Five birding hot spots around Vancouver

    1 of 6 2 of 6

      Spring is here, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. So, it’s time to take advantage of the good weather, get outside, and go birdwatching.

      With three important bird areas in Metro Vancouver—the Fraser River estuary, English Bay and Burrard Inlet, and the Greater Vancouver watershed—we live in a veritable birding hot spot. A copy of Birds of Southwestern British Columbia (Heritage House) by Richard Cannings, Tom Aversa, and Hal Opperman will help you identify what you’ll see.

      Here’s five great places for spotting birds this season and all year long.

       

      1. George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

      Lesser snow geese above Westham Island.
      Stephen Hui

      Where to find it: Westham Island, Delta.

      What to look for: Lesser snow goose, sandhill crane, western sandpiper.

      More information: British Columbia Waterfowl Society.

       

      2. Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats

      Red-winged blackbird at Maplewood Flats.
      Stephen Hui

      Where to find it: 2645 Dollarton Highway, North Vancouver.

      What to look for: Black-throated gray warbler, spotted towhee, Swainson’s thrush.

      More information: Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia.

       

      3. Burnaby Lake Regional Park

      Wood ducks at Burnaby Lake.
      Craig Elliott

      Where to find it: Piper Avenue, Burnaby.

      What to look for: American coot, pied-billed grebe, and wood duck.

      More information: Metro Vancouver.

       

      4. Pitt-Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area

      Great blue heron at Pitt Polder.
      Stephen Hui

      Where to find it: Rannie Road, Pitt Meadows.

      What to look for: American bittern, bufflehead, trumpeter swan.

      More information: Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

       

      5. Boundary Bay Regional Park

      Bald eagles at Boundary Bay.
      Winston Wong

      Where to find it: Boundary Bay Road, Tsawwassen, Delta.

      What to look for: Orange-crowned warbler, short-billed dowitcher, violet-green swallow.

      More information: Metro Vancouver.

      Comments