Shuswap Bird Trail Ready to Take Flight!

Little Mountain - Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) - Roger Beardmore

This has been an exciting time in Salmon Arm as we launch the first Shuswap Outpost with BC Bird Trail! The Salmon Arm Economic Development Society MRDT Program collaborated on the BC Bird Trail outpost with partners from Shuswap Tourism and the District of Sicamous Development Corp.

About one year ago, the conversations started about birds, birding, bird species, birding locations…well, you get the picture! Making the decision to invest in an incredible visitor resource, such as the Shuswap Outpost, is the best opportunity to showcase the unique birding experiences in our communities.

RJ Haney- Cedar Waxing (Bombycilla cedrorum)- Roger Beardmore photo

Salmon Arm and Sicamous are organically connected by Shuswap Lake, and only a short 24 mins drive time away from one another. Birding is a fast-growing tourism experience in BC, and Salmon Arm has some of the best locations, trail systems and rare bird species to offer everyone. As a community, we know that whether visitors are looking for bird watching, photography, walking, hiking or forest bathing – we have it all! It’s so hard to choose just one iconic spot or bird to ‘tweet’ our excitement about! The Salmon Arm Bay is a home and sanctuary to hundreds of birds, including the very famous Grebes!

It wasn’t just the project team that was excited about all thing’s birds. In order to conduct thorough research, and leverage local talent, Caitlin Thompson (SAEDS) made the connection with Roger Beardmore (photographer) for incredible bird images for the Salmon Arm bird itinerary. As well, the project team connected with local birding experts and members of the Shuswap Naturalist Club. “We all know more about birds now through this project than we ever expected,” laughed Thompson.

Larch Hills- White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)- Roger Beardmore photo

The Shuswap Outpost is a multi-layered project. When you visit the webpage, you see a stunning video filmed and edited locally by Stephen Ingle. You will also see travel information, bird species by time of year, and an enjoyable itinerary that flows between Salmon Arm and Sicamous. Along the journey, there are suggested stops that take you downtown Salmon Arm and throughout the community. An unexpected, and accessible, birding location is McGuire Lake Park! At this spot, you almost always get a clear view of different birds!

When asked about the benefits of the bird trail project, Thompson said “The Shuswap Outpost helps visitors, and locals alike, enjoy nature and appreciate the beauty of our ecosystems. This truly aligns with the charm, gentleness and active lifestyle vibe of Salmon Arm. We can’t wait to see everyone outside with their binoculars and cameras!”

Stay tuned for more bird-related excitement and contests over the next year!

Download the free BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience from the Apple Store or Google Play Store today!

Visit bcbirdtrail.ca/trails/shuswap and explore!

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@salmonarmecdev
@shuswaptourism
@exploresicamous
@bcbirdtrail

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Image of Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola Enucleator) taken by Roger M. Beardmore, just one example of a bird that can be spotted in Salmon Arm.