One of the best places to enjoy nature outdoors in Metro Vancouver is at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, especially if you like bird watching.

This article contains the following information about the sanctuary:

Reifel Bird Sanctuary Location | Admission | What to Expect | What to Take to the Bird Sanctuary | What NOT to Take | Tips and Advice | Other Information

Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Even if you aren’t usually a bird watching fan, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a highly recommended place to visit. Especially in the spring and fall at the peak of migration seasons, the place is amazing.

Millions of birds, ducks and geese visit the sanctuary each year, as do thousands of birdwatchers with their binoculars and cameras.

Reifel Bird Sanctuary Location

The Reifel Bird Sanctuary’s address is 5191 Robertson Road in Delta. It’s about a 20-kilometre drive north of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and 27 kilometres south of Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

The bird sanctuary is bordered by ocean to the west, the Fraser River to the north and east, and the rest of Westham Island to the south.

Admission to the Bird Sanctuary

As of the summer of 2024, the sanctuary is open from Tuesday to Sunday each week from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, including holidays.

General admission is $8 for adults and $6 for both children (ages 2-14) and seniors (age 65+). Annual memberships are also available. They cost $50 per person, $100 for a family and $1,000 for an individual for life. Memberships give you free admission and are a good deal if you love birds and plan to visit regularly.

What to Expect at the Sanctuary

Expect to see lots and lots of birds – thousands of them at peak times of the year. You can also expect to see a good number of photographers and avid bird watchers.

When you arrive and pay your admission you’ll receive a trail map and information. There are over five kilometres of trails through the forest and marshlands. Folks at the gate can tell you what’s been seen recently and where.

Types of Birds at the Sanctuary

Fall Fowl: A wide variety of birds make both their permanent and seasonal vacation homes at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary. As many as 70,000 snow geese pass through the area between early October and April, with many of them taking up full-time residence during that period.

Also, in late summer and early fall, there are migrant shorebirds such as the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-Billed Dowitchers and Western Sandpipers.

Spring Peeps (and other fowl): Spring is when millions of Western Sandpipers pass through the surrounding area, and hawks, eagles and osprey also make the place home.

Summer Feathered Settlers: Summer time brings Mallard Ducks, Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes to the sanctuary to raise their families. Mid-May until June is the best time to see baby ducklings and goslings, as well as summer flowers.

Winter Wings: During the winter, in addition to the Snow Geese, other common residents include Mallard Ducks and Black-Capped Chickadees. There are also birds of prey like hawks and owls between December and March.

Year-Round Regulars: Many species can be found during much of the year, and others for long stretches of time at different periods. Swallows, Robins, Bushtits, Marsh Wrens, Gadwalls, Hummingbirds and Blackbirds are all frequent residents, as are Horned Owls, Barn Owls and Bald Eagles sometimes.

What to Take to the Bird Sanctuary

When visiting the bird sanctuary don’t forget to take your camera and binoculars. The place is a photographer’s paradise. You’ll be surprised at the size of some peoples’ lenses!

Make sure to bring some good walking shoes as it’s a big area. If it’s rained recently then there’s a good chance there are puddles to wade through. A water bottle is also a good idea, and a hot drink and lunch if you want them.

When going in the summer, a hat can be a good idea as there isn’t much shade. A bird book (or a similar app on your phone) can also be useful. It’ll add to the experience and, if you don’t have one, the gift shop has books you can buy.

What NOT to Take to the Sanctuary

You can’t take your dog, ride your bike or smoke at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary. It’s a bird sanctuary and fowl don’t like dogs, people on bicycles or second-hand smoke. They also don’t like loud noises or being chased, so respecting the birds in their habitat is greatly appreciated and expected.

The local inhabitants do love bird seed though, and bags are available for sale at the entrance.

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips to help enhance your experience at the bird sanctuary.

TIP #1: Spend the extra $1 for the bag of bird seed. The birds will love you for it, as will any children you happen to bring along.

TIP #2: Visit the Reifel Bird Sanctuary at different times of the year if you can to see what’s new in town, but at the very least get there at least once in your life in the fall on a sunny day. Even non-bird watchers will be impressed.

TIP #3: The best time to see the famous Snow Geese is from October until December. The peak of the Snow Goose season is mid-November.

TIP #4: Don’t expect to see as many Snow Geese or get as close to them as in the photo below, although it’s not impossible. It’s more likely though that you’ll hear and see them in the distance, so don’t forget your binoculars and zoom lens for your camera.

TIP #5: Expect crowds and a full parking lot on sunny weekends and statutory holidays, as the place is most beautiful in the sunshine. Weekdays are the best times to go to avoid crowds. Also, of all the four seasons, summer is arguably the most beautiful but also ironically the quietest in terms of birds.

Other Information

For more information about the sanctuary, visit the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary website.

For a list of birds that have recently been spotted at the bird sanctuary, see the venue’s Weekly Species List.

Other exceptional places for bird watching include the following:

• Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack
• Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver
• Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam

For a list of more amazing places in the outdoors (although with far fewer feathered creatures), check out Vancouver’s Best Places in Parks and Nature.

And for an interesting video of Snow Geese taken in Richmond in the spring of 2012, see our Millions of Snow Geese Video.