The bird is the word:
New BC trail encourages travellers to look up
Photo courtesy: Shayne Kaye – BC Bird Trail
Launched in partnership with Destination British Columbia, Tourism Richmond, Birds Canada, Indigenous Tourism BC and others, the BC Bird Trail is one of the province’s newest year-round experiences.
Situated on the Pacific Flyway, British Columbia is home to a vast array of North America’s best birdwatching.
Whether your clients are seasoned birders or their interest is just taking off, the BC Bird Trail is a new way to explore birding, conservation, and community in British Columbia.
“The BC Bird Trail visits some of the best birding locations in southwestern British Columbia,” says Dr. David Bradley, Director, BC Programs for Birds Canada. “You can see massive flocks of wintering shorebirds, ducks, and raptors in the Fraser River Estuary, stare at the largest colonies of pterodactyl-like herons in Western Canada, or witness the wealth of the herring spawn run on eastern Vancouver Island. It’s all here – and it’s amazing!”
Photo courtesy: Shayne Kaye – BC Bird Trail
The Trail launched with a series of self-guided itineraries throughout three regions in southwestern BC. Starting from Central Vancouver Island, the Trail flows east, towards Richmond and Delta, and ending the Fraser Valley. The Central Vancouver Island region takes visitors through a coastal tour of Cowichan, Nanaimo, and Parksville Qualicum Beach. The second region, Richmond and Delta, are often called the epicentre of birdwatching in British Columbia, due to the year-round nature of birding activity. In the third region, birders can visit Fraser Valley riverside stops in the communities of Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Harrison.
“Whether sighting bald eagles during the salmon run, or spotting migrating waterfowl in the wetlands, bird watching in British Columbia offers an immersion into nature,” comments Richard Porges, Interim President and CEO of Destination British Columbia. “The BC Bird Trail explores urban and rural landscapes, where diverse habitats offer a wealth of viewing opportunities all year long. This partnership is a wonderful example of local networks using their collective power to bring a unique tourism product to life, and together we are highlighting BC’s must-see destinations for locals and visitors alike.”
“Birding made sense for us to launch as a tourism product,” comments Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond. “Not only is Richmond located in the ideal spot to see millions of different birds year-round, which promises a rich experience in and of itself, it’s something everyone can do, regardless of experience level. Travelling the Trail across all three regions could easily be a bucket list item.”
For more information about the BC Bird Trail visit BCBirdTrail.ca.
