birding...

Alberta (grasslands and mountains)

Most visitors concentrate on the SW part of the province, because that is where Banff is, the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Dinosaur Provincial Park -- species of the grasslands and badlands, Banff & Jasper National Parks -- montane species, Beaverhill Lake -- wader migration , Wood Buffalo National Park -- in the NW corner. Boreal species, and nesting site of the Whooping Crane.

British Columbia (mountains, valleys, coastline)

The province with the largest species list in the country; most visits (and birding) occur in the SW corner, due to ease of access. Okanagan Valley -- birds of “southern” montane affinity, Manning Provincial Park -- western montane species, Reifel Refuge, & Iona/Sea Islands - waterfowl, waders, migration, Pacific Rim National Park.

Manitoba (birds of the arctic, boreal forest, prairie wetlands, and grassland)

This province still holds the largest single-day bird total for Canada, at 205 species, in early June. Oak Hammock Marsh, Riding Mountain National Park, Whiteshell Provincial Park, SW. Manitoba -- grassland species, Churchill -- the “accessible” arctic

New Brunswick (wader migration, boreal breeding species, salt marshes)

Grand Manan Island, Fundy National Park, Sackville Waterfowl Park, Kouchibouguac National Park, Isle Miscou, Cape Tormentine National Wildlife Area.

Newfoundland & Labrador (Seabird colonies, Long Range Mountains, accessible arctic/alpine habitats)

East Coast: Avalon Peninsula, Cape St. Mary’s National Wildlife Refuge (gannets, kittiwakes, alcids); Witless Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Terra Nova National Park. West Coast: Codroy Valley, Gros Morne National Park, L’anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Labrador: Pinware River mouth.

Northwest Territories (tundra, boreal forest, arctic coast)

Accessible by road to Fort Smith and Yellowknife via Alberta, and to Inuvik via the Dempster Highway from Whitehorse. And accessible by air. Quite remote, and expensive. Yellowknife area. Nahanni National Park (access by guided outfitter recommended). Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk areas. Polar Bear Pass.

Nova Scotia (Boreal Forest birds, salt marsh species)

...autumn wader migration through the Bay of Fundy, best vagrant traps in Canada -- second-smallest province in Canada, but the third-largest species list, with only 30 active birders. Also autumn colours, and world’s highest tides. Cape Breton Highlands National Park -- breeding birds, Cape Sable Island -- migrant/vagrant trap, Brier Island -- migrant trap, and base for seabird and whale-watching trips, Kejimkujik National Park -- breeding birds. Hartlen Point (in Halifax) -- vagrant trap, Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary -- breeding marsh birds, Bay of Fundy -- seabirds, whales, wader migration, Pictou Harbour -- winter waterfowl and gulls.

Nunavut (tundra, arctic coast)

Canada’s newest territory; access by air only. Auyittuq National Park (Baffin Island); Ellesmere Island National Park.

Ontario (the largest province in Canada, so offering a little bit of everything)

Southern Ontario: Point Pelee National Park -- migration, Carolinian breeding species, Prince Edward Point Wildlife Area - migration, Algonquin Provincial Park -- “accessible” boreal breeding species, Presque’isle Provincial Park - migration, Niagara River -- gulls in late autumn. Northern Ontario: Pukaskwa National Park -- boreal breeding species, Rainy River area -- species with “western” affiliations, Moosonee -- species with “arctic” affiliations.

Prince Edward Island (wader migration, idyllic pastoral landscape -- the smallest Canadian province)

Prince Edward Island National Park, East Point.

Quebec (breeding birds, seabird colonies, whale watching)

One of the largest provinces in Canada, French-speaking, and with its vast northern areas difficult to access, except for roads to the Great Whale hydro project, and to Goose Bay, Labrador. Isle Bonaventure -- seabird colony, Gaspé Peninsula -- boreal forest, and mountains, Saguenay Provincial Park and National Marine Park -- whales and seabirds, Cap Tormentine -- migration (200,000+ Snow Geese in October); La Mauricie National Park -- boreal forest.

Saskatchewan (grassland birds, prairie wetlands, boreal forest, and birds of the Rocky Mountain foothills)

An 'undiscovered' gem. Incredible concentrations of birds during spring and autumn migration, and a superb diversity of breeding species. Grasslands National Park -- birds of the prairie, Cypress Hills Provincial Park -- an outlier of the Rocky Mountain foothills, with mountain species, The Great Sand Hills, Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Prince Albert National Park -- Boreal species, eight breeding owls, mammal watching par excellence.

Yukon Territory (mountains, arctic coast)

Of the three northern territories, the easiest to access. The Alaska highway links Alberta with Alaska, passing through the Yukon, and the Dempster highway goes north from Whitehorse to the Arctic coast in the Northwest Territories. The Whitehorse area, Kluane National Park - mountains.

Bird Studies Canada

Website

Bird Studies Canada is recognized nation-wide as a leading and respected not-for-profit conservation organization dedicated to advancing the understanding, appreciation and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, in Canada and elsewhere, through studies that engage the skills, enthusiasm and support of its members, volunteers, staff and the interested public.

Birds of the World

Website

Whilst this site is based in Quebec and has much for the Quebec birder it is also one of the world’s top sites for linking to other birds and birding websites… like Fatbirder through interactive maps. An excellent site!

Endangered species in Canada

Website

The highest rates of species extinction are occurring not in Canada, but in tropical rain forests that are being rapidly cleared. However, the rate of species extinction is high in Canada, as well...

Environment Canada

Website

Everything you could possibly want to know about the environment from a Canadian perspective. The site is in French & English.

Green Birding

Website

GreenBirding is caring for the habitats that birds live in close to our homes so that we can enjoy them longer. It encourages us to become experts on the wildlife close to where we live, on our patches. It does not involve lengthy carbon-emitting car trips hunting rarities. It just makes sense. Please help spread this idea in the birding community by registering your name - thank you...

Migratory Birds

Website

The Canadian Bird Trends Database is a retrieval system that provides the user with information on Canadian bird species including: population trends, range distribution, and national conservation designations. Population trends are derived from Canadian Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data and are updated on an annual basis. For species or eco-zones for which BBS data are insufficient for statistical analysis, no trends are presented.

Nature Sounds.ca

Website

Nature Sounds.ca is dedicated to sharing the sounds and experiences of the woods and forests of northeastern North America. When recording, meticulous care is taken to exclude man-made sounds, or the sounds of domestic animals. A pristine audio experience of wilderness is the result...

Pelagics - New England Seabirds

Website

To promote pelagic birding and the conservation of seabirds in New England. Natural history of the seabirds and something about the whales and dolphins. Where to see pelagic birds from land and how to take a pelagic trip. Visiting seabird colonies in Maine, Nova Scotia, eastern Canada and Newfoundland. Hints for taking your first pelagic trip. Reports of birds seen. Not for profit, no sales, no advertising.

The Birds of North America Online

Website

Access to the undoubtedly excellent site is, unfortunately, by annual subscription, currently $40 for individuals...

Tom Hince's World of Birds

Website

Hi and welcome to my World of Birds homepage. If you like birds, or would like to learn about them, you've come to the right place. Our bird sanctuary is full of all kinds of species. Each bird is presented with an image, a description, and a birdcall. Photographs and cameos of many North American birds...

Watching Birds in Canada

Website

We add greatly to our growing Canadian bird list here as nuthatches, chickadees, hummingbirds, and grosbeaks all live within a stones-throw of the honey house. We also watch a sapsucker boldly girdling their newly planted, burgeoning fruit trees. The paradox of protection! The sapsucker finally leaves, as do we, with our friends best wishes for the journey and a pail of honey for the road...