Birds of East Wellington

286 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of East Wellington (British Columbia) since 2010, across 814,442 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Spotted Towhee, American Robin and Song Sparrow.

East Wellington is backyard-bird country: 70% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Song Sparrow and Anna's Hummingbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

23 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.

Records peak in April and are lowest in August — about 2.4 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.

Lantzville, 6 mi to the north-west, has fewer species on record (263 against 286). Birds logged far more often around East Wellington than there include Tree Swallow.

Daylight runs from 16 h 14 min at midsummer to 8 h 12 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:26 AM in mid-April and 5:10 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• Spotted Towhee

  Millet · Sunflower chips

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Song Sparrow

  Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Anna's Hummingbird

  Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water

• Chestnut-backed Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Lantzville6 mi north-west · 263 species
• Gabriola8 mi east · 287 species
• Cedar8 mi south-east · 274 species
• Fairwinds9 mi north-west · 238 species
• Cassidy10 mi south-east · 257 species
• Nanoose Bay10 mi north-west · 265 species