As spring blooms across Greater Victoria, British Columbia, the region comes alive with wildlife activity, with opportunities to see the spectacular annual bird migrations and enjoy year-round whale watching excursions.
Victoria’s natural beauty and rare ecosystems peak in spring, offering experiences that range from the vibrant colours of migrating birds to the sight of orcas gliding through the Juan de Fuca Strait.
May heralds the arrival of shorebirds embarking on their spring migration through Esquimalt Lagoon, a designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Avian visitors to the estuary include the olive-sided flycatcher, western wood-pewee, willow flycatcher, vaux’s swift, the common nighthawk, Pacific-slope flycatcher and sea ducks making their journey northward to their breeding grounds.
For more wildlife, Greater Victoria’s coastal waters are home to orcas, humpback whales, and gray whales, as well as a variety of marine birds and other ocean wildlife.
Companies such as Prince of Whales Tours, SpringTide Whale Watching, Eagle Wing Tours and Orca Spirit Adventures offer whale-watching tours, while for a deeper understanding of the local marine ecosystem, the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea has interactive exhibits dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the Salish Sea Bioregion.
The region’s lush landscapes provide opportunities for immersive nature walks. Travellers can explore diverse ecosystems along the East Sooke Park trails, the rugged coastline of Juan de Fuca Marine Trail or the elevated views at the Malahat SkyWlk. These areas also lend themselves to prime spots for observing migratory birds in their natural habitats against the backdrop of Victoria’s quaint coastal scenery.
