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Description
Situated within the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is the number one birding spot on the North Shore. It is managed by the Wild Bird Trust of BC who maintain the property, organize monthly bird counts, guided nature walks, and more. The area is a mix of open woodlands, marsh and pond habitats, and coastal areas. It is well-worth a visit any time of year, but Spring tends to be the best.
Throughout the year, you can find Canada goose, wood duck, mallard; hooded and common merganser; rock pigeon, Anna's hummingbird, killdeer, spotted sandpiper, glaucous-winged gull, common loon; pelagic and double-crested cormorant; great blue heron; Cooper's and red-tailed hawk; bald eagle, belted kingfisher; downy and pileated woodpecker; northern flicker, American crow, common raven, black-capped chickadee, bushtit, red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper; Pacific and Bewick's wren; European starling, American robin; house and purple finch; red crossbill, pine siskin, American goldfinch, song sparrow, spotted towhee, and red-winged blackbird.
The spring migration brings band-tailed pigeon; black and Vaux's swift; rufous hummingbird, Virginia rail, Wilson's snipe, pigeon guillemot, California gull, Caspian tern, turkey vulture, osprey, western-wood pewee; willow, Hammond's, and western flycatcher; warbling vireo; tree, violet-green, northern rough-winged, and barn swallow; purple martin, mountain bluebird; hermit and Swainson's thrush; American pipit; white-crowned, savannah and Lincoln's sparrow; brown-headed cowbird; orange-crowned, yellow, black-throated gray, yellow-rumped, Townsend's, and Wilson's warbler; common yellowthroat, western tanager, and black-headed grosbeak.
The summer migration continues with late arrivals including cedar waxwing, red-eyed vireo, and the occasional Bullock's oriole. Late summer is often a good time for spotting Baird's, least, western, and semipalmated sandpiper
In the fall, many waterfowl return including northern shoveler, American wigeon, northern pintail, green-winged teal, ring-necked duck; greater and lesser scaup; bufflehead; common and Barrow's goldeneye; red-breasted merganser; horned, red-necked, and western grebe; barred and great-horned owl; Steller's jay, ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglet; varied thrush; fox and golden-crowned sparrow. Keep an eye out for look for the brief return of the spring migrants.
Winter finishes off the year with the additions of black oystercatcher, northern shrike, and pine grosbeak.
Details
Access
The Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is located in North Vancouver along Burrard Inlet. You can get to the area by car, bus, or bike. There is a large, free parking lot near the entrance. Press P on the map for directions to the parking. You can only explore the area on foot. You should allow for two hours to have a good survey of the different habitats.
The visitor centre is located at the entrance. There is also the monthly bird list posted here. Next door are covered picnic tables.
The Corrigan Nature House is a multi-purpose building that often has art and wildlife photography exhibitions.
Terrain and Habitat
Wetland , Reedbeds , Mud flats , Beach , Pond , Forest , Scattered trees and bushesConditions
FlatCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
Can be usefulGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring migrationRoute
Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
YesExtra info
Dogs are limited to on-leash in the eastern half of the area. It really is not worth bringing them.