Birdwatching in British Columbia, Canada is a great way to sit back and relax with a good camera, binoculars and a birding checklist while enjoying the scenery. The BC landscape is covered in lakes, rivers, forests, wetlands, marshes, estuaries and on the westcoast, the Pacific Ocean. It is a environment birds love and for that reason BC is fast becoming one of the top birdwatching destinations in the world.

Our province is a popular natural environment attracting many different species of birds every year. Many arrive via the Pacific Flyway which is a major bird migration route crossing North America. The flyway follows the western regions of the Americas from Alaska to Patagonia. Some birds stay and breed and feed here while others stop by to rest before continuing on their journey.

The best time for birdwatching in BC, Canada is during the spring and fall months because the temperatures are not as hot and birds are more active. Mating, migrating and foraging for food are popular bird activities during these months.

Birdwatching in BC is best enjoyed either on a self guided adventure or with a birding tour company. A self guided tour is best enjoyed in one of our parks, sanctuaries and/or estuaries. Some bird destinations include items like birdwatching towers, interpretive signs, boardwalk trails, museums and information centres.

A bird tour group is a great way for beginners to learn more about bird identification, breeding and migration. The guides are knowledgeable of the birding population and best yet, they know where to look. Some tour groups include meals and transportation. Always good to ask what is included and fees.

Some of the more popular birds in the province include predator birds like Bald Eagles, Red Tail Hawks and Great Horned Owls. Because of the many lakes and rivers on the Pacific Flyway there are plenty of waterfowl also to look for like Great Blue Herons, Canada Geese and Mallard Ducks.

There are many locations for birding in the province. Some of the better known birding destinations include Scout Island Park in Williams Lake and the Tidal Flats in Bella Coola . Both in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region of BC.

In the Thompson-Shuswap region birding is popular in the Tunkwa Provincial Park near Logan Lake, the Marble Canyon Park near Cache Creek and the Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park near Shuswap Lake.

In the Kootenays birdwatchers will enjoy the 6880 hectares of wetlands when exploring the Wildlife Management Area in Creston. Then west of Creston in Cranbrook is the Elizabeth Lake Sanctuary and in Castlegar the Waldie Island Park.

On the westcoast of BC on the Sunshine Coast birding is enjoyed at Ruby Lake near Egmont, the Iris Griffith Wetlands near Pender Harbour and the wetland marsh in Sechelt.

On Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands birdwatching is almost everywhere. Some of the more recognized birding destinations include the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Goldstream Park, Mitlenatch Island Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park, Beacon Hill Park and Rebecca Spit.

On the Queen Charlotte Islands birding is top notch. There is the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve which is only accessible by boat and must be explored with a qualified guide. Buffleheads are popular sightings in the reserve. Then in Masset there is the Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary which comes complete with tides, lookout towers and trails.

Thank you for planning your birding adventure with us on our BCeh.com Travel Planning Network!

Be well and enjoy,

The EH Team.