Grab your binoculars! The BC Bird Trail has announced the addition of 11 bird-watching communities to its vast list of self-guided experiences, designed to inspire people of all ages and levels to explore and enjoy the best bird-watching B.C. has to offer.
In partnership with Destination BC, the new bird-watching trails include the Vancouver Island North Trail, encompassing Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Port Alice, Sointula and Alert Bay.
Bird lovers can also find trails in the communities of Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver and North Vancouver, or discover a new trails in Nelson, Vernon and the Shuswap. They can also fly to Victoria and either drive to Sooke or ferry to the Southern Gulf Islands for new trail outposts in those two areas.
“As we launch the fourth year of this campaign, it’s so rewarding to see our biggest year of growth ever,” says Ceri Chong, director, destination and industry development at Tourism Richmond. “With so many new communities getting on board, we’ll be able to introduce the practice of birding to even more people across the province. As we add trails in the northern regions of the province like Vancouver Island North and Prince George, it allows us to further showcase the biodiversity of birds you can find in B.C.”
Bird-watching at Port Hardy’s Tsulquate Park on the Vancouver Island North bird trail. Photo courtesy The BC Bird Trail
In collaboration with tourism and conservation partners throughout the province, The BC Bird Trail develops free self-guided travel itineraries for visitors and locals of all ages to explore some of the most renowned birding areas in the country.
“We are so thrilled to launch the Shuswap outpost!” says Caitlin Thompson, project coordinator with the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, which partnered with Shuswap Tourism and the District of Sicamous Development Corporation to showcase this area’s unique birding opportunities. “Birding is a fast-growing tourism experience in B.C., and we have some of the best locations, trail systems and rare bird species to offer.”
Each destination at bcbirdtrail.ca includes key birding-related information like a seasonal list of the birds you might currently spot in the area, along with birding hot spots like parks, wildlife centres and estuaries to visit.
To help visitors and locals make the most of their bird-watching experience in the communities they visit, each trail and outpost also includes key transportation information, bookable outdoor experiences in the community – like golf courses, bike rentals and helitours – and top picks for shopping, dining and accommodations.
The BC Bird Trail also has a free mobile app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to help birdwatchers track their birding progress, check in at birding hot spots and earn rewards along the way.
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