Video posterSmall country, big birding
BAS’s 2019 birding film connects sustainable tourism with its bird-based tourism project.
Belize Audubon Society
Audio and any available captions come from the original publisher.The work, in pictures.
Video poster
Small country. Remarkable birdlife.
From wetland waterbirds to forest specialists and seabird colonies, Belize offers many ways to begin birdwatching. BAS links visitor experiences with citizen science and local knowledge. Counts and festivals have their own dates and organizers; confirm the current calendar before traveling.
Explore the birding map
BAS’s downloadable Belize birding map introduces seven regions, representative species and places to explore, including Crooked Tree, St. Herman’s and Cockscomb. It encourages visitors to hire knowledgeable local bird guides. Species totals reflect the document’s publication period.
Open the birding map ↗Great Backyard Bird Count
An annual four-day February event welcomes beginners and experienced birders. BAS’s citizen-science guide describes counts as short as 15 minutes, with observations submitted through eBird. Follow the event organizer for the current dates and instructions.
Great Backyard Bird Count ↗Central American Waterbird Census
BAS’s published account describes coordinating Belize’s census since 2012, typically between January 15 and February 15. Surveys document waterbirds and shorebirds at wetlands including Crooked Tree, Corozal Bay, Hopkins and the Dangriga area.
Read the document ↗Urban Bird Watch
Started by BAS in 2009, this activity brings beginners and experienced birders together in towns and cities. BAS’s published guide describes October and November outings across twelve locations, with records shared through eBird. Ask BAS for this year’s meeting points.
Birding close to town
Urban outings introduce birds and their habitats without a forest trek. The citizen-science guide lists Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, San Ignacio, Benque Viejo, Belmopan, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Dangriga, Placencia, Independence and Punta Gorda. These are documented participating locations, not a current departure schedule; ask the team which walks are being organized and whether a beginner can join.
Read the document ↗Christmas Bird Count
BAS first participated in 1972. The wider count season runs December 14–January 5; individual circles meet on specific days. BAS’s historical guide lists Belize City, Belmopan, Gallon Jug, Punta Gorda, Cockscomb, Mountain Pine Ridge and Spanish Lookout circles.
Christmas Bird Count information ↗How a count helps conservation
Christmas Bird Count teams cover assigned sections of a circle about 15 miles across. Circle leaders compile observations and survey effort so scientists can compare birds per hour or distance across years. Join an organized team and follow its recording method: careful observations help reveal population changes, rather than simply producing a list of exciting sightings.
Read the document ↗Festivals, Big Days and local discoveries
BAS’s birding pages also feature Global Big Day, October Big Day and the Belize Birding Festival. The 2024 report documents that year’s festival in Spanish Lookout, including field birding and workshops. Check with BAS for current festival arrangements rather than using the old 2021 calendar.
Bird tourism and local livelihoods
The library preserves an economic and market snapshot of bird tourism, based largely on 2012–2015 sources. It is useful background on the relationship between guiding, tourism and habitat conservation; its spending estimates and species totals are historical.
Read the historical tourism study ↗Based on BAS’s published pages and reports, reviewed November 8, 2026. Historical projects and figures retain their dates. Original documents are available in the resource library. Browse the library →