Given that Chattanooga is ranked as one of the top outdoors destinations in the country, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is also a top destination for bird watching.  In fact, Chattanooga is home to a wide range of protected habitats, which makes it an exciting destination for bird watching year-round. Chattanooga is home to the popular Sandhill Crane Festival and Bald Eagle trips during the winter, but the rest of the year offers plenty of opportunity to spot Chattanooga’s resident and migrating bird populations.  Book your room at our luxury Chattanooga Bed and Breakfast, and enjoy a peaceful day spent birding around Chattanooga

The Best Bird Watching Locations

One of the easiest ways to enjoy the feathered residents of Chattanooga is along the 13-mile Tennessee Riverwalk, a paved path that meanders along the Tennessee River.  A common sight along this trail are great blue herons. They reside here year-round, delighting guests and residents who are out for a gentle stroll in the heart of downtown Chattanooga.  Other nesting birds, such as warblers and kingbirds, are common along the trail, too.

If you want to immerse yourself in a full day of bird watching, head to Audubon Acres at the Elise Chapin Wildlife Sanctuary.  Thanks to the sanctuary’s mix of open meadows, pines, and hardwood forests, with the Chickamauga Creek running through the middle, Audubon Acres is an excellent location for bird watching, offering plenty of diversity in bird species for the avid birder. Resident bird species include Belted kingfishers, wood ducks, and great blue heron, along with eastern bluebirds, pileated woodpeckers, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, great horned owls, brown-headed nuthatches, red-tailed hawks, and cedar waxwings. In addition, a number of migrating birds also make Audubon Acres their temporary homes throughout the year, before they move on to their final destinations.  It’s no wonder this sanctuary is such a popular destination for seasoned and beginning bird watchers in the Chattanooga area.

For a truly unique bird watching experience, head to the 18-acre Audubon Island Wildlife Sanctuary, found in the middle of the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga.  Though the Veteran’s Bridge goes over the island, the only way to access this beautiful and serene destination is by water. Audobon Island Wildlife Sanctuary, once inhabited by Native Americans and later farmed by settlers, is a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing picnic, taking in the sights and sounds around you.  On the island itself, you’ll find an incredible range of plants, animals, and birds, including Muskrats, Geese, Kingfishers, Songbirds, Turkeys, Raccoons, Owls, Possums, Fox, Woodpeckers, and more.  You may even have a chance to see nesting Osprey and Great Blue Heron.  Around the island, you’ll find 1.5 miles of trails suitable for birdwatching, hiking, and relaxing.

To enjoy a peaceful day watching Chattanooga’s most delightful residents, book your stay at our luxurious Bed and Breakfast today.