The Fraser River Delta:
Jewel of the Pacific Flyway
Why do birds love Delta so much?
The Fraser River delta is special. Its temperate climate supports the largest wintering population of birds in Canada. Birds of prey, waterfowl and songbirds spend winter month feeding and sheltering. Over five million migratory birds also pass through The Fraser River delta each year. They use the fields, wetlands and forest as a stopover on the Pacific Flyway, North America’s western migratory bird route. These birds are on their way to the Arctic or even to South America. The Fraser River delta is globally important to birds.
Birds love Delta’s farms, coastlines, forest and bogs, located at hart of the Fraser River delta and estuary along the Pacific Flyway. Migrating Western Sandpipers feed on biofilm, a gooey, high -Omega substance found in mudflats. Great Blue Heron feed on fish, frogs and rodents all year round. Northern Harrrier and other birds of prey - like the Barn Owl - use open fields and farmland to hunt. Snow Geese fill up on wild plants and leftover crops before their journey to the Russian arctic. Delta’s natural beauty is match by its community. We pull together to help birds!
A) The amazing number of migrating sandpipers that stop to feed on the biofilm of the Fraser delta is a true wonder. As such the region is a world class destination for birdwatchers from across the North America.
B) The richness of the Fraser delta means many species use the region as an area to breed and rear their young. The striking outline of a Great Blue Heron fishing in the same eelgrass beds that hide the millions of out-migrating salmon is a common sight to those taking a stroll along the region’s many nature paths.
C) During the winter season those who venture out on the water get to witness the elegant form of the Western Grebe. As a diving bird, the species is heavily reliant on the condition of the Salish Sea and recent declines serve as an indicator of forage fish, which is the main prey for the Western Grebe.
D) After breeding 4000 km away, a storm of Snow Geese comes to the Fraser delta to spend the winter. The hundreds of thousands of waterfowl using the delta provide challenges and opportunities to work with the local community to find solutions that allow farming and birds to co-exist on the Fraser delta.
E) As home to Canada’s largest aggregation of overwintering birds of prey, the region is a testament to the success we can have when we act with respect for natures. Every time a majestic eagle flies overhead, it is part of a story about how Canada and the U.S. worked together to ban the poisonous DDT and enable the recovery of a number of raptor species.
F) A diversity of birds is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. When you can sit at your window and witness a range of small birds using your backyard bird feeder, you can take pride in knowing that our urban landscapes are being planned in a way that respects the environment.
The Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in America, extending from the Arctic to the tip of South America. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to overwintering sites.
More information can be found here by Bird Life International, the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. Birds Canada is a partner in this network.
Shorebirds, Mudflats, and Biofilm – A New Conservation Priority for Migratory Shorebirds
The Fraser River Estuary is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) of global significance. Scientific research has identified why millions of shorebirds are licking the mud along our shared shoreline in British Columbia.