Vancouver is a terrific city for bird watchers. Ducks, geese, swans, herons and many other species that migrate along the Pacific Flyway have called a Vancouver park or sanctuary home. Watch for bald eagles soaring above.
Stanley Park is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks, and its great blue heronry is the oldest bird sanctuary in the vicinity. Each year, scores of herons build nests and raise chicks here. On a larger scale, Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Boundary Bay Park in Delta attract thousands of birds on their annual migration. More than 250 bird species have been spotted at the Reifel bird sanctuary.
At the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park, countless free-flying tropical birds perch in exotic trees and plants.
Birdwatching in Stanley Park
Bird watchers are in for a memorable treat at Stanley Park, as the park is a veritable breeding ground for birds, ducks, geese and swans. A stroll around Lost Lagoon may result in an encounter with a wood duck or great blue heron. In spring, birders are often lucky enough to spot ducklings paddling in the lagoon. Nearby Beaver Lake also serves as a tranquil sanctuary for a variety of birds.
Stanley Park's heronry (heron colony) is the oldest in the area, and is quite a sight, with 150 large nests carefully crafted in towering trees. Spend time walking the paved 10-km/6.2-mi Seawall watching for sea birds and shore birds, and marvel at the magnificent mountain, ocean, forest and city views. In spring, fall and winter, look for migrating birds such as goldeneyes, black oystercatchers, harlequin ducks and surf scoters. Stanley Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth Park
Situated at the city's highest point south of downtown, Queen Elizabeth Park welcomes six million visitors yearly. Of these, a good many come birding.
The Bloedel Conservatory celebrates the natural world through its tropical birds, plants, rainforest and fish. The domed conservatory is set against a backdrop of sweeping views and magnificent floral displays. Queen Elizabeth Park is just a 15-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. An admission fee is in effect for the conservatory.
Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
The Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary hosts more than 60,000 visitors and birdwatchers each year. Wetlands, marshes and low dykes serve as key resting points for countless birds on annual migration trips, while many other kinds of wildlife reside here all year long.
Kids get a kick out of throwing grain (available to purchase on site) to the countless ducks on site. Mallard ducks and black-capped chickadees will often feed out of visitors' hands. Look for sandhill cranes, owls, and hawks.
The best times to go birding here are from March to April (spring migration) and October to November (fall migration). Birders who visit in November are likely to get a spectacular glimpse of the flock of 20,000 lesser snow geese en route south from Siberia.
The sanctuary is in Delta a one-hour drive south of Vancouver via Highway 99. A small admission fee is in effect.
Boundary Bay Regional Park
A spectacular seaside setting of sand dunes, salt marshes, lagoons and tidal flats, Boundary Bay Regional Park hosts Canada's highest population of wintering raptors. As well, the area is recognized around the world as an important rest stop for countless migrating birds on the Pacific migration route.
Boardwalks and viewing stops are located next to the park's wildlife reserves. Walkers, hikers, cyclists, equestrians and bird watchers alike roam the 16.4-km/10-mi Boundary Bay Dyke Trail.
While the birding is excellent from September to April, fall migrants are most diverse in September and October. In spring, listen as groups of songbirds delightfully chirp their choruses. The park is in Tsawwassen, a one-hour drive south of Vancouver via Highway 99.
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