As the BC Bird Trail expands throughout the province, we wanted to shine a light on the people on the ground in these communities. Learn more about the bird-watching experiences in these destinations through the eyes of the experienced locals with our BC Birders profile series.
Kris Cu is a birding guide, wildlife photographer, and BC Outreach Specialist for Birds Canada. Learn more about his work on his Instagram.
Born in the Philippines, Kris’ early introduction to birds by his father was full of bright colours, with the Philippine trogon, the olive-backed sunbird and the rufous hornbill. In 2015, his family moved to BC, and Kris recalls noticing the shift to more muted plumage, browns and grays. Birds fell off his radar until, as a teen, Kris was experimenting with wildlife photography and realized they were everywhere, at the parks, in town, in his backyard—his passion ignited.
Now, as the BC Outreach Specialist for Birds Canada, Kris is personally and professionally committed to birding and photographing birds. He stresses the importance of curiosity, “start noticing the robin running across your lawn and crow behaviours—there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on.” There are free bird walks in many communities, and it’s always ideal to head out with someone experienced who can share knowledge and observe moments you may miss.
Kris uses Leupold BX-4 10 x 42 binoculars and shoots with a Canon 500mm. Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver is his most frequent place to birdwatch. In Surrey, Kris recommends the Serpentine Fen Nature Trail. Birders can spot up to 100 different species depending on the time of year. He also recommends year-round birding around the Fraser River Estuary, in Boundary Bay, Brunswick Point, and Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
Early morning is Kris’ preferred time to watch birds, “I photograph birds and love to observe them as the sun rises. White Rock is very peaceful in the early morning 5:00 am – 6:00 am, but it changes with the seasons.” Of the approximately 220 bird species Kris has counted on the Lower Mainland, one of his favourite birds is the American dipper, North America’s only true aquatic songbird. These palm-sized birds live along fast-flowing creeks, “you can see them popping up, and they dive straight into rushing water. It’s pretty cool,” he shares.
The most unusual bird Kris has spotted in this area is the brown American bittern, which is found all year in the Lower Mainland around wetlands and marsh environments but is quite tricky to spot as they match the marsh and stand upright to mimic the grass. “They are stealthy and cryptic. Also, what’s so odd about them, is that when they sing, their call is like a dripping faucet, not a chirp or squawk.”
Kris attends an Ecology Society birding group at Stanley Park and subscribes to the British Columbia Field Ornithologists scientific publication. He also follows various social media, local forums and the British Columbia Rare Bird Alert.
What bird has Kris yet to observe but is high on his list? “I’d love to see an albatross, but you must be on a boat. They are awesome.”
Back in 2022, we spoke with Kris Cu in our Stories from the BC Bird Trail documentary. In the video Kris leads a Filipino bird walk through Blackie Spit in Surrey, British Columbia and speaks to how community birding events help increase diversity and representation in the birding community. You can watch the video on our YouTube channel.
