Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is an excellent place for year-round birdwatching, especially during the spring and fall migration.

Guided Birdwalks

Every Wednesday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m.
Bring your binoculars and walking shoes, and meet in the parking lot for this informal and informative walk around the lake area. Binoculars are available for loan at the Nature House office on Wednesdays. Donations appreciated.

Resident Birds

For visitors to the west coast, birds found year round include Anna's Hummingbird, Bushtits, Spotted Towhee, and the Golden-Crowned Sparrow (November through April). Barred Owls are commonly seen from November through February and Great Blue Herons can almost always be sighted. Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks are common, and there is a resident Red-tailed Hawk.

Visiting Birds

During the winter months Hooded Merganser, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon can be seen. In the spring and summer the lake edge is home to Tree and Violet Green Swallows, Marsh Wrens and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Birdwatching Links

Victoria Natural History Society
Victoria Rare Bird Alert

Bird Checklists

A checklist of the Birds of Swan Lake is available at the Swan Lake Nature House office, or you can download and print this Swan Lake Bird Checklist  (PDF format, 134 K). Suggested settings: Set your printer to 8 1/2 X 11, Landscape, print page 1, flip paper over and print page 2, fold once to form a booklet.

Adobe Reader required to view PDF
--click here for free download

Victoria Natural History checklists for Southeastern Vancouver Island are available at the Swan Lake Nature House office.($1.50)

Chris Saunders, a local photographer and a frequent visitor to Swan Lake, has provided us with a selection of bird photographs for your enjoyment. Gift cards with some of these images are available at the Nature House gift shop. More images of Swan Lake birds can be viewed in the
Bird Gallery.