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BIRD WATCHING

 

 

 

Grab a camera and some bird seed and visit some of Nanaimo's 250 bird species which inhabit the area.

http://www.birding.bc.ca/nanaimo/index.htm



Piper's Lagoon Park

Turn east at the sign off of Hammond Bay Road, Hammond Bay Road can be accessed by turning right off Woodgrove Mall.

Neck Point Park

Turn east at the sign off of Hammond Bay Road. Hammond Bay Rd can be accessed by turning right off Woodgrove Mall.

Westwood Lake

Take the South Jinglepot Road exit off the bypass, turning left, (west), 2 streets past the Jinglepot pub onto Westwood Lake Road. There is a 5 k trail around the lake

Colliery Dm Park/Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road, Nanaimo 753-5811

Come into Nanaimo, via the new bypass. Take the first exit right, onto Fifth Street, at Malaspina College way stop, turn right again onto Wakesiah Avenue. At the first 4 way stop on Wakesiah Ave, turn right on Harewood/Nanaimo River Road. The first road on your left is the parking lot for Colliery Dam Park.Approximately 1 mile down the road on your right is the Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary. http://morrell.bc.ca/

Nanaimo Airport"Vesper Sparrows" - Take the airport access exit off the highway, go past the terminal, and take the first exit right. Travel along the hangers, and watch in the chain link fence for vesper and savannah sparrows. Also a popular spot for hawks.

Buttertubs Marsh Take the South Jinglepot road exit off of the bypass, turning right, (east) .. Park at the side of the road, opposite Addison Road. A large trail circles the marsh on the left. The marsh can also be accessed by turning on to Buttertubs drive, off of Bowen road. Buttertubs marsh evidently has one of the largest varieties of bird life that can be found in the Nanaimo area.

Hemer Park Is found at the end of Hemer road, off of Cedar road. Cedar road can be accessed from the TCH, by turning right at the Omega Restaurant, on the south side of the Nanaimo Airport, or by turning right just past the start of the new bypass, at the bottom of the hill just entering Nanaimo. Hemer park has both lake and marsh habitat, with some older trees and snags. An excellent place also for a Grand Slam of woodpeckers. (Flicker, Pileated, Downy, Hairy, and R.B. Sapsucker)

Haslam Road Marsh Take the first right hand road past the Nanaimo Airport. (Haslam road) Appx 1k from the highway, is a small marsh on the left. This marsh has numerous Cedar Waxwings, some Virginia Rail.

Nanaimo River Estuary Take the Cedar road exit, just south of Nanaimo. Travel past the landfill, (another good place for birds), and turn left just past the Silver Bridge, onto Raines Road. Park at the end, and walk past the gate.

PARKS

Westwood LakePark

Walk or cycle around this man-made lake that's stocked periodically with Cutthroat trout. A 6 km trail follows the contours of Westwood Lake offering beautiful scenic viewing opportunities. A very popular summer swimming spot. A playground and ramp for boats with electric motors only. The rock trail passes through a large fir grove along the lakeshore leaded to the base of a large rock bluff. Lots of wildlife and birds.

Beban Park

This 128 acre park was purchased from the Beban Family in 1953 for $50,000. Many changes have taken place since then, making this Nanaimo's premier recreational complex. Recent developments include the Beban Park Pitch and Putt golf course, and the Beban Park Leisure Pool with a tropical theme and 30-foot water slide. The complex includes an indoor 25 metre pool, two ice arenas, a fitness gym, a Social Centre, four baseball diamonds, six tennis courts, a BMX track, an equestrian area, and walking trails.

Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park

A stunning 306 hectare jewel nestled on the edge of Nanaimo's harbour. Yer round retreat for hiking and wildlife viewing. Conveniently located just a stone's throw away from Nanaimo's downtown. Strolling this beautiful island is like wandering through centuries of history. Indian middens offer mute evidence of at least two Salish Indian villages that were deserted before the discovery of coal in 1849. Subsequent decades saw the island's fortunes rise and fall as it went through varoius incarnations while supporting a fish-salting operations, a sandstone quarry, a shipyard, and, later, a pleasure resort.

To get to Newcastle Island, take the foot passenger ferry from Maffeo-Sutton Park in downtown Nanaimo, behind the Civic Arena. This 10 minute ferry ride takes you across Newcastle Channel to the island. If arriving by boat, one can simply tie up to the wharf at the entrance to Mark Bay. Berthing facilities are available for more than 50 boats. For ferry service information, call (250)753-5141.

Waterskiing is permitted in the Nanaimo harbour only, not in Newcastle Channel. The island is the perfect place to spend the day hiking with trail access to all parts of the island and designated bike trails. A concession is located in the park where visitors can rent recreational equipment. In the summer there are dances and theatre productions at the Pavillion.

Departure Bay Kiwanis Water Park

Close to Departure Bay Beach, this is a popular summertime kid's water park and playground. Tennis courts are nearby.

Loudon Park

Long Lake is home to this popular beach for swimming. The Whitehouse on Long Lake is directly across the water from the beach. The local canoe, kayak and rowing club resides here as well. Washrooms, a children's play area, and picnic tables are provided.

Buttertubs Marsh

A 45 acre bird and wildlife sanctuary is located adjacent to the Millstone River near Bowen Park. Surrounded by wetlands that provide important habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife species. While at this park, travel the 2.4 km walking trail and enjoy a variety of plants and animal life. Don't forget your camera.

Colliery Dam

2.5 km of easy hiking trails around both lakes. Watch for deer, grouse, pheasant and racoon in the thick forest. Muskrats live in the lakes as well as various species of duck, geese, bald eagles and king fisher. Caves formed during the ice-age are another highlight of this park. The park is very scenic full of sights and memories, including the dam, which originally provided fresh water for the coal mining operation at No.1 Mine on Nanaimo's waterfront.

Neck Point

This 33 acre waterfront park situated along Hammond Bay Road was added to the city park system in 1996. It is well known for its scenic and natural features. The park has a vast trail system with diverse levels of difficulty. A very popular diving spot.

Cable Bay

One of Nanaimo's best kept secrets. A nature lover's paradise. A 30 minute hike leads to Cable Bay Bridge. Hikers can observe migrating sea lions, eagles and more. The forest includes many different specifies of trees. Enjoy a picnic or an afternoon beachcombing.


Downtown Park - Swy-a-Lana-Park

The City's downtown park rich in historical significance. Offers breathtaking views. A 4 km sea wall leads from Cameron Island to the B.C. Ferry terminal. Swy-a-Lana Lagoon, a salt-water lagoon, utilizes the natural ebb and flow of the tides to create a habitat for marine life. Close to the Nanaimo Yacht Club, Newcastle Island Ferry and Ferry to protection Island home of the famous "Dinghy Dock Pub" which is a floating pub/restaurant. (250) 753-2373 Protection Island ferry Schedule (250)753-8244. Ferry leaves hourly from Nanaimo starting at 9:10 am - 11:10pm.

 

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