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The Top 10 Birding Spots
by Pete Dunne
Whenever birders gather, at conferences, at festivals, in ad hoc assemblages spurred by the appearance of some very rare bird, talk turns naturally to bird-related matters — books, articles, equipment, recent sightings. But inevitably the discussion moves to places. Over banquet desserts or shared candy bars, the stellar points on the birding circuit are brought to light.
Some "hot spots," because of their fame, beauty or the bounty of their avian wealth, are universally acknowledged. Others enjoy more limited allegiance, the merit of these places enhanced by regional pride or cherished memories. All birding locations, of course, have merit — because they are vessels of habitat; because they are the portals thorugh which humans gain glimpses of the wonders and diversity of their world.
But what if you were asked, as I was, to pare down the wealth of a continent to just 10 top birding locations? What "hot spots" would you chose?
This is my list in no particular order.
Pete Dunne is director of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and author of "Tales of a Low Rent Birder," "Feather Quest" and "Before the Echo."
