to visit is during spring and fall, when thousands of birds migrate through.
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Maine: Acadia National Park
FILE - Cadillac Mountain located on Mount Desert Island, in Acadia National Park, Maine.
(Karla Ann Cote/NurPhoto / Getty Images)
According to Birda, Acadia National Park in Maine boasts 261 species of birds, including the Bald eagle, Atlantic puffin, peregrine falcon, Blackburn warbler and the woodpecker.
The variety of birds is what draws many people to the park, with birds of prey, seabirds and boreal birds all in abundance.
Birda added that many of the birds live there all year, but some species stop at Acadia on their treks north and south every year.
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New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
FILE - Carlsbad Caverns National Park - New Mexico.
(Edwin Remsberg/VW Pics/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
According to Birda, Gray and Bell’s vireo, Vermillion flycatcher, Cactus wren, Ladder-backed woodpecker and varied bunting are the birds to be on the lookout for at New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Birders report anywhere from 310 to 357 bird species at the Carlsbad Caverns. Birda says more than 300 of those species have been seen at Rattlesnake Springs Park.
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Texas: Big Bend National Park
FILE - The Chisos Basin of the Big Bend National Park in Texas is seen on January 25, 2023. Big Bend is a remote region of the state of Texas along the US-Mexico border.
(DANIEL SLIM/AFP / Getty Images)
Big Bend National Park in Texas is home to several bird species, including the Vermillion flycatcher, Colima warbler, Mexican jay, Lucifer hummingbird and Green kingfisher.
Big Bend National Park borders Mexico, so Birda says it presents a unique opportunity to see birds rarely seen in northern parks.
This is especially true of the Colima warbler, which you can’t reliably find anywhere else in the USA, according to Birda.
There are more than 450 different bird species at Big Bend National Park.
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Washington: Olympic National Park
FILE - Hoh River along the Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park in Washington State on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
(Thomas O'Neill/NurPhoto / Getty Images)
The Bald eagle, Western gull, Red-breasted sapsucker, Woodpecker, Belted kingfisher, Steller’s and Gray jay, Blue grouse, Peregrine falcon and Northern pygmy owl are all birds found in Olympic National Park in Washington state.
Birda says you can find diverse scenery and even more variety while birdwatching. Located east of Seattle, the national park is full of beaches, forests, waterfalls, moss, ferns and mountains.
There are more than 250 bird species at the park, according to Birda.
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Wyoming, Idaho, Montana: Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
A look at the United States' first National Park: Yellowstone.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S. and is home to the Bald eagle, American white pelican, Canada geese, Common loon, Osprey, Sandhill crane, Trumpeter swan and American dipper, according to Birda.
There are nearly 300 bird species in this park.