Where Do You Go to Watch Birds?

About 47 million people spent time watching birds in 2011. That's about 20 percent of the U.S. population age 16 and older. Spring and fall are some of the best times to see some of their amazing feats of migration. USA Today takes advantage of the fall migration to ask readers to choose their favorite bird-watching spot. National wildlife refuges figure prominently in the nominations.

To vote, go to: http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-birdwatching

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas,

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico,

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, (The city Cape May is the nominee.),

Laguna Atascosa and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuges in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, (The Lower Rio Grande area is the nominee.),

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Island, Florida, (Sanibel Island is the nominee.),

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts.

WANT MORE? NEWS

Like birds? Want to learn more exciting news about bird conservation? This article is featured in the Service's quarterly magazine Fish & Wildlife News, which spotlights our work with migratory birds.

We're also active in other nominated spots, whether it is through Joint Ventures, the Urban Bird Treaty, Flyway Councils, the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, such grant programs as theNorth American Wetlands Conservation ActProgram and more. Our Migratory Bird Program works nonstop to conserve America's birds and their habitats. Visit Birding in the Refuge System for more information about bird watching on refuges.