Dec 6th, 2011
Bird Watching in and around Vancouver
When the weather is sunny and warm, there is no shortage of things to do in Vancouver: hit one of the many
beaches,
hike Grouse Grind, pitch and putt at
Stanley Park, swim at Kits pool...but when winter arrives, people are often at a loss for what to do.
Some locals stay home when the snow is falling and hibernate in front of the TV.
Others brave the worst Vancouver weather to walk, jog or bike, or head to the
ski hills to enjoy the powder. Rain or shine, Vancouver is an active city!
A popular activity for those who like getting bundled up and braving the cold is bird watching. The shorelines and parks are prime spots to come face to face with a variety of bird species, because their migratory paths run through the Lower Mainland and right over
English Bay.
A few of the species of birds you may come across include:
› Cormorants
› Bald Eagles
› Mallards
› Bufflehead ducks
› Great Blue Herons
Vantage points for bird watchers are all around the city:
› Queen Elizabeth Park
› Jericho Beach
› Spanish Banks
› Mount Seymour Parkway
› Ambleside Park
› Pacific Spirit Park
› Cyprus Provincial Park
› Coal Harbor and False Creek
If you want to travel further afield, head north to Brackendale or south to Delta. From mid-November to mid-February, Brackendale, just north of Squamish is considered one of the best places in the world to view bald eagles. The eagles arrive in their thousands to feast on spawning chum salmon and December and January are the prime viewing months.
There are several good spots along the Squamish River Delta between Squamish and Brackendale but one of the best spots is the Eagle Run alongside Government Road. The site is easily accessible from the road, and at weekends and holidays there are often members of a local eagle-watching group with high powered scopes which the public are welcome to use.
Brackendale also holds its annual Eagle Festival in January with numerous events to celebrate the eagles presence.
The
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Ladner in Delta, is another prime bird watching spot within easy reach of Vancouver. Mid-October to mid-December is the best time to see the huge flocks of snow geese that fly down from the Russian Arctic. In 2011 the estimated snow geese population at the sanctuary was 75,000. Mid-March to mid-April is another prime bird viewing time with millions of sandpipers, plus hawks, eagles and cormorants on view.
Tags: activities