Photos: Birds in the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver

I celebrated Earth Day (April 22) with a nature walk in the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver.

It's the kind of place that, even if you've spent most of your life in the Vancouver area, you might never get around to checking out.

But, if you enjoy birds and other wildlife, Maplewood Flats are definitely worth a visit.

The conservation area, which lies between the Dollarton Highway and Burrard Inlet, is operated by the Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia.

You can spend a couple hours strolling the pleasant trails that loop through the wetland, enjoying the marshes, meadows, and mudflats.

Best of all, you can take public transit to get there. The #212 bus from Phibbs Exchange drops you off right outside the entrance.

(Another local spot that's a must-go for bird lovers is the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta.)

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.