Birding

Birdwatching in Castlegar has become a popular pastime in the last few years because of the large number of species that live in, and travel through, the region. In fact, according to the popular birding app ebird, the city is now second in the province, after Osoyoos, for most number of species spotted. This is because Castlegar boasts a variety of habitat from forests to wetlands to fields, it’s located at the confluence of two major waterways, it’s on the migratory path of many species, and it enjoys mild weather in the winter and hot temperatures in the summer. Species that can be spotted include bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and other raptors as well as over 200 other species including:

• American Goldfinch
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Evening Grosbeak
• Northern Pygmy Owl
• Pileated Woodpecker
• White-winged Crossbill

The Selkirk College trails are some of the most popular places for birdwatching and we’ve written about other locales in our article “The Best Birdwatching Spots in Castlegar.” And the best part about birding in Castlegar is it’s a fun activity to do with the family year round. Even in the winter months there are lots of species to see. In fact, they’re even easier to spot because there’s less foliage on the trees and the colour feathers tend to pop out again a white backdrop of snow. Learn more about birdwatching during the snowy months in our article “Family Fun: Spot These Birds in Castlegar This Winter.”