Wildlife Viewing Tour Operators in British Columbia

Golden Eagles, though not common, occur in the region

Along the crest of the long sandstone spine of Galiano Island, the Bodega Ridge Trail loops through a rare coastal habitat of Douglas fir, hairy manzanita, and Garry oak. Following the 328-m ridge, the first half of the trail encompasses a panorama that includes the Trincomali Channel, the hilly profile of Saltspring Island, and the shadowy outline of the mountains of Vancouver Island. In contrast, the second half of the trail loops beneath the shade of tall Douglas firs, along paths and old logging roads heavily overgrown with hip-high salal, nettles, and brambles. Saved by the determination of the island's permanent residents, the trail and the 150 ha Bodega Ridge Nature Preserve - with its nesting bald eagles and peregrine falcons, and a separate 8-km section along the shore - could have been lost in perpetuity.

However, in July 1995, the federal and provincial governments, together with The Nature Conservancy of Canada, purchased the land, and with the help of the newly established Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy agreement, the preserve has been saved.

The well-used trail starts at the faded Bodega Ridge Nature Trail sign at the end of Cottage Way. Cottage Way is off Porlier Pass Rd, almost 19 kms north of the Sturdies Bay ferry terminal. Turkey vultures call Galiano Island's Bodega Ridge home. There's a good chance that if you walk up on the ridge you'll see them circling on the updrafts. Others sit hunched at the top of skeletal Douglas fir trees and look down with beady eyes. Even if you've never seen a turkey vulture at close quarters, you'll instantly recognize its bald, red head, which definitely does look like a turkey.

The Bodega Ridge pathway has its own 'self-appointed hostess,' or so the sign outside her house says. Meghamm is an old Irish setter that lives in a house on Cottage Way at the foot of the trail. She likes to accompany hikers going onto the ridge and is often found bounding around beneath the arbutus tress and Douglas firs. Five minutes of gentle, uphill walking through salal growing under a canopy of Douglas firs brings you to a clearing at Scotch broom. At the far end of the clearing, a sign cautions, 'Proceed at your own risk. Steep-rugged terrain.' Just past the sign, the trail divides. Bear left here. Father along the trail, past another sign warning of the impending dangerous terrain, the ridge drops away dramatically, revealing a magnificent view across the islands, mountains, and water. Far below, Wallace Island sits squat in the middle of Trincomali Channel. The Secretaries, Mogli, Norway, Hall, and Reid Islands lie like Islands. Father northwest, beyond Kuper Island and Thetis Island, lurk the shadowy outlines of the mountains of Vancouver Island. Spreading in a soothing collage the blues, greys, and greens, the unfolding scenery is balm to citified eyes.

Heading north along the edge of the ridge between the arbutus trees and clumps of hair manzanita - this shrub grows more profusely on Bodega Ridge than anywhere else in the Gulf Islands - you'll reach a large slab of sand right on the ridge edge. Less than 3.22 kms from the trailhead, you may well have spotted a turkey vulture or two by now. At a distance it's easy to confuse immature bald eagles with turkey vultures. Both birds soar in a similar way, and even with binoculars it is difficult to make out the red heads of the vultures. (In the US, Cherokee Indians call turkey vultures 'peace eagles' because of their similarity to eagles, but soften the name because, unlike eagles, vultures don't kill prey.)

There's a good chance of spotting killer whales from East Point Park on Saturna Island and Gowlland Point Park on South Pender Island, particularly from May to October.

Common Loon and chicks

Upswelling currents bring cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface around narrow passages between islands, such as in Active Pass, which divides Galiano and Mayne, and Porlier Pass, between Galiano and Valdes.
In April and early May, thousands of Bonaparte's gulls, decked out in their black-headed breeding plumage, gather to feed on the tiny shrimp or krill that float on the surface of Active Pass.

Herring runs at this time of year attract California sea lions and bald eagles as well as hundreds of jet-black Pacific loons, common loons and Brandt's cormorants. One of the best places to observe all this action is from the deck of a BC Ferries vessel as it reduces speed when moving through Active Pass.

Newcastle Island Provincial Park, in Nanaimo harbour, is renowned as a bird-watcher's paradise. Thousands of shorebirds throng its coastline year-round, including such hard workers as the red-billed black oystercatcher. For the best viewing, follow the Shoreline Trail from the ferry wharf counterclockwise around the island to Brownie and Kanaka Bays.