Birding opportunities on board / islands

[caroleRWO]

Hallo, we are planning our first cruise. Are there any birders out there who can provide us with information on the best places to seawatch from on-board ship ? Also, any sites on the Islands visited during the cruise ?

[disboo]

Oh, good question! We have been trying to encourage a particular family member to go. She is a birder - maybe if the birding is good we can persuade her. Any one out there know the answer to this one?

[Firefighter Mickey]

Here's a link to a post on thos board regarding this - maybe it will get you started: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=145797

There are birds which travel with the ship as well - usually most active at night.

[abitjaded]

Which ports? And what time of year? You see Ani and bananaquits most everywhere. (Bananaquits are a hoot, very bold). If going to St. John the US Park service has some pubs detailing the birds seen there. Some of the more unusual birds there are least and Roseate terns and brown pelicans. St Tom and St Maarten are pretty built up, but supposedly Northern Parula warblers can be seen in "moist woodlands" during winter. There are good guidebooks detailing birds of the Carribean and Mexico, depending on your itinerary. (But the best, most birds we saw in the Carribean were in El Yunque sp? rainforest in Puerto Rico.)

Carla