 Bald Eagles, Jeremy Ferguson photo
Bird Species So step right up and meet the winged superstars of the Broughton Strait. Say hello to Bald Eagles, Black Oystercatchers, Great Blue Herons, Great Horned Owls, Red-Tailed Hawks, Marbled Murrelets and Short-eared Owls. In total, 90 different species greet visitors by the ten thousands. Bring the binoculars. Bring the camera. Bring a sense of wonder.
Bird Watching Sites No bird-watching tours are available yet in Port NcNeill, but it's easy enough to locate the best sites nearby. A premier bird-watching location is the Cluxewe River Estuary, a cluster of sites about 14.4km /9mi north of town.
Cluxewe River Estuary Easiest access is via the Cluxewe Resort campgrounds. Near the mouth of the Cluxewe River, a path leads to an open view of the nutrient-rich estuary. Bald Eagles, Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons are year-round residents. Waterfowl are most abundant January through March. The Kwakiutl First Nation owns the resort, but allows visitors to explore. Just check in at the office first.
Trumpeter Swans Migration Winter brings the annual migration of Trumpeter Swans, the largest native waterfowl species in North America. They boast an average wingspan of 196cm/77in and can fly at speeds of 35km/20mph per hour. In the wild, when nature's generous, their lifespan can be as long as 24 years.
Quatse River Estuary Like the Cluxwe, the Quatse River Estuary south of Port Hardy nurtures massive bird life, but has the advantage of an observation tower for bird-watchers and photographers. The estuary draws huge numbers of winter migrant birds. Easy to spot from the tower are Northern Shovellers, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Ducks, the amazing Trumpeter Swans and many others.
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