When grey skies start to clear and the weather gets warmer, it means spring in British Columbia is right around the corner! With spring comes a huge increase in bird activity all over the province. If you’ve been waiting to get into birding, this is the season to start!
The Benefits
One huge advantage of birding in the spring is that the warmer weather means fewer adverse conditions. If you struggled to get out birding during the winter because of the cold and wet weather, spring is an enthusiastically welcomed shift. Also, the time change means that peak birding hours of dusk and dawn aren’t as difficult to catch as they are in the summer.
The key thing that makes birding in spring so exciting is that it’s migration season. Thousands of birds move to and from their nesting and wintering habitats during the spring, often stopping over in their favourite places all across BC. It’s a great time to catch less common birds, too. Migration time means that rarer birds have a higher chance of ending up in unexpected places on the BC Bird Trail. Keep an eye on the BC Rare Bird Alert blog for rare bird sightings in your area!
Planning Your Birding
While the weather in BC is much nicer in the spring than in the winter, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to prepare. BC weather can be fickle. It’s always best to keep an extra jacket (especially a waterproof one) or set of clothing in a car or backpack, just in case the temperature drops, or you get caught in the rain.
A general rule of thumb for longer days out birdwatching is to dress in layers. An early start outdoors might feel like cold winter weather, but it could end up being as hot as a summer day by the time you’re off the trails! And one extra tip if you’re out taking photos: an inexpensive rain cover stashed in your bag can be a life (or at least camera) saver if the spring weather turns sour.
Where to Go and What Birds You May See
Vancouver Island North Bird Trail
Northern Vancouver Island is an ecologically diverse region with ancient coastal rainforests, rocky islets, and expansive estuaries, making it a fantastic place to spot a wide range of bird species. One of the most spectacular features of this region is the large breeding colonies. The secluded islands surrounding northern Vancouver Island are home to colonies of nearly 2 million birds. Notably, they support over 90% of the Canadian population of Tufted Puffins and 55% of the global population of Cassin’s Auklets.
In the spring it’s common to spot Black Oystercatchers along the rocky shores. Keep an eye out for their distinctive red bills. Look up to spot Bald Eagles soaring overhead, or Horned Grebes diving for fish.
Central Vancouver Island Bird Trail
The estuaries and marshes on the Central Vancouver Island Bird Trail are hot spots for migratory birds in the spring and come to life with songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors. Somenos Marsh, Chemainus River Estuary, Nanaimo River Estuary, Buttertubs Marsh, and Englishman River Estuary are all great birding spots.
From February to April, be sure to catch the Brant Geese while they stop over during their migration to fuel up on the coinciding Pacific herring spawn. This abundant food source attracts tens of thousands of water birds and marine mammals making it an exciting time to be out on the coastal trails. The return of the Brant Goose is celebrated with the Brant Wildlife Festival.
BC Bird Trail Outposts on Vancouver Island
Looking for more birding spots on Vancouver Island to explore this spring? You’re in luck! On Vancouver Island, you can find the Tofino Bird Trail Outpost, the Ucluelet Bird Trail Outpost, and further south the Langford Bird Trail Outpost, and the Sooke Bird Trail Outpost. During the spring in these destinations, you’ll have the chance to view an array of migratory birds and waterfowl.
Southern Gulf Islands Bird Trail Outpost
Between Vancouver Island and the mainland are Salt Spring, Pender, Saturna, Mayne and Galiano. This group of Islands may be small, but they make a huge impact with expansive forests, nature reserves, shorelines, and parks that offer great birding opportunities. You’re likely to spot one of the many Anna’s Hummingbirds that call these islands home and be sure to look for Pigeon Guillemots on the shorelines.
Sea to Sky Bird Trail
Squamish and Whistler are home to countless bird species, including higher altitude birds like the Canada Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Ruffed & Sooty Grouse. These communities are renowned for their incredible outdoor opportunities from kayaking and hiking to skiing and snowboarding. When in Squamish, be sure to visit the Squamish River Estuary as it is especially high in bird activity in the spring and summer. Visitors in Whistler should keep their ears peeled to listen for the high-pitched call of the local hoary marmot that gives Whistler its namesake.
In March and April, Warblers like the Wilson’s, Yellow and MacGillivray’s start to show up, as well as passerines like Hammond’s Flycatchers, and Western & Eastern Kingbirds.
BC Bird Trail Outposts in the Lower Mainland
Take Highway 99 south and you’ll end up in Metro Vancouver, where you’ll find Vancouver’s North Shore Bird Trail Outpost and the Vancouver Bird Trail Outpost. In Vancouver’s North Shore explore alpine parks like Mount Seymour, Cypress and Grouse Mountain, or stroll along the water at the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area and Ambleside Park.
On the Vancouver Bird Trail Outpost enjoy expansive parks like Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Both Vancouver’s North Shore and Vancouver offer fantastic bird-watching opportunities in the spring as the cherry blossoms start to bloom. Plenty of migratory birds return this time of year, and you can spot many birds lining the shorelines like Great Blue Herons and American Coots. On the water look out for Buffleheads and Mallards.
South Fraser Bird Trail
On the South Fraser Bird Trail, check out the shorelines and marshy areas. Iona Beach Regional Park, Terra Nova Rural Park, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island, and Boundary Bay Regional Park all offer great opportunities to catch migratory visitors and year-round birds alike.
Shorebirds like Western and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Short- and Long-billed Dowitchers, and Black-bellied Plovers can be seen along the water’s edge. If you have good vantage points of the ocean, keep an eye out for Common (pictured here) or Caspian Terns along this trail. Resident Northern Harriers can often be seen doing laps above the farm fields, then hovering in place before diving for a catch.
Fraser Valley Bird Trail
From late February to early March, Great Blue Herons return to their nesting grounds along the Fraser Valley Bird Trail and remain until late July. One particular nesting site that offers amazing views of the birds is the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, home to one of the largest heron nesting colonies in the Lower Mainland. Bald Eagles also start to build their nests around this time, with offspring hatching throughout April, especially common in the Lhá:lt/Harrison-Chehalis Wildlife Management Area and parks in the Harrison area.
At a river or stream’s edge, you might catch the impressive sight of a small, round American Dipper swimming through the rushing water to catch its tiny meals. Sumas Mountain Regional Park and Willband Creek Park on the Sumas Flats are both great spots to see birds as their mixture of marsh, grassy field, and treed areas give lots of room for a variety of birds.
The Okanagan Bird Trail
In Osoyoos, you can spot a variety of waterfowl on Osoyoos Lake, like Cinnamon Teals, Redheads, and Northern Pintails, along with warblers and swallows flying above. Keep a look out for the regional favourite the Osprey.
Heading north to Kelowna, in the spring listen for the song of Yellow Warblers, and be on the lookout for the vibrant blue plumage of the Lazuli Bunting (pictured here).
Further north in Vernon, during the spring months native bird activity increases and migratory travelers return. As you walk Vernon’s many trails you might see California Quails, or Black-billed Magpies up in the trees. In wetter areas watch for American Wigeons and Buffleheads.
BC Bird Trail Outposts in Thompson Okanagan
The contrast in landscape of the Thompson Okanagan compared to coastal BC makes for a unique birding experience for those travelling to the area. You’ll find yourself in a diverse ecosystem of grasslands, deserts, mountains, lakes and wetlands as you make your way across the region. In the Shuswap Bird Trail Outpost, one of the region’s most spectacular bird populations begins to return to the region in April, the Western Grebe (pictured here). Grebes gather in the hundreds to mate in the sheltered waters of Salmon Arm Bay.
Southeast of Shuswap is the Nelson & Kootenay Lake Bird Trail Outpost. Listen for the calls of the Common Loon echoing across Kootenay Lake, and keep your binoculars ready to spot the acrobatic Rufous Hummingbirds as they arrive to feed on nectar.
Columbia Valley Bird Trail
The Columbia Valley Bird Trail thrives in the spring, as the Columbia Valley Wetlands become a busy breeding ground for many species, including Horned Grebes in their striking plumage. The Wetlands aren’t the only popular spot on the Pacific Flyway in this region. Wilmer Wetlands is another place to check out the busy activity of birds in spring. If you’re looking for a short and easy hike, try Wycliffe Buttes – not only is there amazing birding, but the relaxing 2km trail is speckled with beautiful wildflowers in the spring and gives spectacular views of the BC Rockies. Confluence Park and St. Mary Lake offer opportunities to see and hear many varieties of songbirds.
Birds You Can Spot All Over BC This Spring
Across all BC Bird Trails and Outposts, songbirds come out in abundance in the spring. Warblers such as Yellow, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray’s, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s, Wilson’s, and Common Yellowthroats can be found. Swallows can also be seen zipping around in the skies, especially Tree, Violet-green, and Barn, with some Cliff, Bank, Northern Rough-winged, and Purple Martins as well. Feisty Rufous Hummingbirds also come back in the spring, making for crowded feeders with the resident Anna’s Hummingbirds who often stay throughout the winter.
Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals make appearances on calm bodies of water from marshes to small lakes. Colourful delights such as Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks are exciting to see. Ospreys and Turkey Vultures start to return – catch them soaring over the sky or perched high up in trees. As spring comes to an end and summer gets closer, Flycatchers arrive, but good luck identifying these tricky species!
Spring is a great time to take advantage of bustling bird activity on the BC Bird Trail. Use our self-guided itineraries to plan out your birding trips. Find the best recommendations on where to pick up snacks, get outdoor and birding gear, places to enjoy a great meal, and the trails and birding spots you want to explore! Happy birding!
