1. Hush up – 

Birds are easily surprised by clear commotions and will escape to cover. It is beyond difficult to sneak up a bird. Since birds hear obviously superior to people do. By limiting commotion, you can draw much nearer to a bird. The mind-boggling temptation,  when seeing a particularly thrilling bird, is to shout: “Amazing! Check out THAT! IT’S RIGHT OVER THERE!”

Bird watchers learn before long that a similar message can be murmured. The outcome is that the bird is bound to stay so that everybody might be able to see, for a long and relaxed look.

2. Avoid abrupt developments – 

Similarly as noisy commotions surprise birds, so does abrupt development. Drawing near to a bird implies following it, moving gradually and purposely. Unexpected, jerky development, in any event, when swinging your optics up to your eyes. Can make a bird adequately apprehensive enough to take off. The nearer you are to a bird, the more leisurely and unobtrusively you should move.

3. Follow the group – 

One of the best bird watching tips is ‘follow the group’. In the nonbreeding season (the cold weather for a very long time in the vast majority of North America) numerous little larks join runs of blended species. That is both for assurance and to make finding food simpler. Regularly these herds are generally quiet, however there will quite often be a couple of birds settling on decision notes. Following a solitary calling bird will frequently lead you to a bigger group. In fall, a solitary chip note from high in the trees might flag the presence of twelve or so songbirds. In winter a leak sound from down in the brush might imply that at least 20 sparrows, towhees, cardinals, and other seed eaters are available. Following a lone chick-a-dee-dee call might lead you to a blended herd of chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, kinglets, and woodpeckers.

4. Concentrate on environment and habitat – 

Each bird is uncommonly adjusted to a specific natural surroundings. Meadowlarks incline toward enormous open fields, woodpeckers need trees, sparrows favor bushes. What you see will depend in enormous part on where you look.

5. Work the flocks – 

Your shot at observing a strange bird is far more noteworthy in a herd. Since you have more birds to take a look at. Banding studies have shown that when you think you have ten chickadees in your yard, there are presumably 20. And when you think you have seen every one of the 20 sparrows in the brush heap, there are likely 20 more.

6. Show restraint –  

A sparrow jumping around in a shrubbery will ultimately move into where you can get a decent look. Bird watching is frequently about being patient and trusting that the birds will show themselves.

7. Getting the sun at your back – 

It is unimaginable, however moving 100% of the time around so the sun is behind you. This will make it a lot more straightforward to see and distinguish birds. When the bird is among you and the sun, shading vanishes, and the bird you are attempting to recognize might be only a dark outline.

8. Try pishing – 

Regardless of how tolerant you are, regardless of how leisurely and discreetly you move. You just can’t get a decent look at the bird. At the point when this occurs, bird watchers attempt a strategy called pishing. Pishing includes making little, noisy clamors by kissing the rear of your hand. Or making a low whistled pish by blowing air through your shut teeth. Little birds are drawn to such sounds and will regularly fly into view to explore. This is the way to pish: Clench your teeth, open your lips and murmur the word pish.

9. Avoid brilliantly hued garments – 

Many birds have helpless shading vision, yet brilliant garments, similar to whites, will stand out from the general climate and improve the presence of development. Wear hazier shadings or earth tones to mix out of the spotlight. There is no proof that real disguise clothing works better compared to impartial, dull apparel.

10. Glance around – 

Many bird watchers, zeroed in on the herd in the shrubbery, neglect to check out different natural surroundings around them. Specifically, they neglect to gaze upward and accordingly miss the group of geese or the taking off peddle. Or on the other hand, while concentrating on the ducks on the lake, uninformed bird watchers might disregard the herd of kinglets in the trees behind them. And thus miss seeing another bird.

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In this section we’ll explore some of the migrations made annually.

From the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle

We’ll start with the most impressive migration; the Arctic Tern. This tenacious bird flies from one end of the earth to the other. And it does it every year! The birds migrate 30,000 km from Greenland to the Weddell Sea. They hatch in summer in the North, in the Arctic Circle and avoid the frozen winters by migrating south. As you can imagine the sound of thousands of birds in the colony is extremely noisy. However, just before the migration starts all the birds fall silent. This eerie event is known as “dread”. 

After dread all the birds abandon their nests and fly together. Artic Tern mate for life and their lives are up to 30 years long. Whilst at sea they feed off ocean fish. Their lightweight bodies are ideal for gliding on the ocean breeze, and they can even sleep whilst gliding along. This is ideal, because there are not many places to stop to rest on this epic migratory route.

Canada Geese North America Migrations

The sight of a V formation of migratory geese is iconic. Typically Canadian Geese travel 2,000 to 3,000 miles to return to the place they hatched from to mate and rear the next generation of goslings.  Little goslings have to learn quickly! Before they are even 1 day old their parents will lead them to water to learn how to swim and dive.  By their 2nd or 3rd month they will have learned how to fly too. Canada geese are known to be violent protectors of their offspring. You may have seen a goose honking, hissing or flapping its huge wings to scare of a potential threat. 

Not all Canada geese migrate. Some live in climates that are temperate enough year round and they’re quite happy where they are. Most however will migrate south from their colder northern habitats. Their normal environments of water where they fish for food may freeze over in winter. This forces the birds to migrate south to warmer climates.

Flamingo migration to Mumbai

Every year between October and March flocks of Flamingos migrate to Mumbai. Congregating mainly in the Navi Mumbai creek, they are also spotted in Thane creek, Vasai, and Panju Island. The sight of tens of thousands of pink flamingos in the wetlands of Mumbai is truly a sight to behold.  The birds migrate annually from Rajasthan and Pakistan to breed. During the covid pandemic with the human population on lockdown, causing less disturbances to the bird’s natural habitat, even more birds flocked to the area. Plus the bird’s food source was found to be more plentiful due to a decrease in industrial waste and an increase in domestic waste, allowing algae to flourish too.

As much as 25% more flamingos were sighted in 2020 than previous years. Bombay Natural History Society estimated 150,000 flamingos migrated to Mumbai in 2020. Whilst the lockdown and pandemic was a terrible ordeal for residents, they could observe and photograph them from a distance. And really this is the best way to enjoy and respect nature anyway.

European Swifts’ African Migration

Swifts can be found throughout Europe and Asia.  It is reported that there are somewhere between 20 and 30 million pairs of Swifts in Europe. Many fly to the UK to breed in late spring before migrating across France and Spain then spend winter in Africa. The sheer distances these birds travel is astonishing. You may find the rafters of your house or balcony is a nesting site for a pair of swifts who will return year after year.

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Steller’s Jay

The Steller’s Jay is a relative of the Blue Jay. If you spot one you’ll see how similar they look. However, the Steller’s jay has longer legs, a thinner bill and a more noticeable crest on it’s head. Steller’s Jay has a black head with a prominent crest, flecked with blue., The body is blue with long stripped tail feathers.  This bird is a song bird, so you may hear them before you have a clear sighting. Quite a chunky bird, they average 120g and are very active birds. Inquisitive and clever birds, they like to get involved with their environment to search for food. They can be found particularly in forested areas such as campsites and national parks.  Their diet consists mainly of pine seeds, nuts, berries, and acorns. In summer months Steller’s jays feast on insects, bees wasps and other forest bugs.

Anna’s Hummingbird

A beautiful little green and pink bird, Anna’s Hummingbirds are found commonly in the Vancouver area.  The pink throats are only to be found on the males, and may appear grey or dull until sunlight reflects off them giving an iridescent effect. Certainly eye-catching to another Hummingbird!

Anna’s Hummingbirds are commonly found in gardens, parks, coastal scrublands and in the woodlands by rivers. They are looking for flowering plants to source sweet nectar. Their long, thin bills are perfectly designed to poke into flowers. If you want to help your hummingbird visitors, you can provide a free meal. Create a sugar water solution, 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. You can hang if from a hummingbird feeder in the shade during summer to feed your visitors for a few days before the sugar water spoils.

Downy Woodpecker

Strictly speaking, the downy woodpecker is not an overly colourful bird except for a scarlet cap on the males. The Downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker variety. They are sparrow sized, weighing around 25grams. Their markings are black and white stripes on the head and a broad white stripe down the centre of the back. You’ll also notice white tail feathers dotted with black spots. 

If you don’t see this little guy, you’ll probably hear him. As you will expect from the name and his famous cartoon character Woody woodpecker, the tap tap tap sound you will hear is his beak drumming against the trunk of a tree. If you’ve ever wondered why a woodpecker pecks wood now is the time to find out! Wood pecking occurs for 3 reasons. 

Firstly, by pecking into the wood the bird can uncover their food; insects and larvae. 

Secondly, pecking holes in dead wood for long enough provides a nest space for the birds. These are often quite safe hiding holes for woodpeckers. These holes also provide nest space for other bird species such as wrens and bluebirds who don’t have the wood pecking abilities but love to build nests in hollowed out trees too. So they really can be seen as construction workers for the bird community.  

Thirdly, the drumming on wood is a form of communication. The sound tells other woodpeckers in the area this is their territory or to attract a mate.   They particularly live in open woodlands, parks, and gardens.

As you can see, there is a great wealth of natural wildlife to be spotted when you take a breath and sit quietly for a while. Happy bird watching!

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Birds! Casino slot game – Betsoft

Betsoft’s Birds! Is similar to a slot machine, like the kind you would find in Las Vegas. But instead of reels spinning, you’ll find 15 very cute little birds perched on 3 electricity wires. When you “spin” the birds will fly away and 15 new birds will take their place. The birds are marked with different colourings and if you get three or more of the same coloured birds lined up in a row you will win! The amount of winnings depends on the bird combination. For example, get x3 red birds wearing a beret and get 75 credits.  The winning birds will fly away and be replaced with new birds, giving you more chances to win.

After every spin you can choose to “double up” which means you can bet all or 50% of your winnings and then guess correctly the outcome of a coin flip. This is a risky strategy though, so don’t get greedy. The real opportunity to win a big payout in this game is with the Free Rounds.  You’ll see the ‘free flights meter’ on the bottom side of the screen as a big egg in a nest. You need 4 winning combinations in a row to trigger the free spins round.

Birds on a wire online slot machine – Thunderkick

This virtual slot machine can be played on your mobile phone or laptop. It’s a 5 reel game with 17 paylines. It has a similar feel to Birds! 15 birds sitting on electricity wires. As you make a winning combination, the birds fly off and replacement birds settle on the wires. In Birds on a wire, every time you get a winning combination the multiplier increases. So the first time you get x1 the payout, the second time you get double the winnings and so on up to a maximum of x5.

If you get 3 or more bonus symbols you activate the free spins round. The bonus symbol is a bird peeking out of a bag. The wild symbol is a bird with a green circle. The wild can substitute all other symbols (except the bonus bird) and create a winning combination. The most you can win is nine thousand times your bet! 

As with all online casino gaming please play responsibly. Make sure you only play with what you can afford to lose. Playing bird themed games for real money should only be for entertainment, not as a way to make money and please never chase your losses. Good luck! 

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George C.Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Only an hour’s drive away from Vancouver city lies the peaceful George C.Reifel Migratory Bird Sancturary. This area is home to Snow Geese during the winter months and over 300 bird species can be spotted here. The Sanctuary began in 1963 and is located on Westham Island in the Delta, covering 300 hectares of marshes, ponds, tree lined paths and water channels.

Commonly seen birds include a variety of ducks, geese and swan including Mallards, Blue Winged Teal, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Tundra Swan, Ring necked duck, Northern pintail, Northern Shoveller and many more. Other birds you might see include Great Blue Heron, Common Loon, Sandhill crane, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Black Bellied Plover. Nocturnal birdlife includes Barn Owl, Snowy Owl, Great Horned Owl and Common Night Hawk. Naturally the area is home to many gulls, sandpipers, woodpeckers, flycatchers, wren, sparrows, finches, and warblers too. You can find a full list on the official website https://www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com/ . 

Burnaby Lake Regional Park

Burnaby is home to a beautiful wildlife sanctuary. Birders can enjoy spotting Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Bald Eagles and many more species. It’s only a 25 minute drive away from Vancouver so it’s well within reach! There are plenty of activities here too. The whole family can enjoy an 11km nature walk around the whole lake. Plus there’s kayaking and canoeing available.  

Boundary Bay Regional Park

South of Vancouver in Tsawwassen lies Boundary Bay Regional Park. Of particular interest to bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts is 12th Avenue Dyke Trail. When the tide is out you can walk far amongst the pools of water left in sandy depressions. Sandpipers, herons, dunlin and brants are amongst the most commonly spotted birds here.

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Held in Delta de l’Ebre in Catalonia, Spain in September each year. The Delta Birding Festival attracts bird watchers and photographers from around the world. During the festival there are conferences, talks and courses available for visitors to attend. The proceeds from ticket sales go back into the conservation of local birds and wildlife. The Delta is well known as a key Mediterranean bird watching site. It is home to flamingos, ibis and breeding ground for the largest colony of Audouin’s gull in the world. Over 90 species for bird breed in the Delta and more than 300 are sighted stopping over in the wetlands on migratory routes.

The area is so naturally remarkable that it has been designated as an EDEN site. EDEN in this context stands for European Destination of Excellence. The area has long been protected by locals. Recognising it’s ecological importance, people living in the Delta mobilised in the 1980’s. A peaceful occupation was held in the area to ensure it became a protected reserve. Thus this natural habitat and invaluable ecosystem has been preserved for future generations.

Tundra Swan Festival, USA

If you are able to visit Cusick in Washington state this spring you might see migratory swans. Held annually in March this 1 day festival draws attention to the migration of the Tundra Swan. These beautiful, graceful birds stop in the Pend Orielle River Valley every year on their way to the Arctic tundra. Once there, they will breed, ensuring the regeneration of the flock.

The festival includes talks, swan photography workshops and all day information is available. 

Belize Birding Festival, Belize

Head down to South America for the Belize Birding Festival if you can! The event is held annually in San Ignacio, just south of Belize city, in October. Over 590 species of bird call this area home including Scarlet Macaws, Keel Billed Toucans, Jabiru Storks, Azure-crowned Hummingbirds, Amazon Kingfishers, and Red-Capped Manakins to name just a few!

The Belize Birding Festival attracts visitors from around the globe hoping to spy out some of these beautiful creatures. The event includes speakers, art exhibitors, guided tours and other special activities. Whilst in the area you can also support the NGO Belize Bird Rescue, a rehabilitation centres for rescued parrots and other species of bird.

The British Birdwatching Fair, UK

Across the pond you’ll find The British Birdwatching Fair held at Rutland Water. The event spans 3 days in August. During this time visitors can enjoy plenty of talks from experts and wildlife conservationists, the results of the Bird Photographer of the Year Awards, and lots of fun shows too. Birds you are likely to spot here include Rutland Ospreys, nightingales, turtle doves, cuckoos, sandpipers, and many more.

Please note that due to covid most global bird watching festivals are cancelled in 2020 and possibly 2021, but many offer a virtual birdwatching alternative.

And of course, check out the key migratory routes for top birdwatching.

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Pacific Flyway:

The Pacific Flyway runs down the left hand side of Canada, the United States and Central America. Birds can migrate along this route from the Arctic Tundra all the way down to the South American wetlands. In fact, it’s estimated that 1 billion birds traverse this route every year.

Central Flyway:

The Central Flyway runs down the East side of the Rockies from Canada to Colorado, then running down through Texas into Mexico. 

Mississippi Flyway:

The Mississippi  Flyway is a huge network of tributaries from all over the northern parts of Canada and America, often following river paths down into the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers towards the Gulf of Mexico. Migratory paths often follow river flows due to their provision of food and habitation en route.

Atlantic Flyway:

The Atlantic Flyway runs down from the Eastern side of North America down past the Caribbean.

Where can you go to see major migrations of birds?

Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande Valley is renowned for it’s huge diversity of bird species. Since so many ecological environments make up the Lower Rio Grande Valley from woodland to coast to forest. It is where two major migratory corridors pass – the Central and the Mississippi. Over 500 different types of bird have been identified throughout the valley. There is a vast and wonderful array of resident bird species. Local birds include the Great Kiskadee, Green Jay and Altamira Oriole. Olive sparrows, Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Plain Chachalaca, Brown Pelican and Buff-Bellied Hummingbird is just a small selection of birds you might spot.

In the fall, there is an influx of raptors. These include Mississippi Kites, Broadwinged Hawks, Vermillion Flycatchers and American Kestrels. In winter you’ll see a lot of migratory birds since the temperatures are relatively mild in the Rio Grande Valley. Geese, ducks, and cranes are regularly spotted. Springtime birders will likely see Long billed Thrashers too. Visit the Wold Birding Centre to find out what events are happening when you make your visit!   

Point Reyes National seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore in California is truly a spectacular place. More than half of America’s Native species of bird have been sighted here. Coastal and ocean birds such as Albratross, Grebes, Loons, Petrels, Shearwaters, Boobies, Gannets, Cormorants, Herons, Bitterns, Ibis, Strokes, Swan and Geese are common place. You might also see Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, hawks, osprey and kites. 

Not only will you come across a wide range of birds but there is an interesting array of wildlife. Mammals include Elf,  coyote, red fox, fallow deer, racoon, black bear, badgers, skunks, mice, voles, rats, jackrabbits, weasels and otters. In the water you’ll see Northern Elephant Seals, Californian Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Northern Fur Seals and Guadalupe seals. For non furry mammals there’s blue, humpback, minke, sperm, killer and beaked whales. Plus dolphins and porpoises.  

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There were also photo exhibitions, bird films, and 4D Albatross experiences! Plus event visitors could enjoy a wide range of entertainment including comedy, art, poetry and talks.

The actual festival itself was held between August 19th and 26th. And what a jam packed schedule! We hope the event organisers will hold another similar event when life has returned to normal. In the meantime we can relive the highlights of the 2018 festival.

Van Bird Festival Schedule 2018:

18th August: Festival Preview

Held at the Vancouver Public Library on West Georgia Street.  A free, family friendly event to meet the teams and enjoy bird themed art and entertainment.

22nd August: “Getting into birding” presentation at Science World, Quebec Street.

Jody Allair presented a talk about getting started on your bird watching journey.

23-25 August: Nature and bird Expo, West Building at Vancouver Convention Centre

An opportunity to meet the staff from Bird Studies Canada and discuss research and conservation.

24 August: Birds of a Feather: The Reciprocal Benefits of Protecting Biodiversity, West Building at Vancouver Convention Centre.

Purnima Barman and Midori Nicholson speak about the relationship between humans and birds, and the significance of birds in the Kwakwaka’wakw native culture.

25 August: Birds and Yoga. Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre.

Kate Fremlin leads a 1 hour yoga session. There are plenty of yoga poses inspired by birds, so here’s a chance to explore nature’s influence on the practice.

Other notable events included the Parade of Birds! Stilt walkers in bird costumes paraded from Harbour Green Park to Jack Poole Plaza, delighting the crowds of spectators. There was also a huge mural featuring more than 650 endangered birds artwork. Plus the whole occasion was marked by the Canadian Postal service with a special set of bird stamps.  

Festivals that highlight the natural world and how we can live a more eco conscience life are a great experience for the whole family. We know it is hard in 2020-2021 to envisage a time when festivals like this can run again. However, it will happen! And when these events are held please support them. 

How you can help

If you live in an area of natural significance or near a wildlife sanctuary perhaps you can get involved! Fund raising and raising awareness are key elements of any movement. We all owe it to the natural world and to future generations to protect birds and wildlife. We can start by educating each other and our children. Getting involved in fun festivals such as this is a great entry point.

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You can enjoy nature all year round in this exceptionally diverse parkland. Huge swathes of Monarch butterflies can be seen in Autumn, and in Spring you’ll see a wonderful spectrum of migratory birdlife. Nearly 400 species of bird have been spotted in this area, so it’s really a birders paradise! Ducks, wablers, sandpipers, geese, swans and many other varieties inhabit the Point Pelee National Park. There’s plenty of other activities to enjoy here too. Hiking, canoeing or simply relaxing on a beach. Please observe rules surrounding the types of photography permitted if you wish to use cameras in the bird reserve. 

Fundy National Park, New Brunswick

Over 250 species of birds can be sighted in this beautiful coastal park. Marine birds such as cormorants, great blue herons can be sighted. Plus a huge variety of other bird species such as plovers, warblers, woodpeckers, peregrine falcons and grouse. Enjoy hiking over 100km of forest trails, or kayaking. Even golfers and those who enjoy fishing are catered for in Fundy National Park. There’s plenty of options for campaign or staying in a trailer too. As always, please take care to respect the local wildlife and help preserve it for future generations. 

Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec

Visually impressive, the Archipelago National Park Reserve consists of huge limestone columns and boulders, shaped by nature. You’ll come across a variety of seabirds here, including Atlantic Puffins, Arctic Terns, and razorbills. You might also be lucky to spot bald eagles and osprey. There are plenty of water based activities including paddle boarding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, and boat trips. Hike across boardwalks and visit 9 different islands. Enjoy woodland, peat bogs, and the shore spread over 80km of hiking trails.

Wood Buffalo National Park

Here in the northern part of the boreal plains bison, moose, fox, black bears, beavers, wolves, grizzly bears, muskox and caribou roam wild. Birders can enjoy sightings of geese, ducks, gulls, terns and swans.  There’s also an owl population, and other year round birds who inhabit the area such as jays, chickadees and ravens. Other activities in the park include golfing, camping, photography plus boat trips, hiking and guided tours. There are opportunities to see the spectacular northern lights or Aurora. It is even possible to take a light aircraft to a remote lodge so you can fully appreciate the spectacle in privacy. You can even watch them from in a hot tub! 

Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador

Explore the boreal forest, swim, kayak, hike or relax here. Seals and whales can be spotted as you paddle round the coast. Following over 80km of hiking trails will enable you to see many varieties of woodpeckers, chickadees, finches, crossbills, sparrows, warblers and flycatchers amongst others can be sighted all year round. Plus Terra Nova National Park boasts an array of sea birds. These include terns, ducks, sandpipers, yellowlegs, plovers and bald eagles. Other animals live here too, including bats, moose, and pine marten. Terra Nova National Park is a designated dark sky preserve, making it a perfect place to appreciate the night sky.

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Encourage curiosity

Children often have a natural curiosity in the world about them so it shouldn’t be too difficult to spark even more interest.  A good idea is to be armed with as much knowledge yourself as you can! Kids favourite question is “why?” Closely followed with “how?”. It’s more than likely you won’t know all the answers either but you have google, and books to help you learn the answers together! This is a great opportunity to bond and learn with you child outside of school. 

Start off easy

Unfortunately bird watching can be a fruitless exercise on occasion. Children may not stay still and quiet for very long without the reward of spotting a new type of bird. When they are young, easy birds like pigeons, starlings, gulls, and ducks will probably satisfy their curiosity. And they are easy to find in your local park or by the sea. If you are lucky enough to live near a bird sanctuary or nature reserve you might also have a broader range of birdlife in plentiful supply.  If you don’t live in the countryside you can still get involved. Even just looking out of your window you will spot a wide variety of birds native to your area. Perched on window ledges, telegraph poles and in trees. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open!  

Nature collections

Children also enjoy collecting. Well, adults do too, but children especially are happy to collect random natural objects like shells, stones, sticks, feathers, and eggshells. This can also be a way to encourage an interest in birds and other wildlife.  It is important to teach children only to take discarded objects and curiosities. Broken egg shells and long disused nests (do not bring home lice and bugs that may live in old nests. It may be a collection item best kept in the garden shed and not in the house and ideally you leave it where it is so other birds can reuse the resources or the birds may return to use it again). It’s also important to teach children how to interact respectfully with nature. Not to scare off birds or leave litter that can harm them.

You can buy plenty of children’s resources and gifts too to inspire and educate your little ones. For example; install a bird feeder for your garden. Children’s binoculars, and reference books make good presents for budding birdwatchers. There’s also many craft activities that can be done together like colouring in books, or playing bird bingo. The key advice is to keep it fun and lighthearted. Your 5 year old will probably not want to walk for hours in the rain being quiet. Birdwatching and nature walks should be fun! Make sure your children are comfortable and enjoying themselves. As they grow older they will still have an interest and with it more patience for some serious birdwatching.

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