Upcoming Field Trips & Events
Christmas Bird Count for Youth in Delta - Dec 7th!
Come look for winter birds like Redpolls, American Tree Sparrows, Northern Saw-whet Owls, Short-eared Owls and Rough-legged Hawks and other great birds at our CBC4Kids in Delta. The youth will be led by an experienced birder in a team setting. Each team will conduct a bird survey and record the number of bird species and individuals seen. All data we collect from our count will be sent to eBird and Bird Studies Canada to aid in studies for bird conservation.
The Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids), based on the traditional Christmas Bird Count, is a fun winter birdwatching event that engages youth in real Citizen Science. The goal is to promote nature appreciation, ecological literacy, build bird ID and monitoring skills, and environmental stewardship in the next generation of naturalists.
More info on the program can be found here:
http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc4kids/
Please bring binoculars, a toque, warm waterproof jacket and pants, warm waterproof boots, camera and scope if you have one! A scope will be provided for the group to share and a field guide. You are welcome to bring snacks but we have a strict NO NUT PRODUCT OF ANY KIND policy.
Ages 12-18 are welcome.
The event is free for all youth attending.
This event is BIPOC and LGBTQ+ welcoming.
Please sign up for FREE tickets HERE
Please meet HERE at 9:30am at the gift shop at 5191 Robertson Rd in Delta, BC.
Young Birder Walk and Workshop at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park!
This program is funded by the Coquitlam Public Library and is FREE to attend for all youth of any skill level between the ages of 12-18! Binoculars can be borrowed from Coquitlam Public Library, and a limited number of binoculars will also be available for youth to use during the walk.
Dress for the weather and feel free to bring water, a camera, and/or a snack!
We will meet at 9:30 am at the first parking lot on ƛ̓éxətəm (Colony Farm) Road, and end at 11:00 am at the same parking lot.
Trip to Reifel Bird Sanctuary for Shorebirds
Come out for a bird walk to see Shorebirds like Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes, Stilt Sandpipers and other waders. If we get lucky maybe we will get an early Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. We will also be looking for warblers like Northern Waterthrush, flycatchers and other passerines. We should see Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal as well. Please email Melissa at bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to get your waiver and reserve your spot. This trip is free for those with a Reifel Bird Sanctuary Membership and for those who don’t the cost is 6$ for youth up to age 14 and 8$ for youth aged 15-18. Please bring a bagged lunch and plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat and your binoculars and if you have one a camera!
Please meet HERE at the gift shop at 5191 Robertson Rd in Delta.
FEMALE TEEN BIRDER CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHY OUTDOOR WORKSHOP FOR AGES 13-18
Talented National Geographic and Girls Who Click photographer and filmmaker Gunjan Menon and BC Young Birders Program founder Melissa Hafting are hosting a photo workshop for female identifying or non-binary teen bird/wildlife photographers who are age 13-18 years old. We will be doing a bird walk and give the teens an introduction to conservation photography and storytelling as they photograph birds and wildlife in Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver. Melissa will also be giving the girls a talk on local birds.
The event is FREE, so there are no barriers to entry for any participants. However, spots are limited so sign up ASAP if you are interested! We will be running this at Stanley Park from 9 am until 2pm. The exact meet up location will be given out directly to you upon registration.
Also, if you don't have a camera or smart phone to photograph the wildlife, during the workshop, there will be cameras that the youth can borrow during the workshop!
You can sign up and read more about this event HERE
Make sure that your parents fill out the 3 attached waivers at the registration links and also follow the links to sign up on the Girls Who Click website as well. Note you must sign up at both places to be registered.
THIS EVENT IS BIPOC AND NON-BINARY AND LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE AND ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER.
Young Birder Hike at Maplewood Flats
Come out to Maplewood Flats for a leisurely walk to see Red-eyed Vireos, warblers and also to look for shorebirds. Send an email to bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to register for your spot and get a waiver your parents must sign. This trip is FREE. Please bring a bagged lunch, water, sunscreen, a hat and binoculars and your camera if you have one. Please wear proper athletic footwear.
Please meet HERE at 2649 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver.
Trip to Pitt Lake and Grant Narrows to search for Gray Catbirds, Kingbirds, Orioles, Least Flycatchers and Redstarts!
Come out to Pitt Lake to search for Black Swifts, Gray Catbirds, Eastern and Western Kingbirds, American Redstarts, Band-tailed Pigeons, Chipping Sparrows, Evening Grosbeaks, Bullock’s Orioles, Lazuli Buntings, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Osprey, Willow Flycatchers and more! We may get lucky and find a rare Least Flycatcher and Yellow-breasted Chat. We will also be on the lookout for Green Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons and Cliff Swallows and Sandhill Cranes. On our trip there in 2022 we saw a rare Chestnut-sided Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat. Please bring a bagged lunch and a backpack with plenty of water, a sunhat, binoculars and a camera if you have one. Please bring sunscreen and bug spray and wear sturdy running shoes. Please email me at bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to reserve your spot and to get your waiver that your parents must sign. This event is FREE.
We will meet HERE at the end of Rannie Rd in Pitt Meadows. Please note there is a parking fee of 5$ but parents do not have to pay this as they are dropping off their children and not staying.
REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL FOR THIS EVENT.
Hike to Bowen Lookout to see Canada Jays and Northern Pygmy-Owls!
Come join us for a hike from 9 am to 2 pm on Cypress Mountain. We will hike around Yew Lake and then up to Bowen Lookout to see Canada Jays, Sooty Grouse, American Dippers and hopefully Northern Pygmy-Owls. Please bring nuts to feed the jays and also sunscreen, bug spray, a bagged lunch, sunhat and plenty of water and your binoculars and camera if you have one. Please wear proper athletic/hiking footwear. Please email bcbirdergirl@gmail.com to reserve your spot and get a waiver that your parents must sign before arrival. This event is FREE for youth age 12-18. We will be meeting at the Cypress Creek Lodge by the upper parking lot at 6000 Cypress Bowl Rd in West Vancouver.
*REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL*
Map to meeting point HERE
Film Screening: Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration
On May 10th during the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration, they will be screening the 2023 film "The Young Birders" featuring myself and some of the BC Young Birders in a documentary created by former young birder program graduate and talented photographer Liron Gertsman.
They will also be screening 2 other films "The Commute" and "Ptarmigan Trek" produced by Liron Gertsman that night. Also Dr. Rob Butler (ornithologist) will be giving a talk on birds!
You can register for free tickets and learn more at the link HERE
The event runs from 5pm until 8pm on May 10th, 2024 at Vandusen Gardens.
Hope to see many young birders coming out for this event!
You can read about all the great events taking place during May 10-26 for the Vancouver Bird Celebration HERE