A Guide to Birdwatching in BC

Nov. 25

Keep an eye out for BC’s feathered flyers, here’s a guide for those interested in birdwatching within British Columbia.

Birdwatching or “birding” is a fantastic outdoor activity that anybody can partake in, and it has become one of the fastest-growing recreation activities in North America. And for a good reason. It’s a beautiful way to connect with the outdoors by observing and identifying various birds. British Columbia has over 500 types of bird species and many areas within the province provide ultimate viewing opportunities for birdwatchers.

Birds are all around us; you’ll likely see a bird no matter what activity you are doing outside. Birds offer an instantaneous intimate connection to nature and provide a sense of calm for our mental well-being, making it an appealing hobby to many. Birdwatching is an accessible activity for everyone to enjoy as you’re not held back by expense restraints.

Birdwatching keeps you engaged with the surrounding habitats and offers an inclusive community to make connections with other people. There are various clubs, organizations or social groups for bird watching.

How to get started with birding

If you’re interested in learning about birding, it’s easy to get into and can be something the whole family can get involved with.

Look for birds: Keep your eyes peeled when you go outside.
Use binoculars: Binoculars are handy to have for bird watching; you can get up close and personal with them from a safe distance.
Try to identify the birds: This will take practice and time, but you’ll start to recognize the different types of birds with time.
Field guide: You can use a field guide, an app or an experienced birder to verify the identification of the birds you see. Borrow a field guide from the library to start until you decide what source you prefer.
Join a club: Connect with other birders or naturalists, this is a great way to have a sense of community around a common interest and also learn about birding from others. ORCBC member BC Nature has over 40 member naturalist clubs all across BC.
Learn where to look for birds: One of the greatest realizations, as you get into birding, is that there are birds everywhere. All you need to do is to pay attention and you’ll see them. Backyards with trees and shrubs are great places to start birdwatching, as are city parks, ponds and open fields with grass.
Take a course: There are free online courses to help you learn more about birding or join a club as many offer talks, presentations and events on birdwatching.
Keep a checklist of birds in your area: Create a list of birds in your area. Works a bit similar to a scavenger hunt and checks off the bird species as you see them.
Bring a camera: This is not a must, but it can be a good thing to have as it helps to keep track of locations and you get to take beautiful shots of birds.
Learn the lingo: It helps to learn the birdwatching vocabulary. Bins means binoculars, BOP stands for birds of prey and bushwhack is a term that means to intensively search through dense brush.
Reduce your impact: Reduce your impact on nature and the birds. This means being responsible for your viewing by not causing the bird distress. Also, be sure to clean your gear before and after a hike out into nature to decrease the chance of spreading invasive plant species.
Stay safe: Sometimes, the best viewing times are odd times of the day, in particular at dusk and dawn, so go with a family member or friend if you can, or let somebody know where you’re going.

Check out some birding hot spots

Type The great thing about British Columbia is that you can birdwatch from anywhere in the province but they tend to congregate a few desirable hot spots for visitors to go see.

Brackendale, Squamish

This fabulous spot is home to the largest congregations of wintering bald eagles in North America. Get a front-row seat to these magnificent birds catching their salmon in the river. Best time to see the eagles is in the morning from now until January at the eagle run dike in Brackendale.

Stanley Park, Vancouver

Visit Stanley Park to see the only and largest urban colony in North America. The Pacific great blue herons have globally been declining over time so it’s becoming increasingly important to protect these birds. Check out the Heron Cam that allows for non-invasive monitoring. They are non-migratory birds so they stay around the area all year long. In addition to the herons, more than 230 species of birds are seen and heard in the park’s forests, wetlands and seashore areas.

Okanagan Valley

Known as one of Canada’s best birdwatching destinations. This area hosts nearly 350 species of birds such as the canyon wren, boreal chickadee, western screech-owl and more. Many of these birds are special to this area, as they are not seen anywhere else in Canada.

The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Located an hour outside of Vancouver, this wildlife reserve has nearly 850 acres of managed wetlands, natural marshes and low dykes in the heart of the Fraser River estuary. Located along the Pacific Flyway, an immensely important bird migration corridor along the Pacific Coast, this place offers a feeding and resting area during annual migrations. Reservations are currently required to visit.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

The Gulf Islands have an array of birds to view. This spot is located along migratory paths, so it serves as a temporary home for our feathered travellers. Some of the birds to watch for are grebes, murrelets, loons, thrushes, and owls. This area has many different types of songbirds to view including Pacific-slope flycatcher, chestnut-backed chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, Townsend’s warbler and Wilson’s warbler. Songbirds are defined as perching birds, they share a distinct toe arrangement that helps them grasp branches.

The Columbia Valley Bird Trail

Located along the Upper Columbia River, the wetlands are home to much birdlife. Visitors will see eastern and prairie birds that are not really found anywhere else in BC and also a place to see familiar coastal birds during the breeding season. It’s located along the Pacific flyway, where alpine species also gather at higher elevations. It’s a must-do on the list for a bird lover.

Be sure to check out this link to see what type of birds are in your area: Birds in your Region

Grab Your Binoculars

Get out there and enjoy some bird watching, at the very least it’s a great excuse to get outside and soak up nature. Check out the birdwatching resources below for more information and bird facts.

Birdwatching resources: