Tsawwassen's Ursula Easterbrook is organizing local events this month to help mark International Migratory Bird Day.
There will be a monthlong exhibit of paintings and photos at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre, an opening night and speakers on May 10 and then a Mother's Day Tea with the Birds at Cammidge House in Boundary Bay Regional Park.
She's hoping to raise more awareness about the local area being a major migration site on the West Coast.
Birds feed at sites like Boundary Bay and Roberts Bank, she notes.
"That whole area, whether it's in Boundary Bay or Roberts Bank, is so important because that's where they eat."
The May 10 event, sponsored by Delta Nature, is scheduled to get started at 6:30 p.m. with an exhibit opening and catered reception at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172-56th St. The exhibit will have paintings and photos of birds and bird-related land/waterscapes.
Speakers include David Hancock (bald eagle migration),
Sean Boyd (migration connectivity of Salish Sea birds) and Jim Martin (unusual and rare migrants).
The May 11 Mother's Day Tea with the Birds will feature walks, talks and interactive displays by groups including OWL, Delta Nature, Delta
Farmland and Wildlife Trust, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Delta Tourism and a young naturalists group.
There will be an intertidal/shoreline walk with Jennifer and Doug Swanston and an upland birding walk with Delta Nature's Tom Bearss.
"It's going to be hopefully a real busy, busy day," says Easterbrook.
The event, sponsored by the Boundary Bay Park Association, gets started at 12:30 p.m. at Cammidge House in Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen.
All the events are free but donations will be accepted.
Easterbrook will also be giving a talk, What Migratory Birds Do For Us!, featuring her bird photography, at the Tsawwassen Library on May 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
