View a list of upcoming Explorer Days and read our Explorer Day Etiquette below!
In response to COVID-19, NatureKids BC is providing online resources and interactions, such as Virtual Explorer Days, to ensure the safety of our members. Please read our COVID-19 Guidelines and Policy for any potential in-person gatherings this summer.
VANCOUVER – Finding Flora and Fauna at Burnaby Lake Park
- 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
We’d like to start off our 2023 Explorer Days with a trip to Burnaby Lake Park.
We’ll meet at Piper Spit, where we’ll see hundreds of birds, ducks, and geese. Some of the cool birds we’ll see are the brightly coloured wood ducks, red-winged black birds, and the American Coot, described as a plump, chicken-like bird that acts like a duck! Coots also have long, green, jointed toes that allow them to both swim and walk very well. Seagulls can be seen here as well, sometimes dropping golf balls onto the shore (not where we’ll be standing!) as they mistake them for eggs, a common prey. We may even spot Trevor – an escaped Mandarin duck who is often seen here with his mate, a female wood duck.
After visiting the birds, we’ll stroll through the forest and learn how to identify plants and trees in the area. We’ll walk as far as Cariboo Dam beach (2 km), a nesting site of the Coastal Painted Turtle. While we won’t see any turtles—they nest here from May to July—we’ll learn a little bit about these endangered shelled reptiles.
We’ll provide some materials to help you document what you see on this Explorer Day.
Register here.
Meeting location: Piper Spit, in front of the Nature House, 4519 Piper Ave, Burnaby, BC. See map.
Parking is available along Piper St. and in front of the Nature House.
Transit: Lake City Way is the closest SkyTrain station to Piper Spit, and is 1.7 km, an approximately 20 min. walk from the meeting location. Or, from the Sperling-Burnaby Lake Sky train station, you can get the 110 bus, which takes you to Government and Piper Streets, an 11 minute walk to the Nature House.
What to wear: Dress for the weather. You should have good walking shoes, but hiking shoes or boots are not necessary.
What to bring: A clipboard if you have one (no worries if not). Binoculars – we’ll have some to share. Snacks and water.
Weather: We’ll go in light rain, but will cancel in the case of heavy rain.
Washrooms: Available at the Nature House.
Your guides will be our club’s 3 volunteer co-leaders: Jessica, Gemma and Deborah.