On a wing: get ready to join the fall migration. From Panama to the Poconos, a birdwatcher's guide to exciting autumn destinations…

Natural History, Oct, 2002

Panama

Home to 10,000 varieties of plants and almost 1,000 species of birds--more than in North America and Europe combined--Panama is a birder's paradise.

THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY and its diverse ecosystems--from highland cloud forests to lowland rain forests to coastal estuaries--offer some of the best birdwatching in the world. Novice and experienced birders alike are guaranteed sightings of a multitude of species, many of them rare and beautiful, ranging from small songbirds to large predators.

Millions of Neotropical migrants pass through Panama in the spring and fall, and it's possible to see a wintering grosbeak sharing the same tree with a keel-billed toucan.

For the best birding, head to the rainforest, where you may spot two of the country's most famous inhabitants: the resplendent quetzal, with its thirty-inch-long iridescent blue-green tail feathers, and the harpy eagle, an unusually large and powerful raptor and the country's national bird.

Deep in the astonishingly large Darien National Park, a biosphere reserve with seven life zones, you will find dozens of endemic species and clusters of green, scarlet, blue, and yellow macaws. Here you stand a good chance of spotting such rare birds as the chestnut-fronted macaw and red-throated caracara.

At Volcan Baru, the country's most visited national park and its highest elevation, catch a glimpse of the quetzal or toucan. Near the Panama Canal, explore Pipeline Road, which passes through the rainforest of the Soberania National Park and is home to 380 species including trogons, caciques, woodpeckers, and many more. In the Panama Canal, visit Barro Colorado Island, home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The Panama Canal watershed boasts 560 bird species including the rufescent tiger heron and chestnut-mandibled toucan.

West Virginia

With more than 80,000 acres of state parks and 100,000 acres of forests, West Virginia offers a natural, peaceful setting for watching its native wildlife.

FROM THE POTOMAC Highlands in the northeastern part of the state to the New River Valley in the south, West Virginia is home to hundreds of species of birds that find sanctuary amid its breathtaking mountains, valleys, forests, lakes, and streams.

A variety of community groups as well as educational programs at most state parks are available to help guide both the casual observer and serious watcher plan an adventure to remember.

From wood and waterfowl to raptors and osprey, the wonders of wildlife await in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. For more information and a free travel guide, call 1-800-CALL WVA or check out www.callwva.com.

GARRETT COUNTY, MARYLAND

Tucked in the Allegheny Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland, Garrett Country offers visitors a chance to reconnect with nature. This county's seven scenic lakes, protected forests and parks, open fields and grasslands, and boggy wetlands provide opportunities for nature-oriented activities in every season. And because of its high elevation, Garrett County harbors breeding birds rarely encountered elsewhere at this latitude. Visit here to see birds usually spotted only in Canada, the Great Lakes, and the Northeastern states.

Fall, when Garrett County is ablaze with colors, is a perfect time to visit. Discover the hermit thrush as you hike through shady maple and hemlock groves, or encounter bobolinks in golden hayfields and northern waterthrush in subarctic swamplands.

In the heart of the county lies Deep Creek Lake, Maryland's largest freshwater lake. Enjoy some birding from the perspective of a boat on this man-made lake, near the town of Wisp. From Herrington Manor, embark on a naturalist-led hayride through Garrett State Forest to a beautiful overlook above the brilliant foliage. Or follow the meandering trails of Swallow Falls State Park, nine miles north of Oakland, where the Youghiogheny River flows through shaded rocky gorges and creates rippling rapids. Here, you'll see the spectacular Muddy Creek Falls, a crashing 63-foot waterfall.

WORCESTER, COUNTY, MARYLAND

IN WORCESTER County, a birding vacation is a chance to experience an unspoiled wilderness. Located on Maryland's lower eastern shore, this small county didn't have a road to the mainland until 1952. Perhaps as a result, the natural beauty of its native landscape remains unchanged. Worcester County's ecological diversity--you'll find a barrier island, a cypress swamp, centuries-old forest, tidal wetlands, and secluded fields, all easily accessible--makes it home to an impressive variety of birds, both resident and migratory.

Over 350 bird species have been recorded, more than in any other county in Maryland. Stop anywhere along the road in Worcester County, look around, and you'll see an abundance of birds. To help you keep track of sightings, you may print out a birdwatching map from http://www.visit worcester.org/birding/birdmap.html.

State and national parks in the county offer camping, nature trails, and guided tours. The wetlands of the Pocomoke River State Forest and Park are a sanctuary for birds: more than 127 species have been cited. Look for flocks of bald eagles, which roost in the Pocomoke Cypress Swamp on Hickory Point Road. And at Assateague Island National Seashore, try the "Life of the Marsh Trail," which courses its way through salt marshes where you can spot many wetland bird species and enjoy the panoramic view from the observation deck.