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George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
9 reviews in English
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Review from Ellen L.
1/20/2012
Sometimes one needs to stop and smell the.... birds?!?! Okay fine, it's more like spot the birds, or feed the ducks.
This is among my favourite off-the-beaten-path places in the GVA. Living in a noisy urbanized concrete mass (and Vancouver isn't even all that bad!), I don't feel very in tune with nature. To hell with the those pesky birds making a ruckus when I'm trying to catch some extra weekend zzzzz, right? Here, I'm eagerly trying to catch a glimpse of bird xyz (sorry, not a bird scientist...) and being surrounded by their sounds. Things can get real exciting! One time, a crane attacked my Dad. -__-
In October/November-ish, the snow geese come to town. Check out the sanctuary's website for current updates.
The trails are easy to walk on. An peaceful afternoon of gentle scenic strolling and photo ops of you feeding the duckies (and perhaps an adventure with the cranes), yes please!
Adult admission is now $5. You can also purchase a bag of feed for a buck or two. -
Review from Ly H.
7/26/2011
This place is one of the most amazingly peaceful spots on earth and it's only a 20 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
In the four hours that my friend, her baby, and I meandered through the trails we saw the following creatures that we could identify and countless more that we could not:
-mallard adolescent ducks
-adolescent eagle
-mink
-sandpipers
-Canadian geese
-red tipped black birds
-blue herons
-sandhill cranes
-house sparrows
-dragon flies
Definitely bring lunch, binoculars, a birding book, and a sense of wonder.
Bonus: On the drive back, stop by any of the small farms for fresh produce and eggs. -
Review from Louise G.
An Oasis of Ornithology; an Asylum of Aviaries.
One might even call it a Sanctuary...oh wait... they did.
A very relaxing and romantic place to visit. Lots of trails to follow around the various areas. Free kissing booths, oh, wait, those are bird blinds.
Take note the various suggestions for being a responsible visitor to this park:
- only feed the animals the seed purchased at the gate
- don't pick berries or anything else while in the sanctuary
- close the doors and windows when you leave the blinds.
Bring a friend.
Note: It's always a good idea to keep some seed in your pocket in case the cranes decide to hold you up. There's something about these cranes which will remind you uncomfortably of the velociraptors in "Jurassic Park"!Listed in: Healthier Choices, OUT OF TOWN
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Review from Alicyn C.
Birds, Birds, Birds. After weeks of wanting to go to the Sanctuary I finally made it there today on a beautiful, chilly December day. It was perfect even if my hands froze a little while taking photos. This park is absolutely my new favorite place to wander trails and look at all the nature and scenery. We wandered for hours without a dull moment.
Ducks chasing you down for bird seed. FUN! Yes, you are actually allowed to feed the birds (bird seed) at the sanctuary. I am not a bird expert by any means but this sanctuary made me want to learn more about them. Today we ended up seeing an eagle, hawks, an owl, many, many mallard ducks, snow geese, chickadees, sandpipers, black-crowned night herons, sandhill cranes, and a lot of red-winged black birds.
Prices have gone up since previously stated in earlier reviews. Prices are now:
Adults - $5
Children-(2-14 yrs) - $3
Seniors (60 yrs+) - $3
Single Yearly Membership - $25
Family Yearly Membership - $50
Life Membership - $500
We initially just bought day passes but after enjoying our day out in the sanctuary we got back to the gift shop and asked if we could upgrade and purchase yearly passes. There was no problem with that, the clerk deducted our daily fee from the yearly membership.
Can't wait for my next trip out to see all the birds and take photos.Listed in: Birds, Birds, Birds
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Review from Roanna Z.
12/30/2009 3 photos
This place is for the birds !
Seriously. And birds you will see.
Thousands of Snow Geese migrate to the area. See pix.
An astounding scene to behold for sure. Worth the drive and don't forget your camera and some binoculars! -and perhaps some lunch :-)Listed in: "Wanna get outta Dodge"?, Mountain hikes and easy…
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Review from Rhiannon A.
8/26/2011
We even go there in summer when only the 'usual suspects' (aka mallards) are around. Bring sunflower seeds so that the chickadees can eat out of your hand. Bring binoculars if you want to identify the water birds in the ponds.
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Review from David L.
3/28/2010
The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is situated on Westham Island in Delta B.C. There is free parking and once you've arrived in the area, you'll see lots of ducks around the parking area. Let the stench begin... Oh yeah, brace yourself. This place smells once you've arrive at the parking area. There is a fee for this bird sanctuary.
Adults- $4
Children-(2-14 yrs)- $2
Seniors (60 yrs+)- $2
Well, I paid my fee and I bought my camera. While walking on the trails, I realized that this place is really a smelly place to be with little to see other than ducks you'll see at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park or Queen Elizabeth Park duck ponds. There are very little signs to no signs for information on the trail and this bird santuary looks like some sort of deserted place in no man's land. There are no washrooms on the trails which is also inconvient.
Ironically, I saw more interesting birds outside the bird santuary. About 2 km away from the bird santuary while driving home, I spotted thousands and thousands of snow geese on a farm land. It was a field of white and hundreds of snow geese were flying and landing in the field. So, yep, sometimes you'll see more interesting things when you don't pay an entrance fee.
Note: I ended up washing my new Nautica jacket when I got home because of the stench from the bird sancutary. My jacket became destroyed after the first wash. Don't wear your nice clothes when you visit George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. -
Review from Rich B.
1/12/2010 3 photos
The Reifel Bird Sanctuary is not just about migratory birds - it's great all year round.Ten things I love about taking the kids here:
1. There are hundreds of ducks to feed all year round
2. The chickadees will eat seed out of your hands
3. The views across the Georgia Straight from the top of the observation tower
4. The fact that the weather's often dry and sunny there even when it's raining in Vancouver
5. Seeing fields full of Snow Geese during migration season
6. Sitting in one of the hides drinking hot chocolate out of a thermos
7. Watching eagles soar over the reed banks
8. Having a chat with the red-winged blackbirds
9. Freaking out the kids by surreptitiously throwing seeds behind them as they walk so the ducks keep following them
10. Giving the Sandhill Cranes a wide berth because they're vicious sods.
And at less than $50 a year for an annual membership, it's just about the best value in the Lower Mainland.Listed in: Rich B's guide to practical…
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Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
10/21/2008 1 photo
The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is located in a wetlands environment at the mouth of the Fraser River on Westham Island. It's an ideal spot for watching the more than 250 species of migratory birds including herons, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, swans, geese and ducks, that fly and flock throughout the park. In November, the Snow Goose Festival is held as hundreds of birds stop for a rest on their long journey south.
