Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a protected area located in Colwood, British Columbia, Canada. It is a popular spot for birdwatching, nature walks, and outdoor recreation. Here are some more details about the sanctuary:

History: Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary was established in 1931 by the Canadian Wildlife Service as a protected area for migratory birds. The sanctuary encompasses 126 hectares of wetlands, salt marshes, and beaches, and provides important habitat for a variety of bird species.

Bird species: The sanctuary is home to over 190 species of birds, including migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors. Some of the species commonly seen at the sanctuary include Canadian geese, mallards, herons, sandpipers, and bald eagles.

Habitat: The sanctuary is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migration route for birds traveling between Alaska and South America. The wetlands and salt marshes provide important feeding and resting areas for migratory birds, while the nearby beaches offer nesting sites for resident bird species.

Visitor information: The sanctuary is open to the public year-round and can be accessed via several walking trails and boardwalks. There are also several viewing platforms and bird blinds located throughout the sanctuary for birdwatchers. The area is popular for nature walks, picnics, and beachcombing, and is a designated National Historic Site of Canada.

Conservation: The sanctuary is managed by Parks Canada in partnership with local conservation organizations. The management plan for the sanctuary includes measures to protect and restore the wetland and salt marsh habitats, as well as to control invasive plant species.

Education: The sanctuary offers educational programs and guided tours for visitors, as well as interpretive displays and exhibits. The educational programs focus on bird identification, habitat conservation, and the importance of wetlands and salt marshes in maintaining biodiversity.

Overall, Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary is an important and popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in the Victoria area. The sanctuary provides an opportunity to observe a diverse array of bird species in their natural habitat and to learn about the importance of wetland conservation.

 

 Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A saltwater lagoon with a view of Esquimalt Harbour at Dockyard is situated at the base of the Royal Roads property, close to the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites.

Admission: Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary does not charge any admission fees.

Virtual Tour: Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

On the lagoon side of the bridge, there may be one island and one to several small gravel bars, depending on the tide. These areas are used by gulls as resting places, and shorebirds should also be carefully watched out for. Although Mew Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls frequent the area, birders have also noted Heermann's, Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, California, and even Western Gulls. 

Check the flocks carefully. Small groups of Caspian Terns may also rest on the bars in the spring, so keep an eye out for birds with dark heads and wide orange beak. Black Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Western and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, Black and (occasionally) Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, dowitcher, Semi-palmated Plover, yellowlegs, and Killdeer are among the shorebirds that can be seen during the season.

Opening Hours and Location: Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Monday

Open 24 hours

Tuesday

Open 24 hours

Wednesday

Open 24 hours

Thursday

Open 24 hours

Friday

Open 24 hours

Saturday

Open 24 hours

Sunday

Open 24 hours

Address

Colwood, BC, Canada

Click Here To Download The Map Of  Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Activities

The Glaucous-winged Gull and Northwestern Crow will be scavenging for shellfish, which they will pick up and drop from a height to crack the shells of. There may be avian disagreements over who owns the seafood lunch. Since this is a well-known location for people to "feed the ducks," waterfowl may be seen lounging on the island or bars or swimming close to the bridge. Red-breasted Mergansers, as well as occasionally Common Mergansers, can be spotted hunting for small fish when snorkelling along the distant shore or surfing down a stream.

Near this end of the lagoon, it's possible to see Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Northern Pintail, scaup, Bufflehead, Barrow's and Common Goldeneye, American Wigeon (also keep an eye out for a Eurasian Wigeon), Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Pied-billed Grebe, Canada Geese, feral Mute Swans, American Coot, and Double-crested Cormorants. Unluckily, the island has also been overrun by a flock of feral Greylag Geese. These geese have been "dumped" and are only a bother. Snow Geese have been spotted at the Lagoon, though, and many Brant stop there their route to the Parksville Brant Festival.

Restaurant Near By

  • Goodview Family Restaurant
  • Denny's

For a free, no-obligation, consultation simply emails a few of these details to info@globalduniya.ca and we will get straight back to you with some ideas and suggestions.

If you like my ideas for a tour we can come up with a more detailed plan, by email or phone at +17788821450, before you decide.