Bird watching

[cruisin'gal]

I am interested in doing some birding while in Nassau and Freeport. Anybody have suggestions? I will be in Freeport 12/1/09 and Nassau 12/2/09. I would think this would be a decent time of year due to birds migrating for the season, I bird here in Florida and have my own binoculars and willing to go off the beaten path. Thanks in advance for any input. Laura

[clcizme]

Two great places for Birding in Freeport. The first is the Rand Nature Center. It is in the town, and is about 100 acres with some nice trails. It is small, but a lot of the migratory birds can be seen there. The best place (in my opinion) is the Lucayan National Park. It has a multitude of ecosystems in the park and has beautiful trails. Its only down fall is that it is a good ways away from the Cruise Port. However, I think that it is worth the drive. The fee to get in is minimal, but if you are a true nature enthusiast (and you are planning on visiting any of the other National Parks in the Bahamas, a membership is only $30.00 for a single and $50.00 for a family. I think if you are interested in hiking/birds and a little bit of local history thrown in, the national park is the way to go. If this is your main activity in Bahamas, I would also suggest picking up a copy of Bruce Hallet's book, "Birds of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands". It is an excellent reference to take with you on the trails. Hope this is helpful. Enjoy your stay!

[cruisin'gal]

Thank you and I will get the book. When I arrive at Lucayan National will the be a map of trails? Also, is there a jitney I can take or cab to LNP? I appreciate your responses, Laura