Creston Valley Birds

Creston Valley Birds Welcome to the Creston Valley Bird Festival page!

The festival takes place every second weekend in May
to coincide with World Migratory Bird Day
It's "Where the Birds Are"! The Creston Valley is a vital birdwatching site and staging area for migratory birds with over three hundred species of birds recorded. The Creston Valley Bird Fest will celebrate this incredible diversity in an environmentally sensitive manner, inviting residents and visit

ors to expand their interest in the world of birds. The festival shall offer a variety of birdwatching activities guided by field experts, as well as photography and art displays and bird-oriented workshops.

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE There have been a lot of PINE SISKINS at my birdfeeder the last few weeks enjoying the sunflower see...
08/30/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE

There have been a lot of PINE SISKINS at my birdfeeder the last few weeks enjoying the sunflower seeds. They will also search out seed cones from our mixed coniferous forests. Flocks can be noticeable on roadways where they pick up grit and salt.

It is important to use a correct bird feeder as they are the most affected species for an outbreak of salmonellosis. For more information on how to keep your feeder birds healthy, please see this article from Birds Canada:

https://www.birdscanada.org/you-can-help/keeping-feeder-birds-healthy

Photo credit: Pixabay

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!Up to 100 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen on Duck Lake this week. They are starting their south...
08/23/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!

Up to 100 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen on Duck Lake this week. They are starting their southward migration towards California and central America.

Sometimes, large groups gather and coordinate their swimming to drive schooling fish toward the shallows where they can then easily scoop up these corralled fish from the water.

Pelicans can eat approximately 1kg of fish daily and compete with our other fish-eating birds in our valley.

Photo credit: Seth Benoit

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!Numerous shorebirds were seen at the south end of Kootenay Lake this week by Gaelen Schnare includ...
08/16/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!

Numerous shorebirds were seen at the south end of Kootenay Lake this week by Gaelen Schnare including 6 species of sandpipers (Least, Baird's, Western, Semipalmated, Spotted, and Stilt), Red-necked Phalaropes, Western Snipes, Long-billed Dowitchers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS as seen in this picture!!!

During their southbound migration, Greater Yellowlegs will visit our wetlands throughout the valley such as Kootenay Lake, Duck Lake, Leach Lake, and Corn Creek Marsh. They will also stop to feed in flooded fields and cattle pastures. These shorebirds are heading off to South America with adult birds leaving first and their young following 4-6 weeks later.

Photo credit: Gaelen Schnare

Kootenay Lake - East Shore Daily Happenings
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were first seen in the valley in 1982 when they were considered rare. Sin...
08/09/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were first seen in the valley in 1982 when they were considered rare. Since 2004, there has been a significant increase in the population as they became a regular breeding species (Linda Van Damme 2020). They have taken over the former heron rookery on Duck Lake Road and other cottonwoods along the Kootenay River and the shores of Kootenay Lake. Now larger flocks are common as they fly over to aquatic habitats on their fishing expeditions!

Photo credit: Brian Benoit

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!There are a few MERLINS seen around the valley lately! August is the season that shows the highes...
08/02/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!

There are a few MERLINS seen around the valley lately! August is the season that shows the highest number of records when juveniles enhance the population of adults, according to Linda Van Damme (2020). Look for them on our grain elevator, Reclamation Road, and the CVWMA.

This fierce, small, very fast falcon will will use surprise attacks to capture birds and insects in midair. They attack at high speed, horizontally or even from below, chasing the prey upwards until they get tired. Merlin pairs have been seen teaming up to hunt large flocks where one Merlin flushes the flock by attacking from below; the other comes in moments later to take advantage of the confusion.

Photo credits: Betty Martin

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!There are so many PIED-BILL GREBES at Duck Lake right now as family groups are visible after a less ...
07/26/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

There are so many PIED-BILL GREBES at Duck Lake right now as family groups are visible after a less conspicuous nesting season. Flightless young follow the parents as they feed on aquatic insects, small fish, and crustaceans.

Their song is very loud and vibrant with throaty barks that carry far into the marsh. It is exciting to hear so many at once!

Photo credit: Pixabay

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!CHIPPING SPARROWS prefer open woods and urbanized areas. They forage on the ground for seeds, insec...
07/19/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

CHIPPING SPARROWS prefer open woods and urbanized areas. They forage on the ground for seeds, insects, and fruit.

Their song is a long mechanical trill on one pitch that sounds like a sewing machine! Call is a sharp "chip"!

Breeding males at this time of year sport a chestnut cap, a broad white supercilium and a black line through the eye.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!The BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD is at the northern limit of its breeding range in NA with Creston bei...
07/12/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

The BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD is at the northern limit of its breeding range in NA with Creston being one of the preeminent locations in the province to find it! (according to Linda Van Damme 2020). Look for them at yard feeders especially at dusk when feeding frenzies are common.

Photo credit: Pixabay

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE EASTERN KINGBIRDS are very active right now in defending their nests. There are territorial dispute...
07/05/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE

EASTERN KINGBIRDS are very active right now in defending their nests. There are territorial disputes between nesting pairs and they can also be seen aggressively defending their nest by chasing predators such as ravens, hawks, magpies, starlings, even humans who come too near to the nest. Young birds will be leaving their bulky, untidy nests soon.

These birds are common throughout our wetlands, along the Kootenay River, and wide drainage ditches.

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!It's no surprise that you can find a WILLOW FLYCATCHER preferring willows but also dogwood, hawthorn...
06/28/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

It's no surprise that you can find a WILLOW FLYCATCHER preferring willows but also dogwood, hawthorn, and other thickets adjacent to creeks, ditches, and sloughs. Their characteristic "fitz-bew" song is often given on an exposed perch.

Nest building is happening right now in well-concealed shrubs. Clutch size is 1-4 eggs with Brown-headed Cowbirds sometimes adding their eggs to the nest.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

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230B-19 Avenue N
Creston, BC
V0B1G5

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