Nature Squamish

08/31/2026

08/08/2026

Purple martins rely on flying insects like dragonflies to fuel their growing chicks. In this special moment captured by volunteer John Buchanan, one young martin achieves its flight while a sibling hangs tight, reminding us that every bird develops at its own pace.

08/05/2026

Join Nature Squamish Director Niall Bell on a bird walk as part of the Youth Climate Corps Climate Action Walk Series!

Birding 101: Community Science focusses on how to get the most out of birding as a hobby and activity, but also how to turn that fun experience into community science data!

For more information visit the signup link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZHZSY5PPrzDLyibLjS9Lm6L2Grc6BBfVvxGzVTE-R-NInVw/viewform

08/03/2026

Squamish just said yes to becoming a Bird Friendly Town -

08/02/2026

A banded Purple Martin was recently observed visiting Box C at the Squamish Estuary, sparking excitement among the volunteer monitoring team.

Bird banding provides researchers with a powerful tool for understanding migration, survival, and colony recruitment. Every re-sighting can reveal valuable information about where birds travel, where they return, and how populations change over time.

Last season, a banded Purple Martin nesting in Box C was identified as a bird banded as a nestling near Fort Langley in 2024. After completing its first migration to South America and back, it selected Squamish as its first breeding location.

Now, another banded bird has appeared at the same box. Interestingly, this individual shows the glossy dark plumage of a full adult male. While we don't yet know its identity, it raises an exciting possibility: could this be last year's bird returning to Squamish one year older with its adult plumage?

That is exactly why bird banding matters. Each band tells a story, and every observation helps us better understand the remarkable journeys of these birds and supports the ongoing recovery and habitat protection of Purple Martins in British Columbia, from South America and every place in between.

07/28/2026

JULY 24 UPDATE
Adult Martin Count
34 individuals (our highest count to date!)

Chicks Are Here!
5 of 30 nest boxes now have chicks poking their heads out at feeding time.

Chick Sightings
We've observed at least 6 chicks, and expect many more to appear over the coming weeks.

Come visit the Squamish Estuary and experience the excitement for yourself!

DID YOU KNOW?

Many cavity-nesting birds, including Purple Martins, have bright yellow mouth flanges, the soft edges at the corners of a chick's mouth.

These bright markings help parents quickly find their chicks' open mouths in the dim light inside the nest cavity, making feeding more accurate.

With chicks now visible at the Squamish Estuary nest boxes, it's the perfect time to witness this remarkable adaptation in action.

07/24/2026

Can you spare some time to help us out and contribute to conservation in Squamish?

We have the following volunteer positions open:
- Purple martin observers
- Social media support
- Administrative support
- Board member

If you’re interested, we’d LOVE to hear from you! Head to our website for more information and to register your interest. Thanks so much!

https://www.squamishenvironment.ca/current-volunteer-opportunities/

07/14/2026

Have You Seen Purple Martins in Squamish?

The Squamish Estuary is currently the only known active Purple Martin colony in Squamish, but we these birds may be using other areas throughout the community for feeding, nesting, roosting, or exploring potential breeding locations.
That's where you can help.

If you've seen Purple Martins anywhere in Squamish or Sea-To-Sky area, we'd love to hear from you! Whether it was a pair flying over a neighbourhood, birds feeding over a field, gathering near water, or investigating nesting sites, your observations could provide valuable information about how Purple Martins are using habitats beyond the estuary.

Understanding where Purple Martins are spending their time helps us:
· Identify important feeding and breeding habitats
· Learn whether birds are exploring new nesting locations
· Better understand local movement patterns
· Support future Purple Martin recovery and conservation efforts in Squamish

Please share your sightings in the comments below, including the location and date if possible, or email your observations to [email protected].

Every sighting helps us build a clearer picture of Purple Martin activity in Squamish and contributes to the recovery of this remarkable aerial insectivore.
Thank you for helping support Purple Martin conservation!

07/13/2026

The Western Toad tadpoles in Fawn Lake at Alice Lake Provincial Park are are almost ready to leave the lake to migrate into the surrounding forest.

First their legs pop out, followed by their arms, then their tails are absorbed into their bodies, morphing into tiny toadlets. If they move onto trails, they are hard to see and easier to crush. Please respect all closure signs near Fawn lake and report sightings to [email protected]

Video by John Buchanan

07/10/2026

A milestone for the 2026 season! Our volunteer Purple Martin monitoring team recorded a high count of 28 Purple Martins on June 12, the highest number observed at the colony so far this year.

The 2026 spring season has been notably favourable, with predominantly warm and very dry conditions. As a result, adult martins appeared to be running about two weeks ahead of schedule, with many pairs incubating egg clutches earlier than we would typically expect. In years with our more usual prolonged cool and wet spring weather, egg-laying is often delayed, with full clutches commonly not initiated until late June to early July.

While the season is still underway, these early signs are encouraging and highlight how weather conditions can influence the timing of Purple Martin breeding activity.
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who continue to monitor and support this recovering colony! 🐦💜