West Coast Adventures - Bird Sanctuary


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BIRD WATCHING AT THE GEORGE C. REIFEL BIRD SANCTUARY

Delta, British Columbia
by Susie Lee

Imagine being under a canopy of thirty to eighty thousand Lesser snow geese, or watching beautiful Western Sandpipers busily feeding, or witnessing bald eagles soar in the sky, or being followed by a group of new born soft-furred ducklings. As I found out, this can all be experienced at one of Vancouver's best kept secrets, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary located in the heart of the Fraser River estuary in Delta, British Columbia..

REIFEL BIRD SANCTUARY

During my visit in the spring, I was greeted by a host of tame Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese, pigeons, and a group of ducklings as I stepped out of the car. From that moment, I knew this would be a wonderful wildlife experience as I got a taste of what to expect beyond the entrance gates.

I was fortunate to have John Ireland (the retired manager of the sanctuary) as my talking field guide for the day. He pointed out a swallow’s nest made of mud and straw perched on wooden beams of a building. He pointed out two huge bald eagles perched on the treetop right in front of us. It was a spectacular sight as they were enormous in size. He seemed to have a knack of spotting birds nestled in the trees and hidden among the leaves.

We walked down the grassy trail and were surrounded by wilderness and wildlife beauty. The Reifel Bird Sanctuary has become home and international crossroads for birds migrating to twenty countries and three continents. The birds are attracted to this area due to the mild winter on the west coast of Canada. So far, 268 species of birds have been identified at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.

It was a sight to see as the ducklings came out of the tall grass and onto the trail. I enjoyed having them follow me around the rest of the day. They were waddling down the grassy path behind me. In the water, I spotted a Great Blue Heron. It is very common to find these majestic birds in many of the estuaries around the world. Usually I see herons just standing motionless in shallow waters waiting to strike its prey. But in this adventure, I saw this heron cleaning himself off. This was the first time I was able to see one this close. As simple as it was, it was fascinating to watch him in action. The Great Blue Heron is the largest member of the heron family in North America, standing at four feet with wingspan reaching six feet. This heron was grayish blue with a white head and a gray neck and black stripes down the side.

THE LESSER SNOW GEESE

During the fall migratory season, The Reifel Sanctuary is visited by 30 to 80 thousand Lesser Snow geese who come from Wrangle Island, Russia, located in the Arctic Circle. These geese travel over 4000 kilometers and usually arrive in early October to make this sanctuary their home for the winter. While they are here during the prime viewing months of October and November, the snow geese become the main attraction at the sanctuary. Look out towers allow visitors to get a glimpse of the flocks feeding in the estuary marshes.

Snow geese can be identified by their white bodies and black wing tips. They have a pink bill with a unique “grinning patch”. Their bills also have a serrated edge which allows them to forage for food as they tear at plants from the ground. As a result, the Lesser Snow Geese wintering in this area end up with a distinctive rust colored stain on their faces from digging for food in the iron-rich soils of the Fraser River Delta.

Lesser Snow Geese have an average lifespan of 20 years. They generally mate for life, and raise an average of three or four young each year. Snow geese travel in family groups and embark on the same migratory route each year. Watching thousands of snow geese take flight was a rare and unforgettable experience. It reminded me of how we were meant to live our lives with freedom and without worries.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Bird watching can be enjoyed anywhere at anytime. You will be surprised to know how many birds are in your local area once you start looking for them. I encourage you to come for an outdoor walk amongst the birds in their residence at The George C.Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Through the filming of this adventure, I got to experience the serenity and joy that comes from watching the carefree birds in this beautiful environment that is indeed a gem in our Province.

FUN FACTS

Do Migratory Birds Have a Built-In Global Positioning System?

Every year birds make the phenomenal journey to the Antarctic and back to the Arctic. It's a wonder how the birds determine their route and manage to stay on course for their destination. There are three methods birds use to help them navigate. The first method they use is visual orientation relying on geographic features like rivers, mountain ranges and coastlines. The second method they use for accurate direction is determined by the position of the sun. But some birds that travel at night will use the position of the stars to help them navigate. And lastly the birds can sense the earth's magnetic field, also known as geomagnetism, for orientation. Even though the location and the route are hard-wired into their brains, they still use a combination of these techniques to bring them successfully to their destination.