Birds 

 

 With the combination of a mild coastal climate and the Pacific Ocean, this region has incomparable birding opportunities which create important habitats with more than 220 bird species being sighted here every year. Ocean, marshes, lakes, and rivers support a vast array of bird species, including bald eagles, brant geese, and trumpeter swans. There are forests with birds such as owls and songbirds aplenty, too. In April the forests fill with spring bird songs, especially in the early morning, you can watch many species that prefer older forests such as varied thrushes, brown creepers, and pileated woodpeckers.

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While estuaries form only a tiny fraction of the coastline, they are crucial habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl, seabirds, and shorebirds. It is also a major migration and wintering area for birds in Canada. While bird numbers swell considerably during the spring and fall migrations, hundreds of species live year-round in the area, so anytime is a good time for birding on Vancouver Island