Honestly, if youre heading to the Everglades, you need something that wont sink into the muck or shake in the wind. I would suggest staying away from the lightweight travel stuff. You might want to consider the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod. It is a total tank and definitely wont sag under a 5D and a 70-200mm lens. Be careful with carbon fiber in this price range tho, because cheap carbon is often worse than good aluminum. I personally use the Benro Mach3 TMA37AL Long Aluminum Tripod when I need rock-solid support on a budget. Make sure to get a head that locks down tight too, like the Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head. Dont skimp on the head or the legs wont matter... it is better to carry a bit more weight than to watch your gear hit the dirt because of a flimsy setup.

Regarding what #1 said about Honestly, if youre heading to the Everglades, you...

• they are spot on. You definitely need stability in those damp conditions. So far we've looked at the Manfrotto and Sirui options, but in my experience, you need to check leg diameter for a heavy 5D and 70-200mm setup. If the top tubes aren't thick enough, even a light breeze will whip your gear around. Since you're on a budget, these are my go-to recommendations for maximum rigidity:
• Innorel RT90C Carbon Fiber Tripod with 40mm Leg Tube
• This thing is a total unit for under $350. No center column means way less vibration in the wind.
• Leofoto LS-365C Ranger Series Carbon Fiber Tripod
• Extremely high build quality and very stiff, handles heavy kits without any flex. Honestly, use the leftover cash for a gimbal head. Even great legs wont stop a lens from drooping if the ball head isn't solid. Let me know if you want the technical specs on why these work better for birding!

Just saw this! What head type are you using for the trip? The Sirui AM-284 Carbon Fiber Tripod is amazing and its ten-layer carbon construction provides incredible torsional rigidity for heavy Canon setups!