A Guide to Birding with True Key Hotels & Resorts
With properties all over British Columbia, True Key Hotels & Resorts are fortunate to have access to some of the most beautiful and pristine wildlife areas in the world. From the Columbia Valley to Vancouver Island, True Key properties are situated near world-class opportunities to spot wildlife including hundreds of species of birds.
Check out some of those opportunities below and book your next birding holiday at truekeyhotelsandresorts.com.
Image Courtesy of the BC Bird Trail
Columbia Valley
The Columbia Valley is home to one of Canada’s largest wetlands, the Columbia Wetlands. Spanning 180 kilometers, the Columbia Wetlands run alongside the Columbia River and act as a habitat for mammals, insects, rodents, fish, and more than 260 species of birds. Traditional lands to the Ktunaxa, Okanagan and Shuswap Peoples, the Columbia Wetland was designated a protected space in 1996 by the Canadian Wildlife Service and today enjoys a vibrant array of plants and wildlife species.
Radium Hot Springs offers bountiful wetlands around the Wilmer National Wildlife Area with an amazing mix of birds from the Pacific Flyway, as well as those found more in the Rockies and across the Prairies. Entering the village through the iconic Sinclair Canyon presents you with pristine views and a sense of adventure coupled with relaxation.
Image Courtesy of the BC Bird Trail
Bighorn Meadows Resort resides amid the Kootenay National Park and provides birders with the perfect home-away-from-home to act as a jumping-off point for all birding adventures. Our vacation rentals are the perfect alternative to a hotel and give you access to resort amenities at an affordable price. Whether it’s a guest room suite, or a 1,2, or 3 bedroom accommodation fully equipped with a gourmet kitchen, spacious living area, BBQ, washer/dryer, and private bedrooms, Bighorn Meadows is the perfect space for your birding trip.
While in the area you can take part in the Wings Over The Rockies Festival held May 9-15.
“The Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival conjures up an image of all that is great about Canada, spectacular scenery, abundant nature, and a warm, human spirit of getting together in a worthy cause,” said Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival patron, world-famous wildlife artist and environmentalist, Robert Batemen. “The continuous wetlands along the river are perfect as breeding areas and staging places for a significant number of bird species. This and the many other habitats provide a variety of ecosystems which will bring joy to any naturalist.”
Vancouver Island
Situated on the Pacific Flyway, British Columbia is home to some of North America’s best birdwatching opportunities. The BC Bird Trail highlights those opportunities and has three different itineraries for Central Vancouver Island.
Central Vancouver Island is home to small-town charm and a slower paced lifestyle that provides ample opportunity to relax and enjoy farm-fresh dining, locally-roasted coffee and of course, birding opportunities that explore the region’s diverse areas such as Parksville, which is home to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region with some of the most breathtaking natural vistas on Vancouver Island.
Image Courtesy of the BC Bird Trail
Some of the species of birds you may fight right now on Vancouver Island include:
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Spotted Towhee
- American Robin
- American Crow
- Townsend’s Solitaire
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
- And more!
Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort is a year-round Vancouver Island destination located on 10.2 acres in Parksville. Our modern condo-style vacation rentals offer a place to relax and enjoy the natural park-like setting we are surrounded by.
Set up your next birding holiday in a 1,2, or 3 bedroom suite with features that include top quality furnishings, soaker tubs, open and spacious kitchens with granite countertops, washer & dryer and stainless steel appliances. Or upgrade to a waterfront villa and wake up to the fresh ocean breeze and incredible views of Georgia Strait.
Harrison Hot Springs
Harrison Hot Springs is home to Harrison Lake and the Coast Mountains offering dynamic outdoor adventure opportunities and a unique habitat for migratory birds.
Not just the home of migratory waterfowl, this area routinely welcomes more than 200 distinct species every year. Current bird species include White-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinch, House Finch and many more.
Additionally, every November and December the Fraser Valley hosts hundreds, even thousands, of bald eagles, as spawning Salmon and migrating bald eagles make for the largest over-wintering population of bald eagles. In fact, Harrison Mills is the world’s bald eagle capital!
Image Courtesy of Shayne Kaye
Centrally located in Harrison Hot Springs, the Harrison Beach Hotel is a boutique-style hotel that is an ideal home base for any traveller. Located across the street from Harrison Lake, each luxurious suite features free Wi-Fi, central AC, comfortable beds and fully equipped kitchenettes. We even offer pet-friendly suites so you can bring along your best-friend.
No matter what stretch of the BC Bird Trail you are on, True Key offers you accommodations that provide the perfect home-base for your birding adventures. Contact us today to start planning your getaway.
