Come celebrate nature and the arrival of the Brant Geese!
Every spring, thousands of Brant Geese fly from Mexico to their breeding grounds in Alaska. On their long journey, Brant stopover along the shores of the Central Vancouver Island Bird Trail and Parksville Qualicum Beach to feed on eelgrass, green algae and herring roe. The Brant Wildlife Festival celebrates this annual return of Brant Geese but also works to promote the understanding and protection of the important ecosystems in the region.
Since 2007, the Nature Trust of British Columbia, a nonprofit focused on land conservation, has been at the helm of the Brant Wildlife Festival. For the 2024 festival and beyond, the stewardship has passed to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR), marking a new chapter for this community event. The Brant Wildlife Festival works with local community groups and volunteers to present a wide variety of engaging events. From birding workshops to exploring the diversity of local nature spots, there’s a lot to celebrate!
This year’s Brant Wildlife Festival runs from April 5th to April 8th with a range of outdoor, indoor, and self-directed events to experience. We’ve highlighted a few of the birding-related events here, but you can check out their full schedule on their website.
Events and Activities
Brant Festival Visual Feast: April 1-30, 2024
This digital media exhibit showcases stunning wildlife images from local photographers. It is taking place in the Cloakroom Digital Gallery at the McMillan Arts Centre which is open Tuesday – Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.
Brant Wildlife Children’s Festival: April 5, 2024
Join the Arrowview Elementary students and teachers and the Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers at Arrowview Elementary for a public celebration of learning. The Brant Wildlife Children’s Festival underscores the community’s passion for collaboration and the environment and features educational displays from 25 different Vancouver Island groups together with students from preschool through high school. This event contributes to bridging the gap between classrooms and the community, fostering a collective sense of responsibility for the environment together. Admission is free and the event is taking place from 2:30 – 4:30 pm.
The Brant Wildlife Festival Lift Off!: April 5, 2024
Join us in raising a glass for nature! The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region and The Nature Trust of British Columbia are co-hosting this year’s Brant Wildlife Festival Lift-Off event. The evening will include a live band, presentations, appetizers, and door prizes. Taking place at the Bayside Oceanfront Resort from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, tickets are $50 per person and registration is required. Head to the webpage to register and secure your tickets for this wonderful evening in support of wildlife.
Sunday, April 9: Eagle Release Video
The annual North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre Eagle Release will be taking place again this year and the public is invited to witness this exciting event. After months of specialized care by the NIWRA Animal Care team, a rehabilitated Bald Eagle will be released to return home to the wild skies where it belongs. The event will be taking place at 2pm sharp at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Erringtion and pre-registration is required. Adult tickets are $15 and tickets for children under twelve are $1. Head to the event website to secure your tickets.
Brant Wildlife Festival Passport: April 5th – 8th, 2024
This year, we’re thrilled to announce the brand-new Brant Wildlife Festival Passport! Designed to foster community engagement and support for local businesses across the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, this passport is your ticket to local treats and experiences during the Brant Wildlife Festival from April 5th to 8th.
Here’s how it works: Simply visit the participating businesses and with each purchase, collect a sticker. Once you’ve gathered six stickers from these beloved local spots, you’ll be entered to win the grand prize of a Half Day Whale and Wildlife Adventure tour for 2 adults with Ocean Ecoventures! Passports can be easily picked up and dropped off at any of the participating businesses.
For a list of participating businesses please visit the website or view a digital map of the locations.
Brant Wildlife Festival Nature Photography Contest: April 1st – 8th, 2024
Get out your tripods and shine up those lenses, the Brant Wildlife Festival is hosting a nature photography contest! Running from April 1st-8th we encourage all of our nature enthusiasts to get outdoors and get snapping! There will be two categories for participants to submit photos under, “Wildlife” and “Nature/landscape” with a maximum of 3 entries per person, per category. Help the MABR build up our photo stock and have your photos featured on our social media pages! Winners from each category will be awarded a $150 gift card to the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort.
Head to the website for detailed instructions, contest rules and regulations.
Be sure to check out the Brant Wildlife Festival website to learn more about the event and the fun experiences taking place this year!
