Buttertubs Marsh (Nanaimo, British Columbia)

 hiking, birds, birdwatching area, wetland, marsh, nature conservation park / area, pond

Buttertubs Marsh is a wetland and wild bird sanctuary which covers approximately 100 acres in the middle of the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It is partly owned by the Nature Trust of British Columbia, while the other half of the wetland area is privately owned. Efforts are underway to purchase the remaining land to protect it against development.
www.nanaimoinformation.com/buttertubs-marsh.php

Buttertubs Marsh is perhaps the single best location for birdwatching in the region. For those interested in birdwatching, The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store sponsors guided birdwatching walks in and around Nanaimo on most Sunday and Tuesday mornings. These walks are free and open to newcomers, and are generally 2 or 3 hours in length. They leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday mornings and go to various locations in and around Nanaimo. On Tuesdays meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. for walks to different areas in and around the Parksville area.

The Sunday birdwalk went to Buttertubs Marsh on March 01, 2009, when nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species birds: Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, American Coot, California Quail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco and House Sparrows.

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com/