Birders around the Lower Mainland have something new to look for. The updated version of the Birder’s Guide to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland will be launched on Saturday, May 14 on the final day of Vancouver Bird Week.
The Saturday event also happens to be the most common date to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day.
One of the volunteers who worked on the book, Colin Classen, a member of the birding section committee for Nature Vancouver, noted the last update to the guide was in 2001.
“This is a big deal,” he said of creating the new 2016 edition. “We haven’t done this in 15 years.”
Revision of the volunteer-created book took a year to complete, and two new birding spots were added to the previous list of 31. One is in North Vancouver, the other is Langley’s Brydon Lagoon off 198 Street at 53 Avenue.
There is a second birding spot in Langley noted in the Lower Mainland guide: Campbell Valley Regional Park.
“That was a big section,” said Classen of Langley’s southern parkland region.
There are a number of species in the large park.
The project was a collaborative effort of 72 volunteers and the one paid cartographer who created the colour maps for the 33 birding regions noted in the book.
“It’s all volunteers,” Classen noted. “I was just delighted with the cooperation. What an incredible attitude from the birding community.”
Contributions of birders included working with the text of the book, providing high-quality bird photos, and supplying map and trail information.
The guide has been developed with new birders in mind.
“It’s not technical,” said Classen. “It’s very beginner friendly.”
The books will be on sale for $26.95 at the event on Saturday, May 14 at the Vancouver Public Library, at Nature Vancouver’s monthly birding nights, at two Richmond events in early June, and at booksellers beginning April 16.
Find out more at www.naturevancouver.ca/main_birding.