BIRDING

Over 380 different species have been recorded in this region with average yearly totals in Victoria of over 240 species. Visiting birders are likely to record up to 150 species in a three-week period. The best months are during the spring and fall migrations, though most species can be found here year round! Habitat diversity includes high alpine to tidal mud flats, dense old growth rainforest to open ocean and everything in-between. The variety and diversity of habitat offers an exciting birding tour for any birder. For another exhilarating and educational experience, falconry courses are available, allowing participants hands-on encounters with magnificent birds of prey.

Highlights: Sky Lark (One of only two nesting locations in North America), Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, Anna's Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Loon, Pacific Loon, Brant, Heerman's Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Tufted Puffin and other Alcids, Black Turnstone and other shorebirds, California Quail, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Hutton's Vireo, Black throated Grey warbler as well as many others.

Frank Chapman, editor of Bird Lore Magazine, precursor of Audubon magazine, began the Christmas Bird Count in New York City in 1900 as an alternative to the then popular "Side Hunts". Since joining the Christmas Bird Count and sponsored by the Victoria Natural History Society in 1944, Victoria has traditionally led Canada in the number of species sighted and the number of birds counted. 146 species and 95,610 individual birds were counted in 1998.

Eagle Extravaganza at Goldstream Provincial Park
Massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, flowers, birds, animals and fascinating fish are but a few of the attractions that draw people to Goldstream Provincial Park, a mere 19 kilometres from downtown Victoria on southern Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island is home to more Bald Eagles than in all of the continental United States. An amazing birding opportunity exists at Goldstream Park where over 250 eagles gather each fall. Visitors to Victoria will witness this amazing spectacle of nature that includes salmon making their way up the Goldstream River. The annual salmon run starts from late October through December, with thousands of salmon making the arduous journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Finlayson Arm of the Saanich Inlet. The salmon draw people, bears and Bald Eagles to the park as they struggle up the Goldstream River to spawn in the streams in which they were born. From the riverside trails in this forested park you have an extraordinary opportunity to view the miraculous event of chum, chinook and coho salmon spawning. After the salmon position themselves in the river in order to lay their eggs, the birds of prey come in. Eagles and other birds of prey arrive in Victoria in large numbers from mid December to February. Birds such as the Red Tailed Hawk, the Merlin Falcon and the occasional Golden Eagle arrive at the end of the salmon run to eat the remaining carcasses.

Numerous forested trails criss-cross Goldstream's two distinct vegetation zones. The park is home to 600-year old Douglas-fir trees and western red cedar mingled with western yew, red alder, bigleaf maple, western hemlock and black cottonwood. On the drier ridges, arbutus and lodgepole pine grow, while the park is ablaze with wildflowers in spring and early summer.

Hawk Watch at Beechey Head in East Sooke Park
Beechey Head in East Sooke Park is a staging area for southbound migrant Red Tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons and Cooper's Hawks. Birders come from mid-September to late October in order to view the migrating raptors at the peak of their migration. As many as 1000 Turkey Vultures can be seen kettling over the coastal hills of East Sooke Park before they cross more than 18 miles of open ocean. From the observations point overlooking Beechey Head and the Juan de Fuca Strait, a birder can hope to list up to eight raptor species, though it is not uncommon to list more.

Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
Formed over 12,000 years ago when the last glacier receded, Swan Lake now provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities year-round. A 2.5-kilometer loop trail, featuring two wharves and a floating walkway, provides ample access to the lake environment. Watch for muskrat and basking turtles in the summer months and river otter during the winter. Bird watching opportunities are excellent year-round, especially during the spring and fall migration. Great Blue Herons can almost always be sighted and Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks are common. During the winter months Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveller, Green-winged Teal and American Widgeon can be seen. During spring and summer, the lake edge teems with Swallows, Marsh Wrens and Red-winged Blackbirds.

A connecting trail corridor from Swan Lake provides access to Christmas Hill, a 2.5-kilometer round trip. Spring is the best time of year to enjoy the spectacular show of Garry Oak meadow wildflowers. White Fawn Lily, Common and Great Camas, Shootingstar and Satin Flower are abundant. Look for the elusive Chocolate Lily along the trail. The view of Victoria and surrounding hills from the glacially-grooved summit of the hill is always exciting.

Esquimalt Lagoon
Esquimalt Lagoon is as diverse in bird life as it is in landscapes, making it a birder's paradise. The park contains over 160 documented species and is considered one of the best places in the region to bird watch. Listen for the rattle call of the Belted Kingfisher flying high over the creek. Feel the air vibrate as Orange-crowned Warblers and Dark-eyed Juncos fill the forest with birdsong. Wander through the tidal flats to Tower Point, following the tracks of Great Blue Heron or Western Sandpiper. Bring your binoculars, and be prepared for discovery.

Saanich Peninsula - The last stronghold of the Sky Lark
Examples of Victoria's rare and diverse birding areas include the Saanich Peninsula, Goldstream Park and Beechey Head in East Sooke Park. The Saanich Peninsula, just ten minutes from downtown Victoria, is the last stronghold for the rare and musical Sky Lark. The Sky Lark Alauda arvensis Lennaeus population is in decline and the Saanich Peninsula in Victoria has been recognized as one of the last places in North America where they nest and live. In 1903 the British Columbia Natural History Society imported 100 pairs of Sky Larks from Great Britain. Some of these Sky Larks were released near Vancouver and the remainder were sent to Vancouver Island for release. Today, the area near the Victoria International Airport in Saanich is one of only two nesting areas in North America. Although the population is declining, it is still relatively easy to spot one of these birds if you know where to look and what to look for. The Sky Lark can also be seen at Martindale Valley. Out of town birders should contact a local guide for farm field access restriction.

Falconry
Pacific Northwest Raptors offers half-day, full-day or five-day courses teaching the art of falconry. This organization is dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey and their habitats. Hands-on experience is combined with details about handling, flying, housing, telemetry and other aspects of caring for these magnificent birds.