Creston Valley Birds

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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 visitors 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!!Some years, HERMIT THRUSHES will linger into October in our high country. So drive up some of the ...
10/18/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!

Some years, HERMIT THRUSHES will linger into October in our high country. So drive up some of the forest service roads in search of one! They are often perched low in coniferous trees when startled from the ground. This thrush is recognized with a distinct eye-ring and bold spots on the breast. They will nervously flicker their wings and move their tail up and then slowly down more often than other thrushes.

Photo credit: Seth Benoit

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!The best chance to see WILD TURKEYS is in late autumn through to winter when flocks roam in rural ar...
10/11/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

The best chance to see WILD TURKEYS is in late autumn through to winter when flocks roam in rural areas. They favour forests, agricultural fields, cattle pens especially manure piles, and bird feeding stations.

Wild Turkeys arrived in the Creston Valley during the 60's when they crossed the international border.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo credits: Betty Martin

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!AMERICAN PIPITS can been seen during their fall migration throughout the Kootenay Flats and open mou...
10/04/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

AMERICAN PIPITS can been seen during their fall migration throughout the Kootenay Flats and open mountainous areas. I saw a flock perched on utility wires on Reclamation Road this week. They forage on farmlands especially freshly sown, stubble, mowed, tilled or ploughed fields at this time of the year.

With its long legs, it is seen walking upright with tail bobbing!

Photo credit: Paul Prappas

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!Thousands of ducks are passing through our valley as they head south, and many can be seen at Duck ...
09/27/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!

Thousands of ducks are passing through our valley as they head south, and many can be seen at Duck Lake.

Yesterday, approximately 650 American Wigeons were recorded. They are now showing their fall plumage: nonbreeding males have reddish-brown bodies, brown heads with a dark smudge around the eyes, and a distinctive white wing patch.

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE WESTERN SCREECH OWLS have been heard lately in our valley!!! Use your ears at dusk and into the nig...
09/20/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE

WESTERN SCREECH OWLS have been heard lately in our valley!!!

Use your ears at dusk and into the night to find them. Listen for the "bouncing ball" song that is a series of 5-9 whistled hoots speeding up to sound like a ping-pong ball towards the end.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Screech-Owl/sounds

These owls roost next to conifer trunks making them well camouflaged in our dark forests.

Photo credit: Kootenay Wilderness

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!SAVANNAH SPARROWS are everywhere right now!!! It's definitely their peak autumn movement time with...
09/13/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!

SAVANNAH SPARROWS are everywhere right now!!! It's definitely their peak autumn movement time with flocks of hundreds seen along grassy roadsides, perched on fences, wires, and feeding on plant seeds.

This sparrow has fine streaks on its white belly, a whitish median crown-stripe, and yellow tinge on the lores (tiny feathers between the eye and bill).

Photo credit: Tammy Bradford

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!This week, three 'very rare' autumn migrants were seen passing through our valley as they head south...
09/06/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

This week, three 'very rare' autumn migrants were seen passing through our valley as they head southwards - SWAINSON'S HAWKS!! Two adults and one juvenile were observed together on Reclamation Road as they were hunting on the agricultural fields for rodents and insects.

Look for a dark buteo with a white face and yellow cere. The juvenile has a heavily streaked breast. They are either perched on a post, flying or walking on the fields.

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky

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

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230B-19 Avenue N
Creston, BC
V0B1G5

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