Birds of Ganges

217 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Ganges (British Columbia) since 2010, across 117,557 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin and Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Ganges is backyard-bird country: 76% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Spotted Towhee make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

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

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 3.5 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.

Maple Bay, 6 mi to the south-west, has more species on record (263 against 217).

Daylight runs from 16 h 11 min at midsummer to 8 h 15 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:24 AM in mid-April and 5:09 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Chestnut-backed Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Spotted Towhee

  Millet · Sunflower chips

• Common Raven

  Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Peanut hearts

• Maple Bay6 mi south-west · 263 species
• Crofton7 mi west · 248 species
• Cowichan Bay10 mi south-west · 261 species
• Duncan10 mi south-west · 256 species
• Chemainus11 mi north-west · 222 species
• Deep Cove12 mi south · 268 species