Birdwatching in BC

Birds are some of the most beautiful and intriguing creatures in nature and humans love to watch them in their natural environment. Maybe we admire them for of their ability to fly, a freedom that we can only mimic with our mechanical machines. Enjoying them in flight or in motion-less pose or hearing them in silent flight or passionate song, they captivate us with their odd behaviour and colourful beauty. Birdwatching in BC is one of the best places to witness them in their natural environment.

Canada is home to 462 species and 362 of them are found in BC, the most in all of Canada. They are attracted to the mild climate, the rugged, unpopulated terrain and the abundant food supply from the Pacific Ocean.

British Columbia is on one of the major North American flyways and attracts migrating birds from Alaska, the Arctic, the Canadian prairies, Mexico and South America. Birdwatchers have a visual feast during migration season.

Birdwatching in BC is a low-impact eco-travel holiday- it's exciting, educational and leaves little traces on the land. It's a perfect opportunity for nature-lovers to support communities that appreciate the environment and promotes wildlife conservation. And Victoria, BC is one of the best birding centers in Canada.

With its temperate climate, thick rainforest and a timely fish migration, the coast of BC is an attractive breeding and migratory stop for millions of birds on the Pacific Flyway. Birds of all sizes, from eagles to hummingbirds, can be found on the coastal shores.

Bald Eagles - BC eagles are large birds with a wing-span of over 2 meters. They stand 75 centimeters tall when perched on branches, scouring the local vicinity. All other birds, except for geese, retreat out of respect & fear.

These powerful hunters, at the top of the bird hierarchy, have massive beaks and large talons with spikes (called spicules) to snare, carry and rip apart their kill. They can snag fish right out of the water, catch large rodents in open fields and even capture smaller birds in flight.

Males and females both have dark brown bodies and white feathers on their head and tails. It takes a Bald Eagle four or five years to achieve this recognizable coloration. The best time to view eagles on the BC coast is from Mid-October to the end of February, when the salmon return to spawn. In the Victoria and Sooke area, they are most abundant around November.

The barred owl is the most common owl on Vancouver Island & the lower Mainland. They have an aggressive temperance to other large birds and can be seen aggressively defending their territory at dusk. It is suspected that they were introduced to the BC coast in the 1960's from Eastern Canada and have vigorously bullied their way into the bird hierarchy, sometimes to the detriment of the Spotted Owl which roost in the old-growth forests of British Columbia.

These nocturnal hunters are best spotted at dusk, in the thick trees beside roads, fields and shorelines. You will only hear them when they warn other birds in their territory; otherwise they are silent in flight and in hunt.

These lanky birds stand over 1 meter tall but weigh only 2.5 kg (7 lbs).They can live up to 17 years but since they are rather frail, do succumb to stronger competitors.

They can be found standing in shallow water and on logs and docks where they fish in silence. When startled, the Blue Heron makes an uncharacteristic guttural squawk. Their cry is effective but isn't as majestic as their appearance.

Birdwatching in BC is amazing, especially around the Victoria area. East Sooke Park is just outside the city and is a large natural refuge surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on three sides.

When we were staying at an oceanfront cottage on Vancouver Island, we had front row seats to the best birding in the area. Eagles perched in the trees on the small island just off shore; herons silently fished from the logs down on the water's edge, oblivious to our presence. It angrily flew off when a pair of swans swam too close to its territory.

On the banks of the Sooke Basin, birds darted back and forth in front of the cottage windows. We saw hummingbirds darting from tree to tree, heard sparrows sing throughout the day, and watched tons of colourful birds fly BELOW us (the cottage was high up on the water bank). We knew the eagles were close when the afternoon chatter from the smaller birds suddenly went quiet as they took refuge elsewhere.

A short drive away on some curvy country roads, we found a great park named Witty's Lagoon that offered excellent viewing of marsh birds. This tidal pond was teaming with birds, especially during low tide when the Pacific Ocean left behind a fresh feast of sea bounty. Thick trees lined the shore and camouflaged us from the unsuspecting birds just outside of our reach.

Birdwatching in BC is an unforgettable experience, especially on Vancouver Island. Even if you're not an experienced birder, these beautiful creatures will be hard to avoid as you travel the roads and forests outside of Victoria, BC.