B-C residents can witness the return of migratory birds this spring with “The BC Bird Trail”

RICHMOND — As spring arrives so does the return of many different bird species migrating back to Canada.

The BC Bird Trail is inviting bird enthusiasts of all levels and ages to grab their binoculars and celebrate the return of millions of migratory birds this spring,

this season is considered peak birdwatching season in British Columbia.

“Because we’re located along the Pacific Flyway migration route – which is one of the four major migratory flyways in North America – we are in the perfect position to witness millions of birds following ancestral migration pathways through our province,” explains Hollie Galloway, Project Coordinator with The BC Bird Trail.

“Every spring, as birds migrate back to their home base, they seek food and shelter along the way which allows birdwatchers in BC the unique opportunity to spot large flocks of birds, sometimes reaching numbers in the hundreds of thousands during the spring migration season.

“Plus, the spring migration season can sometimes yield sightings of unique and rare species which is always very exciting for our local birding communities.”

mud bay surrey | https://bcbirdtrail.ca/

A variety of birds can be spotted in abundance this season, including Brants, Warblers, Swallows, Purple Martins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Cinnamon Teals.

An full list of birds that can be spotted in the springtime can be found here.

Spring bird watching gives you a better chance of spotting more rare birds than at other times of the year. Keep an eye on the BC Rare Bird Alert blog for rare bird sightings in your area.

With the recent Daylight Savings there is more sunlight during the day. The time change means it’s easier to get outside and explore during peak birding hours of dusk and dawn.

Several popular community birding events are coming up, all of which are open to the community.

These include the 2024 Brant Wildlife Festival (April 5-8, 2024 – Parksville Qualicum Beach), the 2024 Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival (May 6-12, 2024 – Invermere) and the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration (May 11-26, 2024 – Various Locations.)

You can check out more on bcbirdtrail.ca