April 30, 2020
In Squamish, we are fortunate to have many species of birds resident year-round, and they help connect us with the rest of the natural world. The Squamish River Area is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for many species who need to rest and feed during their seasonal journeys between their wintering grounds (as far south as Chile) and their summer breeding grounds (as far north as the high arctic).
May 9 is World Migratory Bird Day and we invite you to celebrate the migration with us. Here are some activities you could choose, either by yourself or with your family:
Seek Understanding
- Download the free Merlin Bird ID app to help get you started with identification. It can ID by photo, description, or sound.
- Check out e-bird for local birding hotspots, checklists, recent sightings, and more…
- Check out this free, four-part video series to learn the four basic keys to bird identification.
- Take advantage of this collection of interesting videos about EVERYTHING about birds.
- Check out our and our Monthly Bird Count Data Explorer, for a deep dive into seasonal and annual Squamish bird trends.
Look and Listen
- Watch for birds currently migrating.
- Keep a log of the different species you see or hear in your yard.
- Take “bird-from-the-window” photos.
- If you don’t have a yard, you could record sightings from your daily walks.
- Be alert for distinctive calls. The Willow Flycatcher’s “fitzspew” is a good example. See whether you can be the first person to report their arrival in Squamish.
- The Merlin Bird ID app can help you ID calls.
Ask and Share Knowledge
- Send your bird questions to our experts via email or ask us instantly on the Nature Squamish Facebook page.
- Hear a bird you can’t ID? Make a short recording or video with your phone and email it to us.
- Create an ebird account to save and share your lists and photos. Your sightings contribute to birding science and conservation.
Get Involved
- Join our Monthly Bird Counts
- Join the Squamish Birders WhatsApp group for the latest bird information and sightings.
- Watch our Events Calendar and social channels (@naturesquamish) for special birding events and interesting, bird-brained information.
- Download some pages for colouring from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the Canadian Wildlife Federation. (Scroll down for the bird-friendly garden page.)
- Download an activity guide for kids and lead an adventure.
- Keep a daily watch on the Nature Squamish Facebook page for interesting and bird-brained information and articles
Photos above: (Top) A small flock consisting of eight White-crowned Sparrows, eight Golden-crowned Sparrows, and more than twenty Dark-eyed Juncos spent three rainy days fattening up at a local feeder before they continued on during a dry spell. (Right) A Golden-crowned Sparrow.