British Columbia is an incredible place for birdwatching as it is situated on the Pacific Flyway, a north-south migratory bird route spanning from Alaska all the way to Patagonia in southern South America. It is used for breeding, refueling, and wintering by millions of birds annually.
As World Migratory Bird Day comes up on May 9th, there are many ways for British Columbians to participate! This year’s theme is community conservation science, gathering information about birds, their populations, and the factors that threaten their survival.
A fun, easy, and accessible way to take part is to simply go bird watching and report your observations to eBird, a community citizen science platform dedicated to bird conservation.
Birding for Beginners
New to birding? No problem! Follow these simple steps to get started:
- Find your local birding hotspot.
- Grab some binoculars and your NatureKids Backyard Bird Safari card for common birds local to your region.
- Download the Merlin App to help identify bird species by sight or sound and the eBird App to report your observations.
Use these helpful tips and tricks while bird watching:
- Practice using your binoculars. Try focusing your lenses on both faraway and close inanimate objects.
- Get to know your local birds beforehand. Start with the physical appearances and calls of your common backyard birds.
- Be patient and quiet. Birds are often far off in the distance, so it’s helpful to use cues like movement or sound to locate your observation.
- Identify features. Many bird species look alike, so it can be difficult to tell them apart. Look for things like size, shape, marks, behaviors, and habitat to help differentiate them.
- Join a group. Birding is more fun with others!
Join an Event
If you’re in the Greater Vancouver Area, there are a variety of bird-themed events to participate in as part of the Vancouver Bird Celebration. For those in other areas of BC, check out their online event options, or find out if your local naturalist groups are hosting any events.
Happy birding!
Written by Caitlin Lichimo, Communications & Marketing Assistant, Membership Administrator, NatureKids BC