Bird Watching

Bird watching tours, bird list, and events for Parksville Qualicum Beach.

A woman looks through binoculars as a man points at the Brant Viewing Area on Qualicum Beach.
Brant Viewing Area. Photo Credit: @bcbirdtrail

Head out bird watching on your own or hire a local pro to take you to secret spots and give you an even better chance to add sightings to your list.

Bird Watching Tours

Hire a local pro to take you to secret spots and give you an even better chance to add sightings to your list.

Birdwatching Bird List

A great bird watching resource is the "Seasonal Bird Checklist for the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Area" published by the Arrowsmith Naturalists. This checklist is only available in hard copy. Contact or drop by the Parksville Visitor Centre or the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store in Nanaimo for availability.

“ Every spring Parksville and Qualicum Beach welcome the return of thousands of Black Brant geese to our shores... ”

Bird Watching Walks & Events

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store coordinates regular outings and bird walks in the Parksville, Qualicum Beach region. The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store announces their walks and lots of birding-related information on our event calendar so it's a good one to bookmark.

Visitors might also be interested in the two local nature clubs, the Nanoose Naturalists at and the Arrowsmith Naturalists. Both sites list the clubs' field trips that may be interesting to visiting bird watchers.

Every spring Parksville and Qualicum Beach welcome the return of thousands of Black Brant geese to our shores with the Brant Wildlife Festival, coordinated by The Nature Trust of BC. The festival features a variety of events for all ages including wildlife viewing, spring break camps for kids, and woodcarving competitions.

BC Bird Trail

Birding 101

Learn birding basics, photography tips, and how to respect the habitats of local wildlife. Check out the BC Bird Trail's Field Notes blog posts about Responsible Birding and more.

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