Birdwatching

A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

VIDEO: This pair of B.C. bald eagles are expecting: 2 eggs seen in nest through livestream

Live cameras streaming other nests where watchers are hopeful more eggs will appear

 

Avid birder Andrew MacDonald scooped a photo of the puffin while changing the settings on his camera on Wednesday, January 4. (Courtesy Andrew MacDonald)

Rare sighting of puffin in Victoria a positive result of windstorms

Birdwatchers in the area said it was likely the bird was blown into the area by recent high winds

 

A dark-eyed junco perched on a branch of a budding shrub. A record-setting 1,894 dark-eyed juncos were recorded in this year’s Christmas Bird Count in Sooke. (Alan B. Schroeder – Shutterstock.com)

Christmas Bird Count draws a crowd in Sooke

About 60 come out for annual event sponsored by Rocky Point Bird Observatory

 

Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )

Victoria Christmas Bird Count brings out record number of participants

Bird lovers united to tally the number of different birds and species flying around in the area

Bird count coordinator Ann Nightingale says extreme weather is likely to blame for lower than average numbers in 2022. (Courtesy of Ann Nightingale )
A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting

B.C. rescue group captures wrong-way warbler that should be wintering far south

Endangered bird rarely in B.C. and should be in South America the Gulf of Mexico right now

A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting
A Canada goose family enjoys a Monday morning breakfast together at Oak Bay’s Kitty Islet. Bruce Harrison of Ducks Unlimited Canada said the abundance of geese in B.C. causes water contamination, algae blooms and messy sports fields. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Canada goose poop problem in Greater Victoria needs new solutions, experts say

Egg sterilization only goes so far; robotic fox, feces Zamboni tried elsewhere

A Canada goose family enjoys a Monday morning breakfast together at Oak Bay’s Kitty Islet. Bruce Harrison of Ducks Unlimited Canada said the abundance of geese in B.C. causes water contamination, algae blooms and messy sports fields. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)

Rare bird sighting off Oak Bay excites whale watchers, leaves birders jealous

First Nazca booby observed in Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 3rd in B.C.

A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)
The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)

Rare white raven grabs the spotlight at Vancouver Island wildlife centre

Iconic bird Blizzard can now be viewed by the public and is soaking up the attention

The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)
A retired professor from the Comox Valley has been fighting for more access for birdwatching in the Fairy Creek area, especially when it comes to mapping threatened species. Photo supplied

Vancouver Island birder fights for more access to Fairy Creek region

Supreme Court turned down petition on grounds Royann Petrell had access, other legal option s

A retired professor from the Comox Valley has been fighting for more access for birdwatching in the Fairy Creek area, especially when it comes to mapping threatened species. Photo supplied
A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Federal report deems dogs the greatest risk to migratory birds

Off-leash dogs, disturbed birds throughout Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)

PHOTOS: Sandhill cranes swoop back to Panama Flats

Species returns for summer wetland visit, frog feast

Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)
Siobhan Powlowski and Jeffrey Nicholls watch birds in Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The couple are avid birders and have become well-versed on the various species and plant life in the area. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Bird-watching couple tout benefit of native plants to biodiversity in Saanich green spaces

Both native and non-native plant eco-systems have a place, biologist points out

Siobhan Powlowski and Jeffrey Nicholls watch birds in Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The couple are avid birders and have become well-versed on the various species and plant life in the area. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Volunteers braved the cold weather on Dec. 27 to take part in the annual Sooke Christmas Bird Count. (Contributed - Mark Byrne)

Sooke birders spot 111 species in annual Christmas Bird Count

More participants needed for next year

Volunteers braved the cold weather on Dec. 27 to take part in the annual Sooke Christmas Bird Count. (Contributed - Mark Byrne)
Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)

Christmas comes early for Greater Victoria bird watchers

The outdoor activity of birding has really taken off in the last year

Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)
Birder Geoffrey Newell, 25, spots and identifies birds flying overhead in a clearing around Uplands Park early on Saturday, July 31. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Talented birder resumes immersive tours at Oak Bay’s Cattle Point

52 bird species spotted by dozens of attendees during first bird walk in months

Birder Geoffrey Newell, 25, spots and identifies birds flying overhead in a clearing around Uplands Park early on Saturday, July 31. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Victoria resident Ian Taylor has created a livestream of a mother hummingbird and her two chicks in hopes that it brings people a bit of joy. (Courtesy of Ian Taylor)

Victoria man creates livestream of hummingbird chicks to spread a bit of joy

Livestream will continue until the chicks fly away in March

  • Feb 21, 2021
Victoria resident Ian Taylor has created a livestream of a mother hummingbird and her two chicks in hopes that it brings people a bit of joy. (Courtesy of Ian Taylor)
A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)

Blue jay, usually found in southeastern Canada, spotted in Sooke

Around 80 birders counted 118 different species within a single day

A Blue Jay, commonly found in the Central and Eastern United States and the southeastern coast of Canada, was spotted in Sooke on Dec. 27. (Contributed – Robin Robinson)
Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count has finished with a total of 142 individual bird species spotted within a single day. (Mark Byrne photo)

Rare bird usually found between Oregon and South America seen in Central Saanich

Greater Victoria birders spot more than 140 bird species within a single day

Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count has finished with a total of 142 individual bird species spotted within a single day. (Mark Byrne photo)
Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count, in which birders spot as many bird species within a single day, is set for Saturday, Dec. 19. The area extends from south of Island View Beach Road in Central Saanich to Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin. (Ann Nightingale photo)

Greater Victoria birders tasked with specific areas for annual count

Christmas Bird Count takes place in Greater Victoria on Dec. 19

Victoria’s Christmas Bird Count, in which birders spot as many bird species within a single day, is set for Saturday, Dec. 19. The area extends from south of Island View Beach Road in Central Saanich to Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin. (Ann Nightingale photo)
Saanich parks are for the birds!

Saanich parks are for the birds!

Discover this popular pastime and get to know your feathered friends

  • Sep 14, 2020
Saanich parks are for the birds!