A Guide to Finding Other Birders

From out of town, out of province, or new to bird-watching? To maximise your birding success, think about connecting with a local birder or birding group!

How to meet your friendly neighbourhood birder

Check eBird (ebird.org) — the free Cornell Lab bird database is one of the most effective tools for finding active local birders. Browse local hotspots to see where birds have been recently reported — the times of recent observations are a useful clue about when a location is actively birded, so consider visiting around that time. Read trip notes left by local contributors, and explore the Explore map to see where birding activity is concentrated. eBird also lists local birding events in some regions.
Join a local or regional birding group on Facebook — several active groups exist, including BC Rare Bird Alerts and regional groups for the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. These groups are a great way to find out what is being seen recently and to ask local birders for advice.
Search for birding groups on WhatsApp — use keywords like “birds,” “birding,” “nature,” combined with a region or city name. Victoria Birds is one group open to the public. You can also join the BC Birds Discord server to connect with birders across the province.
Try Birding Pals (birdingpal.org) — a web service that can help you find a birder in your home town or at your destination.

Kevin Slagboom birding in the field — *Getting out in the field is a great way to meet fellow birders.*

Join a nature or birding club in your area — many regions around BC have active nature or natural history clubs that host regular field trips and birding walks. BC Nature lists a directory of clubs and societies across the province. Nature Vancouver and Nature Victoria are two well-established examples, both publishing field trip calendars on their websites. Visiting birders are generally welcome to join — contact the field trip leader first to confirm you are welcome to participate.
Connect with the Special Bird Service Society — a BC not-for-profit dedicated to making birding and nature more accessible to people of colour and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. They run guided birding walks, educational workshops, and community events across the province.
Visit a banding station if one operates in your area. Banding stations are a great place to meet passionate birders and see birds up close. BC has several active stations — Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Greater Victoria, Mackenzie Nature Observatory, Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory, Iona Island Bird Observatory (Vancouver), and Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory.
Contact nature centres at your destination to ask whether they are offering walks or outings. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary in Victoria and Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver almost always have something happening. Some local nature supply stores also organise regular birding walks — contact a shop near you to find out. A little research will likely reward you with a unique outing.
Visit well-known birding locations during prime hours — 7–9 am on weekends in summer, and 9 am–noon in winter, is when most birders are active. A pair of binoculars or a spotting scope are the tell-tale field marks of a birder. Most knowledgeable birders can be found frequenting quiet paths or overlooks, peering up into a tree or out across a body of water. Approach quietly so as not to disturb what they may be observing, and greet them with a friendly “hello.” Many birders enjoy company in the field — two pairs of eyes are better than one.
Search for birding tours and guides available for hire. A dedicated birding guide will get you to your target species while sharing their local knowledge of birds and habitat. Check references and gauge their involvement in the local birding community — a guide who participates in birding activities locally is usually a strong choice. If they are good, and most are, you are in for a real treat.

Good luck in your search for a local birder!

Last updated: May 2026