Some recommended birding sites:

There are too many really good birding sites in and around our part of the world for us to list them all but this page will give you an introduction to some that we are sure you will enjoy. we also give a couple of useful links to other websites that have additional suggestions for you.

If you want a guide-book to sites that you can carry in your pocket, then we recommend you purchase a copy of Birdfinding in the Montreal Area by Pierre Bannon which is obtainable from the society at monthly lecture meetings, from some local bookshops and always from specialist stores, details of which you will find on the resources page of this site.

There are limits to the information we can provide on this site and so, in addition to the suggestions that we make below, may we recommend that you also visit another excellent website with extensive, illustrated details of local birding hot-spots as well as downloadable maps - visit BirdingMontreal.

Another selection of sites can be found on the Oiseaux-QC website at http://www.oiseauxqc.org/sites.jsp or check http://www.sitesdobservationdesoiseauxduquebec.ca

For help and directions to access any of these sites by public transport, consult the STM on-line help, or call: 514-AUTOBUS.

George Montgomery Bird Sanctuary at Philipsburg:

This bird sanctuary is the Bird Protection Quebec's pride and joy.

Groups and clubs intending to visit the Sanctuary are asked to contact Bird Protection Quebec in advance. Please call Sandy Montgomery at 514-482-0565 or 450-248-2310; or Gordon Renny at 450-248-2937

The sanctuary covers about 480 hectares lying on both sides of Highway 133, between the village of Philipsburg and the US border. It is situated on the shore of Missisquoi Bay at a point where the foothills of the Green Mountains meet the plain of the St. Lawrence Valley. The Sanctuary includes samples of most ecosystems found in the region and most species of birds occurring in southern Quebec and northern New England have been seen here.

Among species generally uncommon in Quebec but regularly breeding here are the Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow-throated Vireo, Rufous-sided Towhee and Field Sparrow. The beaver pond supports Wood Ducks, Least Bitterns, Sora and Virginia Rails. Golden-winged Warblers have nested in the sanctuary, and Cerulean Warblers have been found regularly.

All this area is private property and visitors should keep this in mind when using the Sanctuary. The guidelines for visiting wildlife reserves apply to the Montgomery Sanctuary, and are even more important because of its small size and the fragility of its floral and avian populations.

Please note:

The parking lot provided by the Society is located immediately to the south of Motel de la Frontière on the east side of Hwy 133 and is free of charge.

Getting there by car: take the Champlain Bridge from Montreal and Autoroute 10 east to Highway 35 south and Highway 133 south. Continue past the flashing light at Philipsburg and cross to the east side of the highway at the Motel de la Frontière. Note the small Bird Protection Quebec sign, enter the motel drive, and park in Bird Protection Quebec parking lot just south of the motel.

Morgan Arboretum

The Arboretum is a sanctuary of 245 hectares forming part of Macdonald College in Sainte-Anne-de Bellevue at the western tip of the island of Montreal. It has the largest remaining wooded stands on the island, and a tremendous variety of trees, shrubs and plants, both native and exotic. It offers good birding at all seasons. Nesting species include Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird and Pileated Woodpecker. During the fall, the Arboretum offers one of the best sites in southern Quebec from which to observe the raptor migration.

More details on the arboretum's own site at www.morganarboretum.org . A detailed description of the birds in the arboretum with a checklist and maps can be downloaded from that site.

The nearby Ecomuseum is also worth a visit.

By car: Take Autoroute 40 west to Exit 41 towards Chemin Sainte-Marie. At the first intersection turn left to the entrance. Difficult to reach by public transport.

Mount Royal Park

Located near downtown Montreal, was created in 1874 and today represents one of the largest remaining green spaces on the island of Montreal. Best in spring, but the park and adjacent cemeteries provide ready access to a good variety of spring and fall migrants, as well as wintering birds.

By car: Mount Royal parking lots can be reached from the east via Camilian Houde Parkway at the corner of Mont Royal and Park Avenues, or from the west from Cote-des-Neiges Road. Check out the cemeteries as well. By bus: Take Bus 11 from the Mont-Royal Metro station.

The Mountain has its own web site at http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/index3.html

Mount Royal Cemetery

Where in the middle of a large city can you see the following regular nesters such as: red-shouldered hawks, bluebirds and screech owls? Indigo buntings and olive-sided flycatchers are also observed in early summer. Mount Royal Cemetery consists of 165 acres atop the northern slopes of Mt. Royal.

From downtown, go north on Park Ave.to Mt. Royal Blvd. Turn left up towards the mountain, but do not go up onto the parkway leading to the summit. Stay on Mt. Royal Blvd. and go to the end on Chemin de la Forêt- park there just outside the main gate. From the west, go along Chemin Remembrance up to the second city parking lot, cross the road and enter by the south gate.

http://www.mountroyalcem.com/cemetery/nature_history/birds.aspx?lang=en-CA


Westmount Summit

To the west of Mount Royal Park is a tiny wooded area owned and maintained by the City of Westmount. During the month of May, birders from across the province flock to this heavily used urban oasis to witness impressive concentrations of passerines which often pause here during migration. No fewer than 33 species of warblers have been sighted over the years.

By car: from Côte-des-Neiges Road, take Belvedere Road up Westmount Mountain (across from Remembrance Road). Turn right onto Summit Road and drive to Summit Circle which goes all the way around the park. By public transport: From Guy-Concordia Metro station take bus 66, 165 or 166 to Côte-des-Neiges and Belvedere.

 

Montreal Botanical Gardens

While most visitors are attracted to this 73-hectare site by exquisite floral displays, local birdwatchers have also found the Montreal Botanical Gardens of great interest. Spring offers a nice variety of migrating passerines, while feeding stations attract winter birds, and therefore raptors, in good numbers.

By car: from downtown Montreal, take Autoroute 40 east and Pie IX south, or Notre Dame Street East and Pie IX north. By public transport: take the Metro to Pie IX station.

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/jardin.htm


Nuns' Island / Ile des Soeurs

Despite rapid loss of habitat to urbanization in recent years, the west end of the island still offers varied habitat. Pied-billed Grebes nest on the pond, Rusty Blackbirds and Northern Waterthrushes visit the moist woods in spring, owls and woodpeckers appear frequently in winter and Gray Partridge and an occasional Short-eared Owl inhabit the fields. Offshore, Red-throated Loons and Ring-necked Grebes are spotted annually among the more common waterfowl.

By car: South on Decarie Boulevard (Hwy 15) or the Bonaventure Autoroute. Just before the Champlain Bridge, take the Nuns' Island exit. Park at the end of Ile des Soeurs Boulevard. Difficult to reach by public transport.


Ile Perrot

Located just off the western tip of the island of Montreal, Ile Perrot is visited all year by local birders. Varied (though dwindling) habitat includes fields, woodlots and open water. In early spring, the waters off Windmill Point are among the best in the Montreal area for waterfowl viewing. Large flocks of diving ducks and geese are common, and smaller numbers of loons and grebes are regular. Later during the spring, and also in fall, raptors migrating over the centre of the island can be seen from Don Quichotte Boulevard.

By car: take Autoroute 20 west to Ile Perrot. Turn left on Don Quichotte Blvd. and continue to the end where Windmill Point Park begins. Difficult to reach by public transport.

http://www.pointedumoulin.com/


St-Lazare Sandpits

Just off the west island a major stopping point for migrating species. Always worth checking it out. Information about birding written by a local expert is given in some detail at http://www.sparroworks.ca/birdingmontreal/sites/st_lazare.htm

From the 40, after you cross the Ile aux Tourtes Bridge, take Highway 540 towards Toronto, and then exit 3 (highway 340). After the exit, at the first traffic light, turn left on highway 340. After several kilometers and a flashing yellow light and traffic light, the highway reverts to 90 km/hour. Continue a kilometre or so, and then turn right onto Rang Lotbinière (actually, the 340 bears left, and Rang Lotbiniere, a smaller road, goes straight). At the end of the Rang, turn left on Montée St-Robert, and then right immediately. This is the gravel road going to Base de Plein Air Les Forestiers. The sandpit entrance is immediately on your right, on this corner.

You can park near the gate to the sandpits, but make sure you do not park in front of the gate or otherwise impede the right of way of the trucks going to and from the sandpits. You can also park at the top of the sandpit on Montée St-Robert, which gives you a panoramic view of the pond where most of the shorebirds are now. There are various paths around the ponds and through the brushy area and woods to the north and west.


Baie du Febvre

A world class site for thousands and thousands of snow geese in the migration season. They stop off here for a period to "refuel" on the way north or south.
On the south shore of the St. Lawrence north of Montreal along Hwy 132 you'll see two or three observation sites - parking and in one case an elevated mound - which give a good view over the flooded fields. Also look carefully at the fields and farms to the south and all around, for meadowlarks, sparrows, harriers, and all sorts of other birds.

On the way back, just on the west side of the flooded fields there's a "settling pond" (don't birders love the most salubrious environments?), with a gravel road beside it (going north toward the bay). Along there is a blind and a dyke and, at the end, a viewing tower.

Go early and take lunch.

More at http://www.baie-du-febvre.net/oies/accueil.asp


Cap Tourmente

Just north of Quebec city and a wonderful (the best) spot for migrating snow geese .... and just about everything else that migrates as well.

http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/faune/html/nwa_ct.html
http://www.amiscaptourmente.org/

 

Oka Provincial Park

This provincial park is located northwest of Montreal along Lake of Two Mountains, just east of the village of Oka. Bordered by sandy beaches, marshes and the lake to the south, and by the Oka hills to the north, this 1800-hectare park offers a wide diversity of habitat that has attracted 210 bird species. The white pine forest within the park is home to nesting Pine Warblers, while stands of sugar maple harbour Yellow-throated Vireos.

By car: take Autoroute 13 north and Autoroute 640 west to the end. Turn right on Highway 344 to Oka village where signs will direct you to the park. Difficult to reach by public transport.

http://www.sepaq.com/pq/oka/en/


Longeuil shoreline

Marie Victorin Park is located 5 km east of Montreal in Longueuil, between Highway 132 and the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. The park offers bicycle paths and lookouts along the river. During spring, summer and fall, a walk along the shoreline can produce a variety of ducks, shorebirds and gulls.

By car take the Champlain, Victoria or Jacques Cartier Bridge south and Highway 132 east, or L.-H. Lafontaine Tunnel and Highway 132 west.The best spot for viewing is reached by a pedestrian overpass off Marie Victorin Boulevard, east of Roland Therrien Boulevard. By public transport take Bus 17 from Longeuil Metro station to Marie Victorin Park.


Mont St-Bruno

One of the ten Monteregian Hills that rise above the St. Lawrence Lowlands. It is recognized as one of the most beautiful and ornithologically productive sites in the Montreal area. Among the more unusual resident species are Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

By car: take Jacques Cartier Bridge, Taschereau Blvd. and Highway 116 to Autoroute 30; or Champlain Bridge and Highway 10 to Autoroute 30. Exit by Chemin des 25, follow signs to the park. Difficult to reach by public transport.

http://www.sepaq.com/pq/msb/en/


Mont St-Hilaire

Also one of the Monteregian Hills, and is easily reached by car. The mountain has been designated as Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, and much of the area is owned and managed by McGill University. A nature centre and interpretative programme are offered to the public. In recent years, nesting Peregrine Falcons and Common Ravens have been of special interest to local birders.

By car: from downtown, take the Jacques Cartier Bridge and Taschereau Blvd to Hwy 116 to Mont St. Hilaire village. From the west end, take Champlain Bridge and Hwy10 east to Exit 29. Follow Hwy 133 north to the village. Once there, follow signs to the nature conservation centre: from Hwy 116, take rue Fortier, then Chemin Ozias Leduc to Chemin de la Montagne. Turn left. At Chemin des Moulins, turn left to the Gault Estate. Difficult to reach by public transport.

http://www.mcgill.ca/gault/


Cote Ste-Catherine Locks

The St. Lawrence Seaway locks at Cote-Saint-Catherine provide a splendid view of concentrations of waterfowl and gulls, as well as ships. Even in mid-winter a variety of ducks and gulls (including Iceland and Glaucous gulls) frequent the fast-moving current, sometimes attracting a Snowy Owl or a Bald Eagle. Cormorants are plentiful in season. Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron nests are visible among the taller trees on Heron Island, situated in mid-river across from the locks. Herons are known to have nested on this island for over 400 years!

By car: take the Champlain Bridge, take the first exit after the bridge toward New York State (#15 south / #132 east); take Exit 46 (LaPrairie/Salaberry) and turn right on to Marie-Victorin Blvd. Drive 5.2 km and turn right at the Sainte-Catherine Locks. Or take the Mercier Bridge. At the south end of the bridge, take the left exit (LaPrairie-132 east), drive 6.5 km, turn left onto Rue Centrale and go to Marie-Victorin Blvd. The locks are a little further on. By public transport: call Les autobus Ménard (1-800-363-4543). They provide transportation from the Voyageur bus terminal (Berry/UQAM Metro station).


Beauharnois Dam

The area surrounding the Beauharnois hydroelectric station is one of the best anywhere for observing gulls and terns. From September to January concentrations have reached 20,000 birds, with all the common species (Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed gulls and others) and an astounding number of vagrants (including such rarities as Little, Mew, Ivory, Sabine's, California, Franklin's, Laughing, Common Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls) having been encountered. There are also ducks (including large rafts of scaup and mergansers) and shorebirds to be found.

By car: From Montreal, take the Jacques Cartier, Champlain or Mercier Bridge to Highway 132 west. The dam is just west of Beauharnois on Highway 132.
Difficult to reach by public transport.


The Bois de l'Ile Bizard Nature Park

One of the Montreal Urban Community's regional parks, occupies 178 hectares on Ile Bizard. The varied habitat includes an extensive system of boardwalks and overlooks, abandoned fields, mature sugar maple-beech forest and stands of white cedar. A wide variety of birds is found here; Great Horned Owls regularly nest in the woods. In the summer the park is heavily used by cyclists.

By car: take Highway 40 to Blvd. St-Jean North; continue to Gouin Blvd and turn left (west). Follow signs to Ile Bizard Bridge. Cross to the north side of the island on Rue Centrale, turn right on Ch. du Bord du Lac. Watch for Park signs.