Bird watching

Many visitors to Vancouver are amazed at how casually you can spy a mighty bald eagle here, even right in the city. Head down to a park along a beach, look up to the tree tops and you could be rewarded with a glimpse of one of these majestic birds of prey, surveying the surrounding area. Stanley Park is home to at least two nests, with around 18 nests in the City of Vancouver and many more within the metropolitan area – some can be watched via these live cams.

Stanley Park draws a number of ornithologists thanks to its Pacific Great Blue Heron colony, one of the largest in North America. While these birds are at risk in many other areas, seeing these majestic creatures swoop across the skies is a common sight in Stanley Park. The colony is located right by the English Bay entrance to Stanley Park, and the herons return there each February to fix the nests and lay their eggs. The first fuzzy chicks are seen in April, with all the young vacating the nest by around August. The Vancouver Park Board has set up a “Heron Cam” so that the public can watch this natural phenomenon. You can also visit the Stanley Park Ecology Society to learn more about the blue herons and the park’s other birdlife.

Located to the south of Vancouver in the suburb of Ladner, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a fantastic spot to view migratory species as they rest on their journey north or south along the Pacific Flyway. Reifel offers 300 hectares (850 acres) of managed wetlands and natural marshes along the Fraser River Estuary. Nearly 300 species of birds have been recorded at the sanctuary, and you’ll find the greatest diversity during spring and fall migration periods.

With a flock of around 75,000, snow geese are a huge attraction, with mid-October to mid-December and then mid-March to mid-April the best times to see them before they head back to Wrangel Island, in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Siberia.

For many, Boundary Bay is a hidden secret, known only among locals and the most avid birders. As the name suggests, the area is on the water, by the US/Canada border, in the Vancouver suburbs of Delta and Surrey. The area’s system of dykes and waterfront trails make it a fantastic area to observe a diverse selection of migrating waterfowl and even eagles, while enjoying a hike or bike ride. In fact, like the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Boundary Bay is a designated “Important Bird Area,” with over 330 species identified in the area.

They say that “birds of a feather flock together,” which is why bird lovers of all stripes swoop down on Vancouver each May for the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration. The 2-week series of events celebrates Vancouver’s birds with workshops, walks, talks, exhibitions, and lectures – all of which are free! There are events for the novice birder, kids and families, as well as the seasoned expert, with options going well beyond just spotting your favourite feathered friends.