Birding is back: backyard bird garden opens at VanDusen Garden

Vancouver's VanDusenBotanicalGarden aims to give urban birders a place to observe and learn about the creatureswitha new backyard bird garden, which opened earlier this week.

The garden, located where the previous children's garden used to be, is home toplants from shrubs to perennials that attract birds and enhance their habitat.

"We have all kinds of birds nuthatches, bushtits, chickadees, finches," said Guy Pottinger, executive director of VanDusen and a long-time gardener.

More grey-and-orange-coloured nuthatchesare around VanDusengardens than usual, Pottinger said, which might be due to the forest fires in Interior B.C. last summer that pushed them away.

Growing interest

Pottinger says there is a growing interestin birds among Vancouverites, whichthe Vancouver Park Board is tapping into.

"Gardening is trendy," he said. "Right now, people seem to be interested in providing habitat and having birds in your yard is a sign of a healthy ecological situation."

Birdwatching appeals to more than just the casual, weekend observer in Vancouver.

The International Ornithological Congress, one of the oldest and largest meetings for bird scientists in the world that occurs every four years, is being held in Vancouver this summer.

This year has also been dubbed as "Year of the Bird" by National Geographic to highlight the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that was signed 100 years ago.

"We are following the trends," Pottinger said.

Introductory area

Unlike other areas of VanDusen Botanical Garden, the new backyard bird area is aimed at beginner birders.

There are benches to sit and observe the birds feeding, a poster of the various species that can be spotted around the garden and bright yellow, child-sized birdhouses to observe the birds undetected.

"This is sort of an introductory area," Pottinger said. "The trained bird person can see the birds in the trees. This is for the non-trained bird person to get an introduction in birding."

The new garden opened March 1 and, throughout the coming month, two children can get in for free with a paid adult.

With files from Margaret Gallagher and The Early Edition.