Ariana Grande is obsessed with bird watching—here are the best places to try it

Glinda, the good witch of Oz, played by Ariana Grande revealed on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast that she’s seriously into bird watching–she even uses the Merlin Bird ID app to identify birds by sound. Bird watching takes patience, gets you outside and off your electronics, is peaceful and surprisingly addictive. The fun part about birding is, you begin to realize just how many species are hiding in plain sight.

If you want to bird-watch like Ariana (or just try something that forces you to get off your phone), here are the best places in the world to do it…

Kariega National Park, South Africa

When you think of the classic safari vibe, South Africa is it. On every safari, you look for the big five: the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and cape buffalo. If there were to be a “big six”, the ostrich would definitely take that spot.

Seeing one in the wild feels almost prehistoric. They appear out of nowhere, towering over the grass, sprinting across open plains, or casually staring you down with the confidence of an animal that knows it can run 40 mph. Don’t worry though, these big birds can’t fly.

I stayed within Kariega Game Reserve where they have four different properties unlocking new levels of luxury. River Lodge is where I called home, with my own thatched-ceiling suite with plenty of air conditioning which is perfect after a long, sweaty day out in the park.

Bird to look for: The ostrich

Central Park, New York City

While New York City is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, Central Park is filled with more lush greenery than you’d expect. Spring migration in Central Park is chaotic in the best way, where some mornings you can see 100 species before lunch.

Stay close to Central Park at Park Lane New York, where visiting the park doesn’t require a cab or a subway ride. The vibe is elevated, and if you want a high end burger after the day’s adventure, Cavert’s restaurant on the property is your new favorite spot.

Bird to look for: The black-and-white warbler

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

This is where evolution feels real. From frigatebirds to Darwin’s finches, the Galápagos is packed with species found nowhere else in the world. It’s bucket list birding where if you’re lucky, you might even spot a Galápagos penguin.

Get up and personal with the blue-footed boobies, sea lions and more on an Ecoventura expedition. Spend a week island hopping throughout the Galápagos with a local guide to see all the sides of nature that Ecuador has to offer. These small expedition yachts give guests the utmost luxury travel with daily snorkeling, hiking and zodiac tours.

Bird to look for: The blue-footed booby

Marmaris, Turkey

Sitting where the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas meet, the Turkish riviera has a rare micro-climate that attracts birds you won’t spot in most of Turkey. Look for Krüper’s nuthatches, Rüppell’s warblers and Eleonora’s falcons sweeping over the cliffs.

Stay at D Maris Bay, where you’ll feel like you’re on an island in the Caribbean. You’ll be surprised with how clear blue the waters are, with different beaches on property to choose from. There’s something for everyone with a superb Italian restaurant, Aurora Capri and also a traditional Greek restaurant, Manos, with dancing and even breaking plates.

Bird to look for: Krüper’s nuthatch (found almost nowhere else)

The Westman Islands, Iceland

The Westman Islands are one of the world’s best puffin-viewing spots, especially in Summer when thousands nest on the cliffs. When you see one up close, they look like a cartoon character with an oval face and a bold, yellow stripe on its beak.

Experience Iceland in a way that most haven’t…by circumnavigating the country over 10-days with National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions. Traveling on a small ship with less than 130 passengers, getting to unpack once for the duration of the trip is a total game-changer while visiting eight different stops on our itinerary. The rooms are spacious and there’s plenty of storage where your room feels like your own.

Each day, weather permitting, we disembarked the ship via small zodiac rafts. I explored remote towns, went on hikes, saw puffins, visited geothermal spas and of course chased waterfalls. I even saw an erupting volcano!

Bird to look for: The Atlantic puffin

Peru

One of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, Tambopata in Peru is famous for its macaw clay licks; giant colorful birds gathering on riverbanks like it’s a morning coffee meet-up.

Make sure to hike the Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca. It’s just a day trip from Cusco and is one of Peru’s most photogenic natural wonders, thanks to its layered, multicolored sandstone ridges shaped by centuries of mineral deposits.

Bird to look for: The scarlet tanager

Monterey Bay, California

Monterey is famous for its oceanic birding…think albatrosses, shearwaters and murres gliding above the Pacific. A boat trip gets you close to birds you’ll never spot from shore. Make sure to stop in the Monterey Aquarium…it’s so well known that it was the backdrop for Disney’s Finding Nemo 2. Monterey is in close proximity to a small coastal beach town Carmel-by-the-Sea and also Carmel Valley.

Stay at Carmel Valley Ranch, a 500-acre playground set in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains along California’s Central Coast. The Ranch offers one-of-a-kind activities from beekeeping and honey harvesting, hilltop yoga, hiking and foraging walks.

Bird to look for: The black-footed albatross

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park in Texas sits where mountains, desert and river meet…a dream combination for bird diversity. Expect golden eagles, vermilion flycatchers and roadrunners darting across trails. Make sure you hike Santa Elena Canyon, this is the most popular one in the park and for good reason. Just note that once you enter Big Bend via your vehicle, it’s a 50-minute drive to get to this hike with little to no cell phone service.

Stay at the Willow House in the ghost town Terlingua, where these cement buildings compliment the unobstructed views of the Chisos Mountain Range. Make sure to stop for an authentic Texan dinner at Starlight Theater.

Bird to look for: The greater roadrunner

Everglades National Park, Florida

One of the richest bird habitats in America, the Everglades National Park is a nonstop show of herons, anhingas, wood storks and bright-pink spoonbills. The landscapes here feel cinematic: slow-moving rivers of grass, mangrove tunnels that look like a fantasy set, and wide-open skies where raptors soar like they own the place.

Early-morning kayak tours offer the quietest, most peaceful birding. The glassy water, soft golden light, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a curious manatee in the waters below.

Bird to look for: The roseate spoonbill

Birding is low-stress and beginner friendly. You don’t need gear or experience…just curiosity, a little patience and maybe Ariana’s favorite trick: using your phone’s Merlin Bird ID to figure out what’s calling from the trees.

If she can find peace in birdsong, maybe the rest of us can touch grass too.