Goldstream Provincial Park Wildlife Watching

Massive trees, breathtaking waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, flowers, birds, a variety of wildlife, and intriguing fish are just a few of the features that lure visitors to Goldstream Provincial Park in southern Vancouver Island, which is only 16 km from downtown Victoria. Wildlife viewing enthusiasts must know that other than the Capital itself, this park is where they can fulfill their wildlife watching desires on southern Vancouver Island. Whether a wildlife viewer is seeking inspiration from this stunning specimen of the wild outdoors or a naturalist hoping to add to their notebook, it's a world that appears far apart from the metropolitan exploits of British Columbia's capital city. Goldstream Park offers something new, distinct, and exciting bear viewing, bird watching, and other wildlife viewing opportunities are available for every month of the year. Every year, thousands of fish – and people – flock to the park for the annual chum salmon spawning season. This natural event draws bald eagles, who swoop down to consume the corpses of the hatched-out salmon, and black bear to come and feast on newly arrived fish. The riverside pathways and wildlife viewing platforms give an exceptional opportunity to witness bears and bald eagles. Black bears, cougars, and deer live in Goldstream Park, as do raccoons, minks, beavers, otters, and Gray and Douglas squirrels. The park's streams are home to salmon, trout, steelhead, and migratory and resident species, including hummingbirds, Bald eagles, turkey vultures, ducks, and gulls. The Goldstream River is the site of one of nature's most spectacular displays from late October to December each year, when chum, coho, and Chinook salmon enter the river via Finlayson Arm from the Pacific Ocean. These identical salmon hatched here three to four years ago before migrating to the sea to develop and mature. They're back to start a family. It's incredible to see them return to their native spawning beds to spawn and die. The estuary of the Goldstream River is restricted to the public (including all boaters). Because of the closure, wildlife has returned to the estuary throughout the year. Because of the closure, Bald eagles, formerly infrequently seen, are now abundant during the salmon run and nest during the summer.

Salmon is counted as a luxurious meal for bears, and guess what?! Goldstream Park's estuary is exactly the hall bears would want to start their glorious salmon feast. However, every fall is not stable; salmon runs happen right there in the estuary and wildlife who feed on fish flood there. Bears are one of the species. For the sake of folks' safety, visiting the Park and the convenience of the creatures eating at the estuary, entering it is prohibited for people. However, there are some wildlife viewing platforms from which you can be a witness to their hunt and feast right in the water.

Bird viewing is something that can happen in every area on Vancouver Island. Since the island is right at the migration path of the birds many bird species spend time on Vancouver Island preparing the right opportunity for an unforgettable bird viewing. The dominant bird in Goldstream Park is the majestic bald eagle of which you cannot get enough. Observing them swooping down to grab a salmon is one off-the-grid experience for sure. When the tide is low, the most salmon are exposed, making it the perfect time to watch bald eagles. Eagles are opportunistic eaters, meaning they will consume whatever fits their nutritional demands and is readily accessible. A sharp, hooked beak for shredding meat and keen talons for grasping onto food aren't the only "tools of the trade" for bald eagles, which also have a poor sense of smell. They also have exceptional vision, which allows them to identify prey from lofty vantage points. Other bird species you may gaze upon while wandering around Goldstream Park are Red Breasted Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Stellar’s Jay, Golden Crown Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hummingbirds, American Robin, Violet Green Swallows, House Sparrow, turkey vultures, ducks, and gulls.