Trip Report by Joanna Chin

Spring Migration Magic at Queen Elizabeth Park was a collaborative event between Nature Vancouver and Birds Canada as part of the Vancouver Bird Celebration and Global Big Day.

Trip leaders included Yousif Attia, Neill Vanhinsberg, and Joanna Chin. The walk began with a land acknowledgement, followed by an introduction from Yousif about Global Big Day, volunteer monitoring, and the importance of contributing observations to eBird. Neill enriched the walk by sharing field marks and identification tips from a field guide as birds were encountered along the route. Yousif also had a handy green laser pointer, which made it much easier for participants to locate birds in the trees and follow along during sightings.

The morning started off relatively slow, but as temperatures warmed, bird activity increased noticeably. Vocalizations intensified through the middle and latter portions of the walk, giving participants opportunities to practice listening as an important birding skill. Early on, Yousif demonstrated the value of a “standing survey” — pausing to first listen carefully to what birds are present before moving on. Participants were also encouraged to watch the skies for overhead movement, leading to good looks at Double-crested Cormorants and Glaucous-winged Gulls flying above the park.

One of the highlights of the morning was an Olive-sided Flycatcher perched prominently on a bare treetop branch. With a spotting scope set up, most participants were able to enjoy prolonged and excellent views. The bird remained remarkably still for an extended period, likely waiting for larger flying insects to pass by before making short feeding sallies. The exposed perch offered a perfect opportunity to observe the species’ characteristic upright posture and patient hunting behavior.

The most exciting activity came near the end of the walk around the Love Locks sculpture area, where a wave of warbler activity moved through the trees. Numerous Wilson’s Warblers were seen well, many in plain sight and actively vocalizing. Participants also enjoyed good looks at Townsend’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warbler as the mixed flock foraged through the canopy and midstory. The concentration of warblers in one area created an exciting finale to the morning and offered wonderful opportunities to compare plumage, behavior, and songs between species.

Overall, the event highlighted how urban parks can become vibrant migratory stopover habitats during spring migration, while also demonstrating the importance of careful observation, listening, and volunteer monitoring participation through eBird.