you can join you local group. bird watch meet ect. go meet peopel in your area actaul do wildlife photography https://www.instagram.com/chicago.wildlife.photography/ https://www.chicagobirder.org/
It is weird that I gave you an example that this kind info are usually open to public and you just need to pay attention and you're immediate reaction is not to check out the info you can get from your local area but to stick in to me for too poor for a airline ticket.
do I need to google it for you? even more?!
the birders usually do free guided trips too
I just put some key word in google and there is a list of "State" park.