Young Birder Walk at Deer Lake for Vancouver Bird Celebration/Burnaby Blooms Festival
Young Birders at the start of the walk on the festival lawn at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC
We had a great walk with 25 people at the youth birding walk, which happened during the Vancouver Bird Celebration/Burnaby Blooms Festival at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby on May 3/2026. It was a super hot day at a balmy 24 degrees Celsius.
We walked around the entire lake and there was not much waterfowl but we did see a couple Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Ducks and female Buffleheads and some Mallards and Canada Geese.
Sleeping Mallard Drakes at Deer Lake - Photo: Anica Gorlick
There was an Italian man singing loudly in his boat with the Italian flag proudly displayed. He was singing to the top of his lungs and gave the kids a good chuckle. He was giving a nearby singing Song Sparrow a run for its money!
A man sings on a boat with an Italian Flag on Deer Lake - Photo: Anica Gorlick
A lovely Song Sparrow serenaded us - Photo: Anica Gorlick
As we walked around the lake we had good views of Black-throated Gray Warblers and Western Flycatchers who were calling and singing.
Black-throated Gray Warbler at Deer Lake in Burnaby - Photo: Cole O’Byrne
Male Black-throated Gray Warbler at Deer Lake - Photo: Cole O’Byrne
We also saw many American Bullfrogs of various sizes and tadpoles which enthralled the youth. We also saw several Red-eared Slider Turtles but sadly none of the rare Western Painted Turtles that make this place home.
American Bullfrog at Deer Lake. They were everywhere in varying sizes and are introduced and eat anything including our native frogs.
Bullfrog Tadpoles at Deer Lake - Photo: Cole O’Byrne
Red-eared Sliders at Deer Lake - Photo: Cole O’Byrne
We saw a Pacific Forktail Damselfy and several butterflies as well. While we were standing on the boardwalk watching the bullfrogs we had a Virginia Rail call which was cool!
Pacific Forktail at Deer Lake - Photo: Luis Huxley
We noticed the absence of swallows and only had 4 Tree Swallows which was very concerning and no Herons and the colony there has seem to have failed sadly. Tree Swallows are impacted by climate change, habitat loss (no natural nesting cavities) and use of pesticides.
There were many American Robins carrying food for their nests and were the most abundant bird we saw on our walk.
American Robins were abundant at Deer Lake - Photo: Anica Gorlick
Luis and Claire told us how excited they were that they got accepted to Beaverhill youth birding workshop in Alberta along with Leo and how they are looking forward to it! Rose was super excited that she got a scholarship to go to WFO conference in Oregon this year too! Congratulations to all the young birders on these achievements!
We encountered singing Marsh Wrens, American Goldfinches, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Yellow-rumped, Yellow and Orange-crowned and Townsend’s Warblers. The youth enjoyed seeing the male Anna’s flare his red gorget.
Male Anna’s Hummingbird in Burnaby - Photo: Anica Gorlick
We watched a pair of Common Yellowthroats sing and fly low in front of us, giving the youth great views and access to their loud song.
Male Common Yellowthroat at Deer Lake - Photo: Anica Gorlick
Luis spotted a Double-crested Cormorant flying across the lake and we saw a couple Northern Flickers. Cole spotted a pair of Ring-necked Ducks whizz by in rapid flight.
On our way back around the lake we saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk fly circles above us. Usually you see Cooper’s Hawks there far more frequently, so it was nice to see it.
We saw a family of Canada Geese with goslings and Mallards with ducklings at the beach. We also had many Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Warbling Vireo and Purple Finch singing during our walk.
Canada Goose gosling at Deer Lake. The parents had 13 young! - Photo: Anica Gorlick
Adult Canada Goose at Deer Lake - Photo: Anica Gorlick
At the end of our walk it was super hot and some of us got some nice fresh lemonade from one of the food trucks on the lawn to celebrate the Burnaby Blooms and Vancouver Bird Celebration Festivals. Thank you to the City of Burnaby for hosting and sponsoring this event!
Our next field trip will be to Pitt Lake in June! Hope to see many of you there!
