BIRDING in COQUITLAM BIRDING EVENTS AT COLONY FARM REGIONAL PARK
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Birding for Beginners / April 9, 9 – 11 a.m. Get to know the birds in the park. Free but registration is required by calling 604-432-6359. International Migratory Bird Day: Partners in the Park / May 13, 1 – 4 p.m. Displays, children’s activities, a history tour at 1 p.m. and introductory birding walks at 2:30 p.m. Meet in front of the community gardens, end of Colony Farm Rd. Free! Drop in. Lazuli Bunting Walk / June 3, 9 – 11 a.m. Search for migratory birds including spectacular lazuli buntings on a two-hour guided walk. Bring binoculars if possible. Meet in front of the community gardens at the end of Colony Farm Road. Free! Drop in. metrovancouver.org/events
Rufous hummingbird
Want to learn more about nature in Coquitlam? You can download a free guide, Discover Nature in the Tri-Cities, created by the Burke Mountain Naturalists. It includes fascinating information about local habitat, plants and wildlife at popular nature sites and a checklist of species to watch for by season. Printed copies are also available. bmn.bc.ca/booklet
SEASONAL BIRDING
Keep your eyes and ears open all year long while enjoying the city’s hot spots for birding.
Osprey
SPRING Look for Mallard ducklings and Canada goose goslings.
Mountain bluebird
By March, tree swallows, violet-green swallows and barn swallows can be found swooping over the marsh.
Mountain bluebirds stop in during migration in
Northern pygmy owls have been seen on the Low Knoll.
early spring. Cinnamon teals show up in late spring at Colony Farm and Minnekhada Regional Park. Sandhill cranes and northern harriers can be seen. The common yellowthroat, wood ducks and marsh wrens do their nesting . Belted kingfishers perch on shrubs searching for small fish.
Cinnamon teal
Great horned owls are easier to find in late winter, especially along the trail near the picnic area at Minnekhada.
SUMMER Barred owls sometimes perch on large branches overhanging a clearing in the forest. Black-headed grosbeaks and band-tailed pigeons are attracted to elderberries. Tree swallows, downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers are prevalent. Search for a resident red-tailed hawk or turkey vulture. Watch for Steller’s jays.
The Fox sparrow overwinters at Minnekhada. Small groups of chickadees, kinglets and bushtits often flock together in winter.
Fox sparrow
Ospreys return by April. Blue herons perch on nest boxes.
WINTER
FALL Look for short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks. The elusive Lincoln’s sparrow can be found in shrubby thickets around the marsh. Coots return along with grebes, teals, buffleheads and mergansers. Herring gulls and ring-billed gulls are noticeable.
Raptors—including the sharp-shinned hawk, redtailed hawk and peregrine falcon—can be found at multiple locations this time of year.
COQUITLAM HOT SPOTS FOR BIRDING
Colony Farm Como Lake DeBoville Slough Minnekhada Regional Park Mundy Park
2017 Coquitlam Travel & Experience Guide
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