Bald eagles are just one of the birds you'll likely see along BC's celebrated bird trail.
This spring, grab your binoculars and join The BC Bird Trail in celebrating the start of another amazing birdwatching season. As millions of migratory birds return to British Columbia, bird enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels have the incredible opportunity to observe these remarkable creatures complete another annual migration.
Whether you're a novice birder or a seasoned expert with years of experience, the best part of birding is that the qualifications are simply some curiosity and an appreciation of nature. As you hit the trail, you'll be sure to spot vibrant warblers, swift swallows, grosbeaks and more as they pass through the province. Let the songs of sparrows, trills of chickadees, and sightings of majestic raptors captivate you during this exceptional time of year.
“Because we’re located along the Pacific Flyway migration route - which is one of the four major migratory flyways in North America - we are in the perfect position to witness millions of birds following ancestral migration pathways through our province,” explains Hollie Galloway, Project Coordinator with The BC Bird Trail.
“Every spring, as birds migrate back to their home base, they seek food and shelter along the way which allows birdwatchers in BC the unique opportunity to spot large flocks of birds, sometimes reaching numbers in the hundreds of thousands during the spring migration season. Plus, the spring migration season can sometimes yield sightings of unique and rare species which is always very exciting for our local birding communities.”
Male black-headed Grosbeak. A variety of birds can be spotted in huge numbers this season, including ... [+]
Discover why spring is such a perfect time for peak birding in BC:
- A variety of birds can be spotted in huge numbers this season, including beloved birds like Brants, Warblers, Swallows, Purple Martins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Cinnamon Teals. An extensive listing of feathered friends that can be seen exclusively in the spring time can be found on the website.
- What makes spring birding extra special is that you have a better chance of spotting more rare birds than at any other time of the year (which is why spring migration is a fav with die-hard birders). Also be sure to monitor the BC Rare Bird Alert blog for rare bird sightings in your region. You might just be lucky enough to catch sight of a lifer!
- Spring is peak migration season in British Columbia, which means that thousands of birds travel to and from their nesting and wintering sites during this time, often taking a break at their favourite places all across the province.
- With spring comes warmer weather and more welcome hours of sunshine, which makes it easy to enjoy longer and more comfortable birding experiences.
- Additionally, the time change makes it easier to get outdoors and look for birds during the peak bird-watching hours of dusk and dawn.
- Best of all, for even more birding entertainment, numerous popular community birding take place at this time of year and they are all open to the community. These include the 2024 Brant Wildlife Festival (April 5 to 8, 2024 - Parksville Qualicum Beach), the 2024 Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival (May 6 to 12, 2024 - Invermere) and the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration (May 11 to 26, 2024 – numerous locations).
To make birding even easier, each birdwatching itinerary on the website bcbirdtrail.ca includes important birding-related info necessary for a self-guided tour. You’ll find information about birds to look out for, birding ‘hotspots’, and transportation tips.
