Subject: Re: Vancouver Island
Date: Apr 4 10:08:08 1996
From: Brent D. Beach - ub359 at freenet.victoria.bc.ca




>
>I'm going to be bopping around Vancouver Island, April 13-16, and I'm
>looking for any favorite birding spots (or even just favorite spots in
>general!). It's a break between jobs, so will be looking for relaxing
>walks, not high-calibre survival hikes. I'm really looking for day
>trips from Vancouver, since I've got a cheap homebase there (a friend's
>couch).

Trips to the island are not cheap, since the ferry costs almost
$30 each way if you take a car. If you go as a foot passenger,
you will be limited in places you can reach. You may be better
off asking for a list of places around Vancouver.

At that time of the year, there are several very good places in
Vancouver. The standards are Iona Island, Boundary Bay, Reifel
Refuge, and Queen Elizabeth Park, with only the latter for
songbirds, the first three usually involving scoping for
shorebirds, ducks, and hawks.

Vancouver Island has a few species that are much harder to find
in Vancouver, but Apr 13 is still a little early for migration
here. We do not get large numbers or shorebirds, and the
warblers and vireos will still be in small numbers as well.

There is a birding finding book for the Island, written by Keith
Taylor, which includes trips through all the best birding spots
with species you can expect at each spot. You can probably pick
up a copy at the field naturalist, as mentioned in another reply
you got.

Brent

--
Brent Beach, Victoria, BC, CA