Bird Watching in Thailand

Bird Watching in Thailand is a Taste of Paradise for Nature Lover's

Thailand is a nature lover's paradise. There are so many wonderful sites to see and visit and so much wildlife that can be found few other places on earth. There are many packages that are designed to completely accommodate the nature lover in you or your family. From Bird watching, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling to camping and other explorations you will find it all in Thailand along with trained guides who offer programs in English, German, Russian, and Thai among many other languages.

In southern Thailand you can enjoy the privilege of viewing some of the most exotic and rare bird life in the world all the while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the habitat these rare birds call home. A trip to Thailand will definitely take you a little ways off the beaten path and provide you with the trip of a lifetime if you allow yourself to live in the moment and completely enjoy the moment in which you are living.

For those who enjoy bird watching, Thailand offers more than 950 species of birds or somewhere in the neighborhood of one tenth of the world's birds. Many programs that are widely available will accommodate both beginning bird watchers as well as those who are quite experienced in this growing hobby. All you really need in order to enjoy your bird watching journey in Thailand is a sincere love of nature and the great outdoors.

While there are many bird watching trips of varying sizes there are a few that stand out for different reasons.

Phuket

While this is a major destination for tourists, there is still quite an abundance of wildlife and bird life available to view and you may be surprised at how many you can find on a simple day trip. In fact, the very fact that you can take bird watching day trips is one of the most enticing aspects of this particular bird watching tour. Two-day trips are also available if you wish to combine the Phuket tour with the Phang Nga Province trip. These trips can actually be quite reasonable and often include transportation from your hotel and back to your hotel in the evening and meals, snacks, and water.

Khao Sok National Park

This national park provides a 165 square kilometer reservoir that provides an excellent habitat in which you can enjoy viewing many birds. It may take a bit of rowing to get there but once there you can sit back and watch birds and many other animals in their natural environment. If you opt for this particular trek you will enjoy kayaking, nature viewing, and other interesting activities in addition to bird watching. These trips are fascinating in and of themselves and the park is absolutely stunning. 

Some of the birds you may commonly find on this particular trek include: Hornbills and more Hornbills along with several other tropical birds that have made this part of the world famous for bird watching. If you enjoy watching birds of prey you should be on the look out for many species here as well. Your guide should be able to assist you in not only locating but also in identifying the many species of birds you will find on this particular excursion. You might want to study up on a few before you head out though. Among those are the Black-Thighed Falcon, the Osprey, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Orioles, Thrushes, and many more.

You are also quite likely to see several species of monkeys as well as elephants on this particular journey. The elephants are a little more rare than the monkeys but you are likely to see evidence of the elephants even if you do not actually see the elephants. Orchids are other wildlife that you are likely to see on your journey through nature. This beautiful part of your trip for many is an unexpected bonus. Some tours provide accommodations in floating bungalows within the boundaries of the park. These bungalows are quite unique, particularly to those who have never journeyed to Thailand before and a really fun way to add a little something to your experience.

In Khao Sok, you actually have the option of so much more than a simple bird watching trip. While many go for the bird watching alone, if you are interested in many aspects of nature you may find the nature study to be supremely interesting. You can take the Khao Sok Wildlife Study and Night Safari by kayaking. This excursion is three days long and is one of the best ways to view many aspects of nature up close and personal in its very own habitat. If you have the time and the inclination, I highly recommend this particular tour. There are others of course that are less time consuming and costly, but this is one of the best there is for not only bird watching but also for exploring nature.

Khao Nor Chuchi

This area is the largest remaining lowland jungle in Southern Thailand. The vast majority of these jungles have been cut down in order to plant rubber trees or oil palm trees and these lands are constantly being whittled away as farmers push farther in. 

In addition to this area being a lowland jungle there is also plenty of other plant growth. This growth of plant life along with the crystal clear waters that are abundant this area is stunning in its own right. When you add to that the fact that over 300 species of birds have been identified within these jungles, nearly 250 of which call this jungle home, you have a virtual paradise for the amateur and experienced bird watcher alike. 

If you are really interested in seeing the most bird life possible while you are in Thailand you may want to combine a trek through Khao Nor Chuchi with a trip to Khao Sok in order to get the most for your dollars and for your entertainment.

Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is actually a cooling rainforests that lies on the border of Malaysia and is one of the best natural attractions Thailand has to offer the bird lover in all of us. There are small villages throughout the sanctuary, which prevent the wildlife from making radical or erratic movements from side to side. Among the natural inhabitants of this land, particularly on the Hala side, are some rather large animals such as tigers. The Bala side is home to many birds, which are the main attraction. The terrain is rocky and has mountain peeks that represent the border between Thailand and Malaysia. This is the area where the birds have found haven. This area is home to ten of the twelve species of Hornbills in Thailand. This trip is definitely a little bit off the beaten path but if you have the time, money, and desire it is a trip that might very well be worth the effort and more.

Whether or not you are an experienced bird watcher, if someone you love is an avid bird watcher and/or nature lover there are very few trips that you could take them on that would equal the value of a trip to Thailand in terms of the variety and species of birds you are likely to view. There are many things to do and see in Thailand that it is doubtful you will spend all of your time watching birds, but keep in mind that if you are bringing someone that this is an important pastime for along with you it is likely that they will enjoy those moments spent in nature with you far more than any other aspect of your trip. 

More importantly than that, if you have not enjoyed the experience of bird watching before you may find that you have a new hobby to enjoy as well. This is a very relaxing hobby that can be enjoyed year round, even from the comfort of your easy chair when artfully placed near a window. Bird watching is a great way to eliminate stress and maximize your quality of life. There is much to be said for nature and its abilities to heal even the most savage of beasts. Taking the time to enjoy nature may be the greatest cure for stress there is in the world. I hope you will get as much from your bird watching trip as those whom you bring along with you will.

Most of us do not have the luxury of spending several weeks in Thailand, the trick in getting to see as many species of birds as possible during your stay is to plan your schedule strategically. Keep in mind that there will probably be traveling time between locations to consider as well. If you can find a tour that offers the most possibilities in bird watching, then that is the tour you should probably consider (particularly if the species on that tour are of interest to you). The important thing is not to get so stressed over the schedule and the details that you are too keyed up to enjoy the moment.

Remember that bird watching, more than anything else is about enjoying the moment. Be sure to take a moment of your day while you are watching birds and other animals in their natural environs to consider how fortunate we are to enjoy the beauty of nature in this manner and how powerful and delicate nature really is. Doing this each and every day should bring you a large degree of joy and wonder as you explore the many beauties you will surely enjoy while bird watching in Thailand.