Nature's Remedy: Why You Should Try Birdwatching

Posted Jul 10, 2023

Immersing yourself in the natural world is one of the many proven ways of reducing stress, and rejuvenating your mental health. One of the most accessible means of this is through Birdwatching.

Also known as birding, it is a non-invasive means of enjoying natural avian interactions. As one of the top Caribbean destinations for a birdwatching holiday, Tobago’s untouched and unspoilt landscape features over 260 species of birds fluttering around the island.

Jason Radix, one of the country’s most decorated birding guides, describes birdwatching as “an easy way to get to enjoy nature–just like diving, or snorkelling–it’s a nice way to get outdoors and is ranked one of the most popular outdoor activities in the world, larger than even gardening and fishing.”

A hike along the famous Gilpin Trace or the Miss Mills Trace trails will have you spotting the endemic Trinidad motmot, the streak flycatcher, the blue-backed manakin and even one of the world’s rarest hummingbirds, the white-tailed sabrewing. Alternatively, the average Tobagonian backyard is a bird sanctuary–filled with fruit trees and flowers, though one will notice when traversing the island that most porches and verandas feature hummingbird feeders. This can be the ideal entry-level experience in the hobby of spotting and identifying birds’ colors and sounds. Sights such as Shurland’s Nature Park and Adventure Farm & Nature Reserve allow you to sit amongst the feeders and have several species of birds surround you.