Saturday, April 26th - Reifel Bird Sanctuary (Delta, BC) – 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Trip Leader: Barry Antler (831.428.5203) or barryantler@gmail.com
Pre-registration required: see below for registration information
International border crossing: see below for information and required documentation
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary (www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com) is a protected area within the Fraser River estuary and designated as a site of hemispheric importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. The sanctuary consists of over 300 hectares of managed ponds, natural marshes, wetlands and treed pathways. If you haven’t been there, it is a treat. You can get up close and personal with the birds. Last year, from April 21-27, 87 bird species were seen. The following were the highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, Least Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Willow Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, American Pipit, Townsend’s Warbler and Wilson’s Warbler.
Barry Antler will be our field trip guide. As the trip is in Canada you must have a current passport, Nexus or an enhanced driver’s license. If you use Nexus or Global Entry, everyone in your car must have the same designation. The sanctuary limits the number of cars that are allowed, so carpooling will be necessary; and besides, it’s environmentally friendly.
Meet at the Chuckanut Park and Ride located at 999 N Burlington Blvd. in Burlington at 8 am. We will arrange who will be driving at that time, but please indicate under “comments” on Signup Genius if you are willing to drive, and if so, how many extra people your vehicle will hold. If anyone is coming from the Bellingham area, please indicate that in the “comments” and contact the leader as well so we can arrange to meet up with you further north. Be sure to bring some loose bills to split the cost of gas. Drivers will not be expected to pay in lieu of wear-and-tear on their vehicles. Bring a border-friendly lunch (no fruit with seeds) as there are no food concessions onsite. The entrance fee is $8 dollars for adults, and $6 for seniors. US and Canadian dollars, as well as credit and debit cards are accepted.
A possible stop on the way home at Boundary Bay Trail (exit 72nd) for snowy owls if time permits, and/or if anyone is interested.
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA4AF28A4F4C16-55159577-reifel