Parksville, Vancouver Island Birding Capital

Come to Parksville Qualicum Beach and seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a wonderful wildlife watching.

Did you know that many birds come to Parksville annually, and that is the reason the city has become the bird watching capital of Vancouver Island? The long sandy beaches, tidal estuaries, and wooded hills of this Important bird area in the Pacific Flyway are ideal for many types of birds, from bald eagles, owls, and other raptors to the Brant geese who migrate to the area each spring. But birds aren’t the only species inhabiting Parksville. Hundreds of birds, animal, and amphibian species move through Parksville Qualicum Beach and dwell there. During the spring and autumn migration periods, check and see the native birds of Parksville Qualicum Beach as well as hundreds of visiting species. water birds and shorebirds abound throughout the migration season. The location is part of the Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve, which was recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2000 and is one of only two in British Columbia. Marine invertebrates stay on the coastal sand flats as the tide pulls away from the shore. Take the whole family to the beach to look for them. Whales and other species may be seen in plenty in the northern regions of the Salish Sea, which encompass Parksville and Qualicum Beach. One of the extraordinary Pacific herring spawning grounds on the British Columbia coast may be found in this thriving maritime habitat. Whales, seals, sea lions, wolves, bears, and marine birds, to mention a few, rely on Pacific herring for critical nutrients.

Bird Watching in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Which Birds Do you think you can see in Parksville? The various types of birds that make their home in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region year-round or during their yearly migration has brought tourists to the central. Many species, especially migrating water birds and shorebirds, can be observed beginning in March, especially during the Pacific Herring spawn. Every year in April, you may enjoy the arrival of migrating Brant with the Brant Wildlife Festival. Visit The Faye Smith Pavilion to learn more about Brant Geese. This interpretive site, located just north of Qualicum Beach on Island Highway, provides much background information on migratory geese, and what draws them to this staging point. While many species live here the whole year, meaning there's always something to view, photograph, and document. With a growing interest in birding fueled by COVID, you must know that bird watching has become a trend during the era of Corona Virus; who are these feathered buddies perched in the backyard, anyway?! Enthusiasts will discover Parksville Qualicum Beach as one of the best venues to explore their avian interests.

Types of Birds in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Bald Eagle

Brant Geese

Trumpeter Swan

Scaup

Goldeneye

Wigeon

Yellowlegs

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Western Sandpiper

Bird Watching Hotspots in Parksville

Englishman River Estuary

Thousands of migrating water birds use the estuary and neighbouring beaches as a stopover point, and birders may enjoy it all year.

Hamilton Marsh

Hamilton Marsh, the biggest wetland between Nanaimo, Cumberland, and Port Alberni, minutes away from Qualicum Beach.

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

Make sure to visit this wildlife rehabilitation center if you're looking for see and learn about birds of a different feather.

Faye Smith Rosenblatt Memorial Pavilion

At Qualicum Beach's Seaside Park, the Brant Viewing Station has substantial explanatory signs, seats, and landscaping.

Bird Watching Trails in Parksville

Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park Loop

Rocks, shells, and sand are all in a nice balance for bird watching.

Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park Loop

The trail is available all year and is a great place for birding at any time.

Craig Creek Trail Loop

A beautiful path through the woods with a variety of trail types providing one the best birding experiences.

Englishman River Estuary Loop

This beautiful trail is available all year round, and is ideal for bird watching, hiking, and mountain biking.

Parksville Wetlands Loop

This land is preserved as an environmentally valuable habitat in perpetuity. A nice stroll with migrating birds.

Pacific Shores at Craig Bay Trail

Although this is a famous birding trail, it may still be quiet at certain times of the day.

Rathtrevor Beach Trail

Bird watching, hiking, and paddle sports are pretty popular on this out-and-back trail near Parksville.

Shelly Creek and Butler Woods Trails

A fantastic loop for bird watching, hiking, and trail running.

Brant Wildlife Festival; Parksville Qualicum Beach; 2022

The Brant's return has been celebrated in Parksville Qualicum beach for almost 29 years, with approximately 20,000 geese sighted at the peak of the stopover. The festival celebrates nature, particularly the return of the Brant geese, which pause to rest and graze on the coastlines of mid-Vancouver Island before continuing their migration to northern breeding grounds. You may spend some quality time watching and even feeding the black geese.
The geese will graze and relax for a month or longer. They gabble to each other, always on the lookout for Bald Eagle assaults. Then they take off, a few at a time, on the next phase of their long yearly voyage.

Marine Life Watching in Parksville

Orcas, Biggs Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Steller & California Sea Lions, Pacific Harbour Seals, Bald Eagles, and Stunning Scenery and Seascapes are just a few of the creatures you'll see. Sometimes known as Stellars, Northern Sea Lions may be seen all year along our shores, with California Sea Lions and Harbour Seals being most common between November and March. All five species of Pacific Salmon have been spotted at Parksville Qualicum Beach. Chum, Coho, and Chinook Salmon are the most common, with Sockeye and Pink Salmon appearing less commonly. In the fall, visit the Little Qualicum and Big Qualicum Fish Hatcheries to witness the spawning season and even see fish up close in a special viewing area.

Parksville-Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area

The Wildlife Management Area comprises beaches, foreshore gravel bars, and the Englishman River estuary and is located in a moderate coastal temperature zone under a mountain rain shadow. According to the BC Government, the many estuaries, beaches, and coastal gravel bars offer essential staging grounds for the globally significant Pacific Brant Sea Goose.
The PQBWMA protects a varied diversity of species and habitats that are important both locally and globally. According to RDN the PQBWMA's highlights include:
✓ It has a lot of estuaries, beaches, and coastal gravel bars that are significant staging areas for the Pacific Brant Sea Goose, which is an internationally important bird.
✓ It is home to around 60 different aquatic bird species. Over 100,000 water birds visit the region to eat on the abundant beachfront waters.
✓ All pacific salmon species, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout rely on the estuaries and foreshore zones for rearing habitat.
✓ Each spring, millions of herring spawn on the foreshore's extensive eelgrass and algal beds; consequently,
✓ Several marine animals are drawn to the region to eat, including the California Sea Lion, Harbour Seal, Northern Seal Lion, and Harbour Porpoise.

Wildlife Watching Species on Vancouver Island

Sea Lion Watching on Vancouver Island

Sea lions gather in sizable colonies on the islands' rocky and sandy coasts. Stay with us to learn more about these species on Vancouver Island.

Seal Watching on Vancouver Island

It shouldn't take long to locate the harbour seal, Canada's Pacific coast's most common marine animal. Stay with us to gain more insight.

Greater White-fronted Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

The Greater White-fronted Geese is a stocky brown goose found across the Northern Hemisphere, including Vancouver Island.

Canada Goose Watching on Vancouver Island

Canadian Geese abound on Vancouver Island throughout the winter months. When migratory birds return north in the spring, this rises. Their unique coloration makes them easy to spot.

Brant Watching on Vancouver Island

Brant is a type of migratory game bird on Vancouver Island. These waterfowls can be categorized as geese which come to the Island every spring.

Porpoise Watching on Vancouver Island

Many people think that porpoises are a type of dolphin. It's wrong. They are a completely different family of cetaceans inhabiting the waters of Vancouver Island. Also, they aren't "baby orcas". Stay with us to tell you more.

Eagle Watching on Vancouver Island

Come to Vancouver Island to see how the apex feathered predator come down from the sky for a grab. Let Vanisle Wildlife be your company!

Humpback Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Remember the nostalgic Hunchback of Notre Dame? Well, the waters of Vancouver Island is not deprived of such creature. Humpback whales are another migratory marine species that count Vancouver Island shore as one of their favorites.

Gray Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Looking for an opportunity for spotting the longest-route migrating mammals on earth? Vancouver Island is the land in which this opportunity grows on the tree. Stay with us to tell you more about this wonderful journey.

Orca Whale Watching on Vancouver Island

Whale watching on Vancouver island is full of wonders to explore! Come here to be a witness to the breaching of the most giant dolphin, Orca, in the world. They are the assassins of the marine mammals; even whales themselves.

Grizzly Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

If, in any case, you have grizzly bear watching on your Canada bucket list, put it in your bags and bring it to Vancouver Island. Let's get to the lost paradises of grizzly bear where they live in abundance. Stay with us!

Black Bear Watching on Vancouver Island

Have you ever watch black bears play hid and seek? Vancouver Island black bear watching tours are what you're looking for. In order to know where is best to go black bear watching on Vancouver Island and where is the best place to go, stay with us!

Common Questions About Wildlife Watching in Parksville

Can you see whales in Parksville?

Parksville's beautiful beaches and the gorgeous Salish Sea are worth seeing. Is It Possible to See Whales From Parksville? Yes! Parksville is conveniently positioned in the travel regions of Biggs Killer Whales and Humpback Whales.