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Florida Birdwatching Heats-Up with Sighting of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Florida is a favorite among birdwatchers. It offers a wide variety of birds, is located along bird migration routes, and has an abundance of land untouched by urban sprawl. Even better, the subtropical climate attracts birds that may not exist in other parts of the US. It’s reported that more than 300 bird species exist in Florida. Considering that, it’s not too shocking that the “extinct” ivory-billed woodpecker recently made a Florida appearance.

Why do Birdwatchers Care about the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker?

The rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker has Florida birdwatching enthusiasts scrambling to catch a peek. The last reported sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1935. Occasional sightings afterwards were so few until some scientists and birdwatchers decided the bird must be extinct. The bird’s demise was attributed to developers destroying the bird’s habitat and hunters desiring the bird for its meat.

Florida birdwatching enthusiasts were happy to learn that an ornithologist reported sighting the ivory-billed woodpecker a number of times between December 2005 and April 2006. This sighting has caused quite a stir, and Florida is now even more popular among birdwatchers. For serious birdwatchers, the discovery of a living ivory-billed woodpecker is akin to discovering a living dinosaur.

Florida Birdwatching Tips from Adventures Unlimited

• A good pair of binoculars is mandatory. You often won’t be able to get close enough to examine a bird with your naked eye. A good pair of binoculars will allow you to accurately identify what you’re seeing.

• Try to start your birdwatching early in the morning. It’s true that birds are most active during early-morning hours.

• Keep a copy of your bird field guide with you at all times. Unless you’ve been birdwatching for many years, you won’t be able to accurately identify every bird on sight.

• Learn the sounds each bird makes. In some cases you will hear a bird before you see it. Recognizing what you hear helps identify birds by more than appearance.

If you’ll be birdwatching on an Adventures Unlimited retreat, we ask that you respect your neighbors and keep the campsite clean. It’s important to protect the habitat and keep it clean for yourself, your neighbors, and the animals. Please contact us for more information on our Florida adventure holidays and retreats. You’ll be among the Florida birdwatching enthusiasts in the blink of an eye.