Answer: A twitcher or a birder!
One of the unintended benefits of working from home during the pandemic was becoming acquainted with the abundance of birds in Prince George. Most of us are aware of the usual suspects such as chickadees and crows, but if you really slow down and watch, more interesting birds begin to emerge, (like the red-breasted sapsucker), turning you into an unintentional birdwatching enthusiast!
Prince George is located on the Pacific Flyway (the natural bird migration path), so depending on the season, sightings of rare species (such as the Rose-breasted Grosbeak) can add to the excitement . My favourite time of year is when the hummingbirds return, searching for the feeder and dive bombing each other, signifying a change of season.
Some good birding locations close to the city include Cottonwood Island Park, Hudson’s Bay Wetland, Forests for the World, Cranbrook Hill Greenway, LC Gunn Trail, Moore’s Meadow and McMillian Creek Regional Park. The area is rich in ecosystem diversity including forests, rivers & lakes, wetlands, and meadows, which lends itself to a wide opportunity to spot ducks, geese, grouse and birds of prey, to name a few. You might get lucky and see local volunteers feeding the ducks or the chickadees in the winter when temperatures get frigid in Cottonwood Island Park.
Almost 300 different bird species have reported being sighted in Prince George, but the species I’m always excited to see are Pileated Woodpeckers and Snowy Owls. The large birds are extremely intelligent, magnificent and absolutely impressive to watch.
Here is a list of a few of the most common species to get you started in the Prince George region:
- Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
- Red-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta canadensis)
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
- Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
- Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
- Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
- Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
- American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Prince George is part of the BC Bird Trail which provides seasonal itineraries, tips and facts about where and how to spot birds during each season.
If you spot a bird and you need help identifying it, there are many resources to guide you. For example the All About Birds or eBird websites or the Merlin App can assist with descriptions and even identify bird song.
Happy birding!
