Birding by Car to Duck Lake

A variety of landscapes means a variety of birds. Take a driving tour looking for birds beside mountain shrubbery, open farmland, a slow-moving channel, marshland, to the wide-open Duck Lake. Possible sightings of Lazuli Buntings, Raptors, Wood Ducks, Say’s Phoebes, Bullock’s Orioles, and Sandhill Cranes.

Photo credit: Dale Floer

Birding at Duck Lake

In 2002, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area was designated as a nationally Important Bird Area (IBA) because it regularly supports over 100,000 water birds during migration periods.  Join Julia to see how Duck Lake got its name!! 

This 1,500 hectare lake is an important destination in the migration of Tundra Swans and Greater White-fronted Geese, and a vast array of waterfowl. Birdwatchers marvel at the 6 species of grebes, large numbers of Great-blue herons, the rare Forster’s Terns – which breed no where else in BC.  During their spring migrations, thousands of waterfowl use the lake as a landing pad, stopping to rest and feed on their long journey.  Walk the dyke along the south end to see what you can find!  The festival weekend is always a great time of year for shorebirds!

Photo credit: Dale Floer

Williams Creek Falls

Williams Creek Falls is a very pleasant trail located at the west side of the valley north of Highway 3.

Some forested species that can be seen on this trail are Vaux Swift, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Western Tanager, and a variety of Warblers.

Trails for Creston Valley Society

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Photo credit: Remi Torrenta

Birding the Farmlands West of the Kootenay River

Take a drive to the benchlands of West Creston that will tour farmlands, meadows, timber, wet edges, and the beautiful Kootenay River with big vistas and great thermals. 

Possible species include Lewis Woodpeckers, Sandhill Cranes, Long-billed Curlews, Bobolinks, Western and Eastern Kingbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, hawks, falcons, and some other interesting surprises!  The Dodge Creek Forest Road should be good for viewing flycatchers, warblers, grosbeaks, vireos, and some interesting sparrows.

Photo credit: Betty Martin

Birding the Farmlands East of the Kootenay River

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

"Songster Challenge" at Dodge Creek Forest Road

Photo credit: Betty Martin (Song Sparrow)

Fox Tree, Mawson Lake, and Lister

Fox Tree Hill, Tanal Marsh, and Mawson Lake visits both forest and marsh for possible sightings of Common loons, waterfowl, hummingbirds, and a wide variety of song birds. There will be some easy hiking as we wander through the open forest at Fox Tree Hill. For the photographers in the group there will be many great photo opportunities.

Photo credit: Jean Wallace

Corn Creek Cottonwoods and Balancing Rock

Join Simone on an adventure out west!  Explore some great birding areas on the west side of our valley – starting up at the Balancing Rock trail for some songsters, walking to the north look-out tower of Corn Creek, and ending at the Summit Creek campground.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

Birding the Wildlife Area Trails

Exploring the dikes and trails through the expansive wetlands of Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area – Corn Creek Marsh. These trails are full of riparian-habitat songbirds, marsh birds and waterfowl. Your best chance at seeing a Sora!

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

Kayak to Leach Lake and Cormorant Colony

Photo credit: Eloise Carr

Birding the Wildlife Area Trails - Beginner

Welcome to Birding!  This trip is geared for anyone relatively new to birding. We’ll walk the paths around the Discovery Centre, with a focus on getting good looks at birds. We’ll answer your questions about binoculars, field guides, and good times and places to watch birds in the Kootenays. Families are welcome. We’ll bring a spotting scope that we’ll keep at a kid-friendly height.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

Birding at Duck Lake

Not an early bird??  This tour leaves when the other tours return!

Join Seth for a leisurely walk to see how Duck Lake got its name!! This 1,500-hectare lake is an important destination in the migration of a vast array of waterfowl. Birdwatchers marvel at the 6 species of grebes, large numbers of Great-blue Herons, the rare Forster’s Terns – which breed no where else in BC.  During their spring migrations, thousands of waterfowl use the lake as a landing pad, stopping to rest and feed on their long journey.  Walk the dyke along the south end to see what you can find!  The festival weekend is always a great time of year for shorebirds!

Your tour leader, Seth Benoit, is the recipient of the Young Birders award in 2024 with the BC Field Ornithologists!

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky (Red Knot)

Wildflower Wander up to Balancing Rock

An uphill climb to a little wetland with fantastic views of our valley!  Skunk cabbage, Ferns, and Devil’s Club galore.  Late spring flowers should also be along the trail such as Larkspur, Paintbrush, Shooting Star, Wild Ginger, Trillium, Spring Beauty, and Ragged Robin.  Some feathery friends might show up too!

Photo credit: Jesse Moreton (Indian Paintbrush))

Spread Your Wings! Drop-in activities and crafts for families!

Join us at the Discovery Centre to learn more about the wetlands and wildlife of the area.  A variety of displays, taxidermy mounts, skeletons, tracks, insect specimens, hands-on activities, kids’ area and more will keep everyone busy and entertained!  

Discovery Centre

Guided Canoe Trips

Join a Naturalist for a one-hour guided canoe tour to experience the sights and sounds of this internationally designated wetland.  Paddle the ponds and channels in voyageur canoes in search of wildlife and adventure!  From birds to turtles to bugs…you never know what you might encounter!

Tour #1     10:30 am to 12:00 am SOLD OUT
 
Tour #2     12:00 am to 1:30 pm
 
Tour #3     1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
 
Tour #4     3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Photo credit: Carla Ahern

World Migratory Day Luncheon

Raffle Table and “Loonie Tree”

"Galapagos Islands"

"Bird-Friendly Gardening"

Brewery Tour

Kootenay Meadows Organic Dairy Farm Tour

A cheese tasting with an explanation of the cheese-making and bottling process will be followed by a guided tour of the barns and a pasture walk to view the farm’s duck ponds and riparian area.

Kootenay Meadows

"Wander in the Woods" to Cottonwood Island

This tour in Canyon takes us along a relatively steep trail system through an 115 year old conifer forest and then onto the Cottonwood Island on the south side of the Goat River. The island consists important of riparian habitat including an old cottonwood forest which grew up after the ancient cedars were logged in the late 1800’s (huge, old cedar stumps are of interest). The island is part of a series of Crown lands along the lower Goat River which Yaqan nuʔkiy and the RDCK are working to preserve.

Along the way we may encounter Pacific Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Western Fly-catcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Brown Creeper, Pileated Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo and other more common forest species.

Photography Workshop

Lindsay Donald is an international award-winning wildlife photographer. Originally from Scotland, he has a degree in zoology and animal behavior from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. Lindsay started taking photographs to illustrate animal behavior for a research project in the late 1970’s. He has travelled the World in search of amazing wildlife images. In North America he travels from Florida to Alaska and makes frequent visits to Africa including Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe & Zambia. Lindsay has also taught wildlife photography techniques and led photographic workshops.

Tour of Swan Valley Honey

Amanda Goodman Lee and Jeff Lee are pleased to give a tour of their honey farm. The tour includes an observation hive where you can get up close to the bees, honey tasting and education on the life of honey bees. For those who want an added adventure a visit to the bee yard for those not allergic or phobic.  Bee suits are available on site.

What to wear if you want to visit the beehive: 

• Closed toed shoes or boots – NO SANDALS
• Long pants – NO SHORTS
• Short-sleeved shirts optional but long-sleeved preferred

Honey can be purchased at their sales office on location.

Honeybeezen.com

Weeds to the Rescue - Medicine from your backyard

Do you curse the dandelions, chickweed and plantain that grow in your garden? Do you spend hours trying to rid yourself of burdock and thistles? If you do, then you are ridding yourself of valuable healing plants. Join medical herbalist Rachel Beck as she helps you to learn about the nutritional and medicinal value of the weeds and common plants that grow in most backyards and how you can use them to create your own natural medicine chest.

Rachel Beck has been a medical herbalist for over 30 years and has taught herbalism for over 20 years. She is also co-owner of Tilia’s Botanicals, an herbal apothecary and gift shop in Creston BC.

Tilia Botanicals

Bird Brain Trivia

Test your knowledge with bird trivia questions to find out if you’re a professional-level Ornithologist or if you have more bird watching to do to brush up on your feathered knowledge. 

Compare your answers with your other bird-watching friends and find out who deserves the title of “THE ULTIMATE ORNITHOLOGISTS”!!

To claim this prestigious title and win a prize, submit your team name to:

Email:  info@crestonvalleybirds.ca  

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky

Go Batty!! Presentation and Count

Evening Sounds at Duck Lake

Come along on a sonic adventure through the wetlands as we listen for the bird songs of the night.  Thrushes, rails, snipe, owls – the night is alive with bird music.  

The Duck Lake dyke separates marsh from deeper waters, resulting in a diversity of bird species.  This is also where endangered Leopard Frogs have been released and thriving.

Bring your best listening ears, warm clothes, and a trusty flashlight.

Photo credit: Karen Whitford

Sunday, May 10

Tours Meet: Free Continental Breakfast

6:00 am to 6:30 am 

Meet your birding tour leader at Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19 Ave N

Donations and locally sourced items from:

Lark Coffee,  Sasquatch Coffee, Tigz Teas, Kootenay Meadows, the Golden Flour Bakery, Pealow’s Independent Grocer, and Save-On Foods will be available.

Tours will leave exactly at 6:30 am so don’t be late!!

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Kayak the West Creston Channels

Please bring your own kayak or canoe.  Rentals are also available from the Creston Valley Tour Co. with a 10% discount and free delivery!!  250-428-2336

Creston Valley Tour Co

Join Daryl on Frenchman’s Slough for a peaceful paddle on quiet waters lined with tall cottonwoods and thick shrubbery. Ideal habitat for a variety of water and land birds including orioles, kingbirds, kingfishers, raptors, and ducks.  If the water level in the channel is too low, the alternate tour will be driving Reclamation Road and walking up Dodge Creek Road.

Tour leader	Daryl Calder and Eloise Carr
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy kayaking in calm waters
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Where	Frenchman's Slough in West Creston  (Map)
Meet	West Creston Channels on Peterman Road and W Creston Road intersection
Note	Please meet Daryl at the launch site on Peterman Road.

Photo credit: Tanna Patterson

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Birding by Car to Duck Lake

A variety of landscapes means a variety of birds. Take a driving tour looking for birds beside mountain shrubbery, open farmland, a slow-moving channel, marshland, to the wide-open Duck Lake. Possible sightings of Lazuli Buntings, Raptors, Wood Ducks, Say’s Phoebes, Bullock’s Orioles, and Sandhill Cranes.

Tour leader	Sachi Snively
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy - driving with numerous stops
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Karen Whitford (Lazuli Bunting)

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Birding at Duck Lake

In 2002, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area was designated as a nationally Important Bird Area (IBA) because it regularly supports over 100,000 water birds during migration periods.  Join Aiva, with Nature BC’s Provincial IBA program, to see how Duck Lake got its name!! 

This 1,500 hectare lake is an important destination in the migration of Tundra Swans and Greater White-fronted Geese, and a vast array of waterfowl. Birdwatchers marvel at the 6 species of grebes, large numbers of Great-blue herons, the rare Forster’s Terns – which breed no where else in BC.  During their spring migrations, thousands of waterfowl use the lake as a landing pad, stopping to rest and feed on their long journey.  Walk the dyke along the south end to see what you can find!  The festival weekend is always a great time of year for shorebirds!

Tour leader	Julia Flesaker
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

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Birding the Wildlife Area Trails Sunday Tour

Exploring the dikes and trails through the expansive wetlands of Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. These trails are full of riparian-habitat songbirds, marsh birds and waterfowl. Your best chance at seeing a Sora!

Tour leader	Dr. Julia Zarankin
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Moderate walking, approx. 4 km
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Claude Rioux

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Birding the Wildlife Area Trails - Novice

Welcome to Birding!  This trip is geared for anyone relatively new to birding. We’ll walk the paths around the Wildlife Interpretation Centre, with a focus on getting good looks at birds. We’ll answer your questions about binoculars, field guides, and good times and places to watch birds in the Kootenays. Families are welcome. We’ll bring a spotting scope that we’ll keep at a kid-friendly height.

Tour leader	Carolee Colter/Sarah Fawcett
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Moderate walking, approx. 4 km
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

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Birding the Farmlands West of the Kootenay River

Take a drive to the benchlands of West Creston that will tour farmlands, meadows, timber, wet edges, and the beautiful Kootenay River with big vistas and great thermals. 

Possible species include Lewis Woodpeckers, Sandhill Cranes, Long-billed Curlews, Bobolinks, Western and Eastern Kingbirds, Mountain Bluebirds, hawks, falcons, and some other interesting surprises!  The Dodge Creek Forest Road should be good for viewing Lazuli Buntings, flycatchers, warblers, grosbeaks, vireos, and some interesting sparrows.

Tour leader	Gaelen Schnare
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy walking/driving
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky

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Birding the Farmlands East of the Kootenay River

Come along as we explore the flats, Creston’s wide open spaces. Keep an eye out for raptors, meadowlarks, songbirds, and maybe even a curlew as we meander through the expanses of farmland in the valley. This tour will include some short walks on flat terrain along with some car-birding. We will cover a variety of habitats with a focus on birds unique to the farmlands

 

Tour leader	Gary Davidson
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy walking/driving
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall 230B-19th Ave N  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

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"Mystery Morning" Tour: Where the Birds Are!

Tour leader	Lyle Grisedale
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy walking/driving
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Alyssa Hollyoake (Long-billed Curlew)

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Fox Tree Hill, Mawson Lake and Lister

Fox Tree Hill, Mawson Lake, and Lister visit both forest and marsh for possible sightings of Common loons, waterfowl, hummingbirds, and a wide variety of song birds. There will be some easy hiking as we wander through the open forest at Fox Tree Hill. For the photographers in the group there will be many great photo opportunities.

Tour leader	Aiva Noringseth
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Difficulty	Easy
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave S  (Map)
Note	Please meet your bird guide at the Rotacrest at 6am for a 6:30am departure.

Photo credit: Jean Wallace (Spotted Towhee)

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Corn Creek Cottonwoods and Balancing Rock

Tour leader	Simone Littledale
Time	6:30 am - 10:30 am, Sunday
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave N

Photo credit: Marc-Andre Beaucher

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Birding at Duck lake

Not an early bird??  This tour leaves when the other tours return!

Join Seth for a leisurely walk to see how Duck Lake got its name!! This 1,500-hectare lake is an important destination in the migration of a vast array of waterfowl. Birdwatchers marvel at the 6 species of grebes, large numbers of Great-blue Herons, the rare Forster’s Terns – which breed no where else in BC.  During their spring migrations, thousands of waterfowl use the lake as a landing pad, stopping to rest and feed on their long journey.  Walk the dyke along the south end to see what you can find!  The festival weekend is always a great time of year for shorebirds!

Tour leader	Seth Benoit
Time	10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Sunday
Cost	$25
Limit	10
Where	Rotacrest Hall 230B-19th Ave N  (Map)
Meet	Rotacrest Hall 230B-19th Ave N

Photo credit: Marc-Andre Beaucher

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Mother's Day Workshop

Mother’s Day Workshop!

 

Cost includes supplies!

Tour leader	Yellowbird Art Studio
Time	2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Sunday
Cost	$25
Limit	8
Note	Suggested age: 12+ years

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Slurp and Chirp at Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery

** No registration required **

Relax after a fantastic weekend of birding, enjoy a charcuterie board and a glass of award-winning wine at Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery. Possible bird sightings in the vineyard: Western Bluebirds, Lazuli Buntings, Western Meadowlarks, and Ring-necked Pheasants.

Menu:  Baillie-Grohman Menu

Time	2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Sunday
Cost	Food & Beverages at your expense
Where	Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery, 1140-27th Ave S, Creston  (Map)
Note	Registration is not required for this event.

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Monday, May 12

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Birding in Crawford Bay

At the north end of the largest bay on Kootenay Lake, near the small settlement of Crawford Bay, there is a little-known wetland area comprising 62 hectares, and a birder’s delight!

Two creeks flow into the shallow north end of the bay providing varied habitat for many species of birds.  It is an important site along the springtime flyway to see migrating Sandhill Cranes or Tundra Swans.

Tour leader	Sachi Snively and Lyle Grisedale
Time	9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Monday
Cost	$25
Limit	20 (2 groups)
Meet	Rotacrest Hall, 230B-19th Ave N  (Map)
Note	Meet at Rotacrest in Creston at 7:30 am. Tour starts in Crawford Bay at 9:00 am.

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