15 Birdwatching Tours in the USA to Book This Season

1.Birding By Boat on the Osprey

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 787 reviews · from $38Our pick

Join Captain Bob and a naturalist for a two-hour boat trip through the salt marsh behind Cape May and Wildwood. You’ll use provided binoculars to spot eagles, ospreys, herons, shorebirds, and marine life. The calm back bay suits beginners, families, and serious birders alike, with a maximum of 20 people aboard.

“This a wonderful pontoon boat ride through the backbay of Cape May that is full of both shore and migratory birds. If eagles. Ospreys, and herons are your thing, let Bob be your guard. He is a wealth of knowledge and knows where the birds hang out. Enjoy the ride.”

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2.Marco Island 2 hour Dolphin, Birding and Shelling tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 503 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $99

From Goodland, near Marco Island, you’ll spend two hours cruising the Ten Thousand Islands with a captain and naturalist guide. Look for bottlenose dolphins, manatees, pelicans, osprey, and wading birds, then stop at an uninhabited barrier island to collect shells. Guides such as Joe, Ryan, Ed, and Mike are known for sharing local wildlife knowledge.

“The captain and first mate were very knowledgeable and fun. We saw lots of dolphin and shelling was great.”

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3.Colorado Springs Hands-On Falconry Class and Demonstration

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 293 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $217

Spend 90 minutes with licensed falconers Deanna, Roger, or Nicole learning how eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons hunt. You’ll watch hawks fly free, walk with one through the woods, visit the owl room, and wear a leather glove to hold a trained Saker Falcon. Morning and afternoon sessions meet at Broadmoor Outfitters.

“I loved this experience. The guide was so knowledgeable and she had a fun personality. Our van driver was also so friendly and fun to be around.”

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4.2 Hour Dolphin, Birding and Shelling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 247 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $109

Set out from Goodland Boat Park near Marco Island for a two-hour cruise through the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. A captain and guide such as Ed, Kevin, Joe, Kate, or Ray may point out dolphins, manatees, birds, turtles, and shells before stopping at a remote island. The boat holds no more than 17 people.

“Joyce was very knowledgeable, the boat ride was amazing and the dolphins were the head of the show! We found many shells including a few sand dollars.”

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5.Skip the Line: Flamingo Gardens Admission Ticket in Fort Lauderdale

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 223 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $23Cheapest here

Spend about four hours at Flamingo Gardens, a 60-acre nonprofit sanctuary west of Fort Lauderdale. Your daytime admission includes the 25-minute narrated tram ride, botanical gardens, rescued Florida wildlife, free-flying birds, wildlife presentations, the Wray House Museum, and access to the on-site café and gift shop.

“It was a great time clean well maintained Informative and fun Animals were well cared for and everyone was helpful”

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6.Marco Island: 2-Hour Dolphin, Birding, and Shelling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 212 reviews · 2 hours

Spend two private hours with a certified Florida Master Naturalist exploring the Ten Thousand Islands from Goodland. Look for dolphins, manatees, birds, and other wildlife, then stop at an uninhabited barrier island for shelling. Guides such as Ed, Joe, Ryan, and Kate tailor the outing to your interests.

“Captain Ed was great! Enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this trip.”

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7.Two-Hour Everglades Dolphin, Manatee and Birding Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $109

Board a small boat at Chokoloskee for two hours among the Everglades’ 10,000 Islands. Your guide may point out dolphins, manatees, pelicans, ospreys, bald eagles, herons, sea turtles, fish, shells, and mangrove ecosystems. Captains such as Don, Dan, Glenn, Matt, and Ray are praised for their local knowledge and personal attention.

“Our tour Guide Don was great--totally knowledgeable about the area, the flora and the fauna. He was pleasant, fun, patient as well. We saw all kinds of birds, nests, and Calusa shell formations--centuries old! The 2 highlights were seeing a huge flock of white pelicans resting on the beach of one of the islands. I've seen them at Ding Darling but never as close as we came without disturbing them and having dolphins visiting us and performing! Worth the price of the trip! Again, I've seen dolphins before but never so close. Don led us in singing Flipper's them song and a great time was had by all--Paula, Chatham, MA”

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8.Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal at the Flamingo Las Vegas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 135 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Spend about 80 minutes with Wayne Newton at Bugsy’s Cabaret in the Flamingo Las Vegas. He sings Danke Schoen and other favorites, plays several instruments, shares career videos and stories, and answers audience questions. Choose your seat, then upgrade to VIP for a post-show photo and brief chat with this longtime Las Vegas performer.

“Not only is it Wayne Newton singing, he shares clips of many singers he performed with. He played numerous instruments as well.”

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9.RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! at the Flamingo Las Vegas

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 121 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59

See RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! at Flamingo Las Vegas, hosted by Ginger Minj with Kylie Sonique Love, Morphine Love Dion, Plane Jane, Jaida Essence Hall, and Asia O’Hara. Expect 90 minutes of drag, comedy, costumes, choreography, lip-sync performances, and crowd work. Your ticket includes admission and fees, but not drinks or parking.

“If you’re a fan, you will enjoy this show. If you’re not a fan, you’ll become one. The outfits and the lip syncs are top notch. And, the audience is totally engaged.”

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10.Wetlands Safari Eco-Cruise in Cape May (Osprey Birding By Boat)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 113 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $38

Join Captain Bob, Vince, Patty, and the crew for a two-hour eco-cruise through Cape May and Wildwood’s back bays. The smaller Osprey boat gets close to marsh grass, birds, chicks, turtles, and sometimes eagles. Binoculars are supplied, and the boat has a windowed cabin for rough weather.

“The boat operator and the bird naturalist on board were excellent and very knowledgeable about the different birds we saw. The scenery was beautiful. The trip was both educational and enjoyable. Two hours was the perfect length of time.”

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11.X Burlesque Show at the Flamingo

See the X Girls in an intimate Flamingo showroom for a high-energy topless revue with teasing choreography, props, audience interaction, and classic burlesque numbers. Choose your seating section to match your budget, then watch playful routines set to contemporary music, including a champagne-glass striptease to Michael Buble’s Fever.

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12.Everglades Birding, Dolphin and Wildlife Boat Tour (2 hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $119

Spend two quiet hours in Everglades National Park’s 10,000 Islands aboard a small skiff with a Florida Master Naturalist guide. Expect close views of mangroves, dolphins, egrets, herons, ospreys, pelicans, and other wildlife. Captain Don, Dan, and Daniel are praised for their local knowledge, while the boat’s six-person limit keeps the outing personal.

“Great guide and information, beautiful tour, experience was first rate. My family thoroughly enjoyed it.”

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13.Experience Raptors and Falconry in Reno

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $125

At Raptor Adventures near Reno, licensed falconer Kathleen introduces you to hawks, falcons, and owls through hands-on handling and flight work. In a group of six or fewer, you will learn about raptor biology, conservation, and falconry before walking with a Harris’ Hawk as it flies between perches and returns to your gloved hand.

“Got to do something I had always wanted to do. Kathleen was so knowledgeable, I felt like I learned so much.”

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14.Flamingo Bus Miami Tours | Miami’s Only Open-Air Trolley!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $69

See Miami’s Art Deco District, Design District, and Wynwood on a roughly two-hour open-air trolley tour with guides such as Alex, Isabella, Candy, and Austin. You’ll hear about local culture, art, and city development, stop at Michelin-rated Sanguich for a Cuban sandwich, and return to the starting point.

“Wonderful open air trolley and great tour guide. Saw all the neighborhoods I had heard about and came to understand how they all developed.”

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15.RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE! at the Flamingo

Head to the Flamingo Showroom for RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE!, a Vegas stage production built around the TV show. Expect comedy, singing, dancing, fashion, big costumes, and a rotating cast that may include Ginger Minj, Kylie Sonique Love, Morphine Love Dion, Plane Jane, Jaida Essence Hall, and Asia O’Hara. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

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