Creston Valley Birds

06/07/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!!!

A few RUDDY DUCKS were displaying their odd breeding behaviors at Duck Lake this week. The cartoonish breeding males with their sky-blue bill, shiny white cheek patches, and gleaming chestnut body were aggressively attacking each other to secure a female. Courting the uninterested female meant beating their bill against their neck to create a swirl of bubbles in the water and sticking their tails straight up. They end this unusual courtship display with a belch-like call.

Photo credit: Ulrike Sliworsky

06/04/2026

CV Bird Fest Committee Members Wanted!🧑‍💻🦸🦹‍♂️💁‍♂️🙋‍♀️

Are you passionate about birds, nature, and our local community? We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join the CV Bird Fest planning committee.🐦

Whether you have an interest in birding, social media, event planning, community outreach, or simply enjoy working with like-minded people, we'd love to hear from you.🦉

Committee members help shape the festival, promote events, and create memorable experiences for attendees while connecting with others who share a love of nature and conservation.🐥🐣

No previous experience is necessary—just a willingness to contribute and be part of a great team.🦅🐦‍⬛

Interested? Contact us to learn more about available volunteer opportunities and how you can get involved. Please email [email protected]🪿

Join us and help make Bird Fest a success!🦆

05/31/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

Mostly heard but not seen, the secretive SORA is found in any aquatic habitat in our valley. The call is a descending whinny and sharp, high-pitched KEEK!

Sora's remain hidden in dense vegetation while foraging which helps protect them from predators. They have long toes to help them walk on top of floating mats of vegetation.

Photo credit: Seth Benoit

05/30/2026

GROW A BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN!!

Birds Canada is partnered with West Coast Seeds, who are donating proceeds from the sale of native bird-friendly seeds in Canada. Provide habitat for birds and raise funds for conservation.

Whether you have a big garden or a balcony with some pots – these patches of habitat add up to something meaningful for bird populations. Read about some of the best plants for attracting birds to your space: hummingbirds, warblers, and even winter favourites!

05/29/2026

🌼 There are still a few spots left in our Nectar Network project!

Why native plants? Native wildflowers and pollinators have evolved alongside each other over thousands of years, making native plants the best food source for many of our local bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. While some native plants may be less “showy” than ornamental garden flowers, they provide the nectar, pollen, and habitat that pollinators truly need to survive and thrive.

By planting native wildflowers, you are helping create connected pockets of habitat throughout our community! Supporting biodiversity, pollination, healthy ecosystems, and beautiful living landscapes right here in the Creston Valley.

Pre-purchase online until this evening, or stop by our plant sales at the College of the Rockies Greenhouse:
Friday, May 29th : 4:30–6:30 PM
Saturday, May 30th: 10:00 AM until sold out

contact Rebecca [email protected] for more info!
Each package includes 7 native pollinator-friendly plants, care information, and a pollinator garden sign. Help us grow the Nectar Network one garden at a time as a pollinator pal!

05/24/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

The breeding plumage of a male LAZULI BUNTING is spectacular with his azure head and throat! They can be heard singing on their territories from brushy patches along forest edges, roadsides, regenerated burns, shrubby grasslands, and marshes.

Photo credit: Paul Prappas

05/22/2026

FESTIVAL SUMMARY

Mid-May is such a prime time in the Creston Valley to celebrate our migrating birds with our valley being one of the best birding hotspots in western Canada. This is what attracted 274 attendees from near and far for some memorable sightings and photos at the annual Creston Valley Birds Festival May 8-11th. And Creston did not disappoint!

Not only was the weather beautiful for being in the great outdoors, but a rare species decided to arrive on our farmlands. A total of 145 species were recorded throughout the weekend with the
most exciting being 26 rare White-faced Ibises! With a statuesque height of almost 2 feet, these birds were undoubtedly the highlight species for many eager birders hoping to get a glimpse. Glossy iridescent green and brown overall with a red iris and red legs, they show a white border around a reddish face.

Some of the festival participants were also treated to an unusual sight as four American Bitterns, who are typically solitary and hidden deep within the marsh reeds, emerged to put on a flying show! Even the elusive Sora Rail made an appearance into the open for some photographs!

At the opening banquet, Dr. Julia Zarankin, a best-selling author from Toronto who was sponsored by Zeiss Optics, gave an engaging and enthusiastic presentation on “How Birding Makes Us Better People”! The practice of birdwatching is not just about seeing as many birds as possible but it can teach us how to live a good life, feel more present, help with our cognitive health, and encourages us to see the world with more nuance, wonder, and empathy.

Festival Coordinator, Ulrike Sliworsky, would like to thank all the sponsors, those who travelled to attend, our local bird lovers, and the hardworking committee members and volunteers whose passion and effort make the festival a Creston highlight every year. And a special thanks to the incredible bird experts who generously shared their knowledge of our feathered friends!

Photo credit: Brian Benoit

05/17/2026

146 BIRD SPECIES SEEN DURING THE CV BIRD FEST May 8-11, 2026

Loon, Common
Swan, Trumpeter
Swan, Tundra

Grebe, Pied-billed
Grebe, Red-necked
Grebe, Western
PELICAN, American White
CORMORANT, Double-crested
Bittern, American
Heron, Great Blue
Ibis, White-faced

Goose, Canada
Duck, Wood
Mallard
Pintail, Northern
Gadwall
Wigeon, American
Shoveler, Northern
Teal, Blue-winged
Teal, Cinnamon
Teal, Green-winged
Scaup, Greater
Scaup, Lesser*
Duck, Ring-necked
Redhead
Bufflehead
Goldeneye, Common
Goldeneye, Barrow’s
Merganser, Hooded
Merganser, Common
Duck, Ruddy

Pheasant, Ring-necked
Grouse, Ruffed
Grouse, Dusky
Quail, California
Turkey, Wild
VULTURE, Turkey

Osprey
Eagle, Bald
Eagle, Golden
Harrier, Northern
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Cooper’s
Hawk, Red-tailed
Hawk, Swainson’s
Kestrel, American

Coot, American
Rail, Sora
Rail, Virginia
Crane, Sandhill

Plover, Semipalmated
Killdeer
Stilt, Black-necked
Yellowlegs, Greater
Curlew, Long-billed
Sandpiper, Spotted
Sandpiper, Solitary
Sandpiper, Baird’s
Sandpiper, Least
Dowitcher, Long-billed
Snipe, Wilson’s
Phalarope, Wilson’s

Gull, California
Gull, Franklin
Gull, Ring-billed

Pigeon, Rock
Dove, Mourning
Dove, Eurasian Collared

Owl, Great Horned
Kingfisher, Belted
SWIFT, Vaux’s

Hummingbird, Black-chinned
Hummingbird, Calliope
Hummingbird, Rufous

Flicker, Northern
Sapsucker, Red-naped
Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, Piliated
Woodpecker, Lewis’s

Wood-Pewee, Western
Flycatcher, Least
Flycatcher, Hammond’s
Flycatcher, Dusky
Phoebe, Say’s
Kingbird, Western
Kingbird, Eastern

Vireo, Cassin’s
Vireo, Western Warbling

Jay, Steller’s
Jay, Blue
Magpie, Black-billed
Crow, American
Raven, Common

Swallow, Tree
Swallow, Violet-green
Swallow, Northern Rough-winged
Swallow, Bank
Swallow, Cliff
Swallow, Barn

Chickadee, Black-capped
Chickadee, Chestnut-backed
NUTHATCH, Red-breasted
CREEPER, Brown

Wren, Pacific
Wren, Marsh
Wren, Northern House

DIPPER, American
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
Thrush, Varied
Robin, American
STARLING, European
PIPIT, American

Grosbeak, Evening
Finch, House
Crossbill, White-winged
Crossbill, Red
Siskin, Pine
Goldfinch, American

Towhee, Spotted
Sparrow, Chipping
Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, Lincoln’s
Sparrow, White-crowned
Sparrow, Vesper
Junco, Dark-eyed
Sparrow, House

WAXWING, Cedar
Blackbird, Red-winged
Blackbird, Yellow-headed
Blackbird, Brewer’s
Cowbird, Brown-headed
ORIOLE, Bullock’s
MEADOWLARK, Western

Warbler, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Northern Yellow
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
Waterthrush, Northern
Yellowthroat, Common
Warbler, Wilson’s

Tanager, Western
Bunting, Lazuli
Grosbeak, Black-headed

Photo credit: Carl Sayers

05/17/2026

WHERE THE BIRDS ARE!

A total of 146 species were recorded throughout the Bird Festival weekend with the most exciting being 26 rare White-faced Ibises!

With a statuesque height of almost 2 feet, these birds were undoubtedly the highlight species for many eager birders hoping to get a glimpse. Glossy iridescent green and brown overall with a red iris and red legs, they show a white border around a reddish face.

These wading birds frequent shallow wetlands and flooded fields in our valley. A very rare sighting especially in those numbers!

Photo credit: John Acorn