Most of us could probably be described as backyard birders. We admire our fine-feathered friends who bring color and song to our yards. We hang birdhouses and feeders to attract them. Sometimes the birds build nests in our homes, causing obstructions in vents. Then we wonder: who is the intruder here? 

Nowhere else in the Mid-Atlantic competes with Delaware for having outstanding year-round habitat for such exploring. Each season offers its diverse opportunities. Delaware’s location on the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean provides an array of migratory birds from the tropics and South America heading north, and in late summer back again. Farther inland is a haven for many species, particularly songbirds that have come to breed. Each season has its parade of birds, along the shores, in the ponds, in the marshlands and the woodlands.

Spring brings a massive number of shorebirds such as red knots, dunlins and sanderlings, to name a few. The shorebirds stop for one reason — to rest and feed before continuing on their journey north. They feed on eggs from the horseshoe crabs that have come ashore to spawn. There are only four species of horseshoe crabs in the world. The Atlantic species found in North and Central America exceeds in population to those of other rare locations. The horseshoe crab predates the dinosaur. With all the massive shorebird feeding, it’s amazing to think that they have survived. The most remarkable use of the horseshoe crab is for medical purposes. Its blue blood is used to screen for bacterial contamination in human medications and vaccines. 

Just a short ferry ride from Delaware City is Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island. It is most noted for the largest nesting site for nine species of wading birds, such as great and snowy egrets, great and little blue herons and glossy ibis. An approximate one-mile walk takes you to the observation platform. Be sure to take a scope with you. Thousands of pairs of birds come to raise their young and stay from spring to late fall. While on the island, be sure to see historical Fort Delaware. The moat-surrounded stone structure was built during the Civil War to house prisoners of war. Employees in period costume tell the tale of life in the fort. For information, visit www.destateparks.com.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is Delaware’s major birding reserve for 278 species of birds along what is known as the Atlantic Flyway. It is considered one of “America’s 100 Important Bird Areas” by American Bird Conservancy. The 16,000-acre refuge has 12 well-marked auto tour routes, five walking trails and three observation towers. For information, visit ww.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook.  

Celebrating its one-year anniversary, the DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve provides a wealth of educational information and displays. Inside you’ll find interactive exhibits, information on the red knots and horseshoe crabs and a remote camera with a 42-inch plasma screen for viewing 100 yards from the center along the shoreline. Scopes on the outside deck give you another opportunity for observing up close. The center is dedicated to the research, education and preservation of the area’s wildlife. For information, visit www.dupontnaturecenter.org.

Cape Henlopen State Park is known as the northernmost place on Earth where the brown-headed nuthatch can be found. The park has just about any habitat available from ocean/bay, to marsh, wetlands and woodlands. Inside the Seaside Nature Center you can have an up-close view via remote camera of such birds as a pair of nesting osprey. Just outside, visitors can enjoy a flurry of bird activity in the garden and nearby feeder area. Venture out to the point where the bay meets the ocean for spectacular views and birding opportunities along the beach. Besides awesome birding, Cape Henlopen offers campsites, a swimming area with lifeguards, hiking and biking trails, fishing off the pier and nature programs. For information, visit www.destateparks.com. 

Delaware owes its wealth of natural habitat to Gov. Russell W. Peterson. While in office, he passed the Coastal Zone Act of 1972, which preserved and protected Delaware’s natural habitats. “Birds are an indication of environmental soundness of our Earth,” he said. That same year, the Delaware Museum of Natural History opened. It has a vast collection of mollusks and birds and has the second-largest collection of bird eggs in North America. Museum exhibits also touch on land and sea wildlife throughout the world, even a dinosaur collection. Besides the many displays, visitors can enjoy films in the auditorium, butterfly garden, hiking trails and a museum store. 

Special exhibits throughout the year keep visitors returning. Currently an “Animal Secrets” exhibit runs through Sept. 1. The interactive exhibit takes the visitor to wildlife in streams, woodlands, meadows and caves. It also gives you viewpoint from the animals’ perspective. Imagine yourself as an eagle resting in your nest, or follow footprints to discover what animal made them. The museum receives over 77,000 visitors each year. Visitors will be surprised by one of the remarkable statements on the wall: “Extinction is Forever! ... 99.9% of all species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct.” For information, visit www.delmnh.org.

An organization known as Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences was created to further promote nature-centered activities by bringing people closer to wildlife and encouraging enjoyment of the natural beauty around us. The goal of the organization is to raise up a generation that appreciates and cares for our natural surroundings. For information, visit www.delmarvalite.org.

A valuable tool for your birding experience is the Delaware Birding Trail guide. Authored by Jeffrey A. Gordon, expert birder, writer and speaker, this trail guide is a must have. It contains a wealth of knowledge, experience and advice. The map and guide cover 27 birding areas in six different Delaware regions. To order your free guide, visit www.delawarebirdingtrail.org. 

Our planet is full of living creatures, none more beautiful, graceful or complex than birds. Birding takes patience and quiet anticipation and many times, especially in inclement weather, endurance. It always seems worth it in the end, especially if you can catch the event on camera. Happy birding ... try it, you may get hooked.

For information on Delaware birding attractions and sites, visit www.visitdelaware.com.