Birds of Union Bay
What has actually been seen around Union Bay: 243 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 243 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 131,621 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Spotted Towhee
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 20 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.3 h / 8.1 h
What the records say about Union Bay
243 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Union Bay (British Columbia) since 2010, across 131,621 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Spotted Towhee, Bald Eagle and Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
The records split between backyard birds (58%) and waterbirds (37%), so a feeder in Union Bay sees the familiar Spotted Towhee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and American Robin, while Glaucous-winged Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture.
Records peak in May and are lowest in August — about 1.9 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.
Denman Island Trust Area, 4 mi to the south-east, has fewer species on record (229 against 243).
Daylight runs from 16 h 18 min at midsummer to 8 h 8 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:29 AM in mid-April and 5:11 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Union Bay
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus | 4,408 |
| 2 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 4,372 |
| 3 | Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens | 4,253 |
| 4 | Glaucous-winged GullLarus glaucescens | 4,108 |
| 5 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 4,020 |
| 6 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 3,614 |
| 7 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 3,540 |
| 8 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 3,287 |
| 9 | Anna's HummingbirdCalypte anna | 3,196 |
| 10 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 3,019 |
| 11 | Great Blue HeronArdea herodias | 2,536 |
| 12 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 2,498 |
| 13 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 2,482 |
| 14 | Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata | 2,354 |
| 15 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 2,234 |
| 16 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 2,142 |
| 17 | BuffleheadBucephala albeola | 2,009 |
| 18 | Common LoonGavia immer | 2,004 |
| 19 | Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon | 1,815 |
| 20 | White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys | 1,762 |
Records by month
What to put out in Union Bay
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Spotted Towhee
Millet · Sunflower chips
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Common Raven
Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
Seasonal bird notes for British Columbia
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for Canadian backyards. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit backyards in Union Bay?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Union Bay are Spotted Towhee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Common Raven and Song Sparrow, based on 131,621 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Union Bay?
243 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Union Bay?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in August. Sunrise in late June is around 5:11 AM.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.