Birding

Birding at RBG

Royal Botanical Gardens provides easy access to some of the most diverse birding in Ontario.

Almost any species can be spotted at the right time of the year, and with our nature sanctuaries located at the head of Lake Ontario and sheltered by the Niagara Escarpment there are always birds present. The trail system provides intimate experiences and observation platforms into a variety of habitats including the largest remaining coastal marshes on western Lake Ontario, old growth forests, meadows, exposed escarpment edges, and the garden areas themselves. Annually about 300 species can be observed, most are migrants, with about 100 species found on site in the summer.

Where to Find Birds

You can visit at your leisure or participate in RBG organized birding programs.

Access points include Princess Point (South Cootes Paradise), Rock Chapel (Escarpment Property), Westdale, Cherry Hill Gate (Hendrie Valley), Rock Garden, Laking Garden and the Arboretum.

The birding experience can be as relaxing as watching nighthawks and swifts during the evening summer music series in Hendrie Park, or as dramatic as a hike out to the Spencer Creek delta to see 1000s of swallows and blackbirds. Try visiting the Garden areas during spring bloom festivals. Common species include Broadwing Hawks during Rock Garden spring ephemerals, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks during Arboretum lilacs, Baltimore Orioles during Laking Garden irises, and Chimney Swifts during Hendrie Park roses.

Bird Biodiversity & Conservation

RBG is dominated by the Cootes Paradise Nature Reserve, a Nationally Important Bird Area at the head of Lake Ontario, and surrounded by the Niagara Escarpment. Its most easily accessible site is Princess Point at the south east corner of the marsh. The most spectacular and isolated location is the Marsh Boardwalk Platform overlooking the Spencer Creek delta. The site is accessed from the Arboretum and is adjacent to the Hopkins Woods and Spencer Creek Special Protection Areas. Concentrations of birds and species at this location are often awe inspiring and are highlighted by the year round resident Bald Eagles.

The Long Watch and Marsh Monitoring Program are two volunteer programs keeping tabs on bird numbers, and numerous conservation projects are underway to maintain and restore habitat.

To participate in scientific bird monitoring and conservation projects at RBG, please contact us.