FB101
Well-known member
Not completely true, I was at Wright Patterson last weekend and there were tons of ”birds“ to see..Add Ohio to the list - now your down to 48
Best retirement homebase for nature and BIF photos
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FB101
Well-known member
Of the 13 places we’ve lived so far, Vancouver, BC and Denver, CO are all time favorites for photography, right there with Avignon in France. Not far behind would be San Augustine, FL and Angers, France. Bottom of the list would be DesMoines, IA and Indianapolis. For retirement, we are thinking San Augustine or Provence - it’s a toss.
Been in Volusia County, Florida for almost 40 years. It is best in the winter, but summer does offer some good targets like Swallow-tailed Kites. 40% of our county is in public ownership including 2 National Wildlife Refuges.
For birds, I'd move to some place in Central America, such as Costa Rica, Panama, or Belieze. I've never seen more hummingbirds in one place at one time than I did down there.
I'm going to be the contrarian here (those that know me, well, nothing new). I think familiarity breeds contempt. Said differently, someplace else seems more exotic and exciting but the folks there may think where you are as interesting.
I love finding little treasures within an hour's drive of my house. I live in Northern Kentucky about 20 miles south of Cincinnati. Right where Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky meet. It may be the most boring area in America. However, we have a strong warbler migration through here. Several of our rivers run north south and are warbler highways. Just to the west of us in Indiana we have fairly big fall waterfowl migrations. About 5,000 sandhill cranes spend the winter less than an hour from my home. Several parks in Ohio are home to some massive bucks and the fall rut is magnificent. Spring wildflowers in Kentucky are beautiful.
I love going to places like Alaska (we only saw a tiny percentage of it), Yellowstone, Smoky Mountains and the like. But I do try to be content where I am. Beauty is all around us if we look.
Jeff
I love finding little treasures within an hour's drive of my house. I live in Northern Kentucky about 20 miles south of Cincinnati. Right where Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky meet. It may be the most boring area in America. However, we have a strong warbler migration through here. Several of our rivers run north south and are warbler highways. Just to the west of us in Indiana we have fairly big fall waterfowl migrations. About 5,000 sandhill cranes spend the winter less than an hour from my home. Several parks in Ohio are home to some massive bucks and the fall rut is magnificent. Spring wildflowers in Kentucky are beautiful.
I love going to places like Alaska (we only saw a tiny percentage of it), Yellowstone, Smoky Mountains and the like. But I do try to be content where I am. Beauty is all around us if we look.
Jeff
Once in a while while traveling we run into a "fulltimer" as they call themselves. Pros and cons to that life, but a nice daydream.Sorry for jumping in as an "alien", but actually most of the comments her make me a bit envious looking at it from from my perspective.
On one hand the above comment is so true !!!
On the other hand, if I had the choice, I have to recall a memory of and old couple that I met in Canada ages ago (1994). They sold everything, pimped up an old greyhound bus and lived in there travelling the entire continent. Since these days I can't get the picture out of my head; the bus, the original living room furniture from their last house and - believe it or not - this guy was able to process his films right in the backend of the bus ! Of course, these days I would probably change the lab for a solar driven mini office stuffed with Apple and Nikon gear, but isn't this a tempting idea ???
In NJ, Cape May is great during the migrations, but I actually prefer Forsythe Preserve in Brigantine the rest of the year. But for birding, you have to go some to beat FL. Anywhere in FL anytime of year.
Non flying critters and landscapes? I’d vote for Yellowstone/Tetons.
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Doug Herr
Well-known member
The Sacramento area offers a lot nearby all year: winter in the Central Valley means millions of wintering waterfowl and the raptors that follow them, the Sierra Nevada is an hour or two away for mountain species in the summer and the coast is within reach for a longer day trip. The American River (ten minutes from my home) has beaver, otter, and a good variety of birdlife all year, and nesting Bald Eagles. The Yolo Bypass wildlife area an hour away between Sacramento and Davis is another excellent spot, with shorebirds, several heron species, wintering waterfowl and the occasional mink or coyote.
I have asked myself the same question many times, especially since I live in Buffalo, NY 
One option that appeals to me is a nice travel trailer or small RV - why limit oneself to a single home base? While the itinerant lifestyle isn't for everyone, adopting it for a couple of years allows you to see many parts of our beautiful country, lingering for awhile in those areas that appeal to you most.
One option that appeals to me is a nice travel trailer or small RV - why limit oneself to a single home base? While the itinerant lifestyle isn't for everyone, adopting it for a couple of years allows you to see many parts of our beautiful country, lingering for awhile in those areas that appeal to you most.JerryF
Member
If you can stand the heat and bugs, Florida is it.
Brigantine is my go to place as well. Only a 45 min. drive from my home. Great place to go in the spring and fall. There is also an active rookery right next to the Ocean City visitor center , on the Garden State Parkway.
After a year or so of retirement, my biggest life change desire when out and about is to avoid areas with traffic. I am usually in zero hurry to get anywhere anymore, but if I have to wait through two stoplight cycles to get through an intersection, I can feel a stress start to build. So my first vote is a place with little traffic. Not sure where this came from after commuting for over an hour to and from work each direction for years.
Today my vote would be West Yellowstone/Gardiner/ Cook City (somewhere close to the park) along with a place close to the beach in Hopkins Belize. All Subject to change tomorrow.
Today my vote would be West Yellowstone/Gardiner/ Cook City (somewhere close to the park) along with a place close to the beach in Hopkins Belize. All Subject to change tomorrow.
cfhelz45
Active member
I spend my winters in The Villages, Florida. Too hot in summer! The best time for birding is February thru May.
Southwest Oregon is great for retirement. The Medford area has been a favorite for many decades. It has two major medical centers, many retirement facilities, a VA clinic, world-class plays and concenters, and hundreds of miles of paved back roads leading to the mountains, ocean, and central basin. The biodiversity is greater than almost any other place. Unfortunately, like California, SW Oregon is experiencing a severe drought and annual wildfires. We really don't need more population that would increase traffic and other congestion, so I suggest you check out fast-growing Bend, Oregon instead.
dtsagdis
New member
This is a question for FB101 as I live in Bordeaux, France for six years now and travelled around France a bit before the pandemic. When you say Avignon do you mean the Camargue national park? And when you say Angers - where? I'm trying to find nice places for birding/wildlife here in France. I do have an ornithological park relatively nearby but the problem with those throughout France are opening hours. I want to be going earlier (nr sunrise) and staying later (nr sunset) than their opening hours allow. The Camargue is great loads of wildlife not just birds but Avignon itself is not really a bird location. So what do you mean?
Any advice from other members that may have some France wildlife location experience to share welcome.
I also travel every summer from Bordeaux, France through Italy, Slovenia, and to Greece where I was born, to visit family and friends.
So I have a few locations in these but any tips I'll be obliged. Perhaps I should start a separate thread with southern Europe wildlife locations or something.
Glen
Active member
Brian, I’m Canadian, 70 years old and have rode motorcycles for 60 years starting as a rural kid on dirt bikes. My playground destinations are river routes, mountain passes, and drop dead mountain vistas. Thousands upon thousands of miles and it never gets old despite severe weather; rain, cold, heat which is just part of it when you tour. I’ve played where you live several times and purchased my last three bikes from San Diego over the years. What I’m leading to is what do you like? Great outdoors? Four Seasons? Yes, snow? Water/Fishing? My favourites are the western mountain high elevation routes - the ‘backbone’ in western Canada and US. My camera is always with me. I’ve been so blessed to see what most will never see. I’ve met folks who know 80% of what they need to know but are waiting for the other 20% for their decision. This 20% never comes. Explore; then go for it.
Gene_Hughes
Active member
St George, Utah. Named one of the top places in the US to retire due to cost of living, medical, etc.
And beautiful diverse photography in all directions by car within a few hours.
And beautiful diverse photography in all directions by car within a few hours.
rrzentz
Member
While I tend to agree generally about striking Indiana, wildlife photographers may want to visit the IN Dunes National Park at some point (migration especially). An amazing amount of animal and plant diversity! Living within 10 mi of the park, we hike there extensively. The NW Indiana/Chicago winters are long and cold though, so we are also trying to figure out where to land in the next few years to begin retirement. Cycling, hiking and birding photography. Thanks for the comments and suggestions on this post everyone.
I have been to all states except North Dakota and Nevada. My most favorite places to be for wildlife photography are Jackson Hole, WY and Paradise Valley, MT. Great access to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NP's. As awesome as the parks are, I find That I take more keeper photos outside the parks in the surrounding areas with fewer tourists around. Both areas are fairly expensive to live but if I am dreaming, it would be one of the 2 places.
Joe
Joe
D
Deleted member 115
Guest
This depends on what you are after. "I Been Every Where" and I would say if birds are what you enjoy, Florida and Texas should be considered and if you want big game somewhere in the Mountain States would be better.
I always have been able to find something to see wherever I have been.
I always have been able to find something to see wherever I have been.
marksand35
New member
Florida is good for migration seasons. Then that depends on where in Florida you pick. As you may know, a bird you saw someone capture one day will most likely be gone the next. It’s all timing. As I saw a Summer tanager one night but couldn’t get a shot of it and went back next few days. People were posting shots of them but I could not find any again. In fact I tried the very next morning, no luck.
So it all comes down to the real reason to move to a new location other than just birds. Yes it helps for photography part but what about when you’re not photographing? What is there to offer? I live in Florida but want to move to mountains of Tennessee. For hiking, more variety of scenery, more wildlife and so on. Yes Florida has the most beautiful sunsets/sunrises but it lacks in variety to me. Also the summer months are very hard to get out with heat, always fighting distortion, bugs and more.
One thing I’ve found that helps is eBird and how it shows locations for finding birds and what birds were spotted. Great website and app. Best of luck.
AKRaven
New member
You have Magee Marsh!Add Ohio to the list - now your down to 48
FB101
Well-known member
you are correct, but Avignon is probably as accurate as I can make it for folks in the US. The Camargue is the top spot for wildlife, no question. The Parc de la Narbonnaise is less famous but less crowded too (right in between Carcassonne and Montpellier) so a serious drive but on the way from Bordeaux. On the other side of the Rhone (versus Camargue) is the Vigueirat swamp, also very rich in bird life.
obviously Le Teich where you live was my go-to place when I lived in Bordeaux. Arcachon isn’t bad either off season.
angers is not a great spot for wildlife but the park regional de brieres, 2 hours away is superb. Around Angers is the spot for landscape. When you hit the right light on the Loire, it’s magical. That’s why so many painters live there.
otherwise the Baie de Somme / marquenterre is a must see spot for birding, as well as the lac de Der in champagne. With Camargue, those are the three birding gems in France.
for other wildlife, the Vercors is king but don’t forget La Vannoise much wilder. Actually in September you can catch the deer bugling and it’s a special treat if you don’t mind strenuous hikes.
Calson
Well-known member
In terms of quality and quantity of wildlife 12 month of the year, friendly people and no racism, good organic produce, quality healthcare, and a lack of military involvement in the country, my first pick would be Costa Rica. Slovenia and New Zealand would also be on the list.
I think it is important to have a healty environment for both the wildlife and for the people and that eliminates places like Florida and Texas and Arizona and Oregon and that is from having spent a great deal of time working in these states. Coming from California it was more than a little surprising to be having a lunch with business associates in Charleston SC and to have the conversation go to the "war of aggression against the states". Took me awhile to realize they were talking about the Civil War and justifying slavery as though this had taken place during their lives and not 150 years earlier. I enjoy mulit racial and multicultural places as it provides for a much richer living experience.
Take a look at this article and notice which state is ranked No. 1.
I think it is important to have a healty environment for both the wildlife and for the people and that eliminates places like Florida and Texas and Arizona and Oregon and that is from having spent a great deal of time working in these states. Coming from California it was more than a little surprising to be having a lunch with business associates in Charleston SC and to have the conversation go to the "war of aggression against the states". Took me awhile to realize they were talking about the Civil War and justifying slavery as though this had taken place during their lives and not 150 years earlier. I enjoy mulit racial and multicultural places as it provides for a much richer living experience.
Take a look at this article and notice which state is ranked No. 1.
Very true - and it's only 45 minutes from me. But - what do you do for the other 50 weeks in the year?