Acadia National Park is considered as the Mecca of Bird Watching.
Acadia National Park, rightly known as the Mecca of bird watching, is a national park located in the colder northern part of USA in the Maine region near Ben Harbor town. This national park spreads across more than 47000 acres and borders the ocean shoreline and consists of beautiful lakes, woodlands, mountains, islands etc. It’s no wonder that more than 3 millions of tourists visit this park every year during summer, spring and fall seasons. A panoramic view from the Cadillac Mountains showing the azure ocean shoreline of the Frenchman Bay bordering the green grasslands and woody marshlands with a plethora of birds all over is a staggering spectacle sure to dazzle the beholder.
Bird watching is the main attraction in this park and one can view more than 300 species of birds that flock across various areas of this park viz Mount Desert Island, Sieur de Monts Spring Area, Otter Point Area, Cadillac Mountain and Schoodic Peninsula. Apart from being a bird sanctuary, the park has more than 40 species of predatory wildlife like garter snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander.
The Mount Desert island shelters more than 270 rare species of birds like Osprey and Bald Eagles, ruby-throated hummingbird; downy, hairy pleated woodpeckers Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ovenbird, Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Wood-Pewee.
The woodlands is the best bird-watching spot in this national park as it contains many fruit plants to which many birds are attracted. Yellow-bellied flycatcher, black-throated green warbler, common yellowthroat, swamp sparrow, Yellow and Black-and-white Warblers, along with thrushes and woodpeckers are the prominent birds in this area.
In the ocean region, one can spot birds like common eider, possible king eider, black scoter, surf scoter, white-winged scoter, American black duck, mallard duck, and red-winged black bird, Seagulls, Hawk, Atlantic Puffins and Peregrine falcons. Greater, Sooty, and Manx Shearwaters, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Double-crested and Great Cormorants, Red Phalaropes can also be spotted. Schoodic point is an abode of ocean birds like seagulls, wetland birds, bog, and boreal species like boreal chickadee and spruce grouse.
It’s an absolutely enthralling view to view the sea birds from a cruise. The Acadia National Park runs many boat tours and cruises around the islands adjacent to the park so that travelers can enjoy the sight of Acadia’s pelagic birds. Nesting seabirds also include Common Murres, Arctic Terns, Ocean gulls, Razor bills etc. One can also get to visit the largest puffin colony in Eastern Egg Rocks. The ideal time for bird watching is during spring and early summer. Many birds migrate during the August, September time.
Travelers can reach the Mount Desert Island of the park through bus or car from Boston via Maine through Augusta or Ellsworth. Planes from Boston land at the Hancock Country Airport, 10 miles from the park. Once inside the park, explore the park using the free bus or using bicycles. The best way to experience the scenic beauty of the park is hike around the various trails, slopes, stone bridges etc. Affordable accommodation is available in Mount Desert Island and Isle au Haut near the park in camp grounds and tents. Since the park is huge, it is better to have a map, compass and travel in a group with a guide.