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.
Robert Butler is one of Canada’s prominent ornithologists, recognized nationally and internationally for his conservation work. He is a member of the Vancouver Natural History Society, a life member of Birds Canada and the Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society, and a fellow of the American Ornithological Society.
In 1964, Robert was invited with a few other teens up Hollyburn Mountain to look at owls with some intermediate birders and the Nature Vancouver History Society. He and the others were smitten. “We got into birding and travelled around Canada and the States. I became proficient at identification.” At 16, Robert wrote to UBC to see if any zoologists wanted assistance and ended up looking for grouse in the Comox and Campbell River clear-cuts.
Once he got into birding, Robert started to notice them everywhere, “then bird migration starts—you go out in the early morning and might spot 10-15 new species.“ Robert felt encapsulated. He was determined to go further afield, to learn and explore more. Now, Dr. Robert Butler, ornithologist, author, and artist—his commitment, curiosity, and passion for birds abides.
“Wherever you go, there are new birds. It’s inexpensive. You can pick up this hobby anywhere.”
Robert Butler
Robert uses Swarovski binoculars and primarily focuses his bird-watching on whatever he is studying. At the time of writing, his focus was crows in Burnaby and the sandpiper migration. Robert recommends three spots for watching birds: Burnaby Lake Regional Nature Park, Reifel Bird Sanctuary, and Boundary Bay Regional Park, where you may spot western sandpipers, dunlins, black-bellied plovers, and waterfowl like northern pintails and grebes. He birds when he has time and loves watching the goldfinches at his bird feeder and in the trees.
Fascinated with crows’ facial recognition, Robert asserts, “Science explodes a lot of myths to gain new appreciation of birds and bird behaviour.” Last spring, he witnessed a crow fight, a “real Donnybrook,” not unusual in the spring. However, in this case, other crows not only watched but joined in. “This coalitionary fighting is common among primates and dolphins; it is highly social and occurs when the community is interested in the fight’s outcome. What did the crow do? Clearly something deeper than what we understand.”
Over the years, Robert has counted 130 bird species in his yard. He is a scientific life member of Birds Canada and a member of the Natural History Society Vancouver, Burke Mountain Naturalists, and the Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society. “Wherever you go, there are new birds. It’s inexpensive. You can pick up this hobby anywhere.”
Robert’s advice for new birders? “The birding curve was steep. Go with people who are birders.” Once you start noticing birds, whole avian stories are unfolding everywhere. “Use Merlin, use the apps to start,” he suggests, but adds, “it can be quite obsessive.”
Looking to start your own birding adventure in Vancouver? Check out the Vancouver BC Bird Trail Outpost!
