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© Dale Floer

Colony Farm Regional Park

49.23712 , -122.80453

Canada

Colony Farm is among the best birding locations in Metro Vancouver. Its open fields and drier habitat attract birds that are not easily found elsewhere in the lower mainland, like Northern Harriers, Eastern Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, it is difficult to get to via transit and provides little shade in the summer, when all the best birds are there.

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The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 49.2371/-122.8045 (2021-05-12 18:55:47 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Colony Farm Regional Park" (2021-05-12 18:55:47 )

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2026-02-02 11:25:29
Colony Farm is among the best birding locations in Metro Vancouver. Its open fields and drier habitat attract birds that are not easily found elsewhere in the lower mainland, like Northern Harriers, Eastern Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, it is difficult to get to via transit and provides little shade in the summer, when all the best birds are there.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2026-02-02 11:24:19
Colony Farm is among the best birding in Metro Vancouver. Its open fields and drier habitat attract birds that are not found elsewhere easily found elsewhere in the lower mainland, like Northern Harriers, Eastern Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, it is difficult to get to via transit and provides little shade in the summer, when all the best birds are there.
Edited by Holly Becker on 2021-12-19 03:10:56
Colony Farm is among the best birding in Metro Vancouver. Its open fields and drier habitat attract birds that are not found elsewhere in the lower mainland, like Northern Harries, Harriers, Eastern Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, it is difficult to get to via transit and provides little shade in the summer, when all the best birds are there.
Edited by Holly Becker on 2021-07-14 06:25:10
Colony Farm is among the best birding in Metro Vancouver. Its open fields and drier habitat attract birds that are not found elsewhere in the lower mainland, like Northern Harries, Eastern Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, it is difficult to get to via transit and provides little shade in the summer, when all the best birds are there.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) was added by Dale Floer (2021-12-19 06:55:42)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was added by Dale Floer (2021-07-22 21:39:01)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) was added by Dale Floer (2021-07-14 18:56:07)

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) was added by Dale Floer (2021-07-14 18:55:31)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) was added by Dale Floer (2021-07-14 18:55:17)

  • Timing and strategy

It can take 3 hours to thoroughly bird the whole park, which has several gravel walking paths. The pond on the pumphouse trail is a must-check spot, as there is often something interesting there, such as American Bitterns, Pied-billed Grebes or ducks stopping by. The forest between the river and the Wilson Farm Dyke trail is a good spot to get forest birds, as is the area on the southeastern section of the park. The newly re-opened sheep paddock trail has a pond partway along it, which is also worth checking out.

Bicycles are allowed on many of the paths in the park.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Holly Becker on 2021-12-19 03:12
It can take 3 hours to thoroughly bird the whole park, which has several gravel walking paths. The pond on the pumhouse pumphouse trail is a must-check spot, as there is often something interesting there, such as American Bitterns, Pied-billed Grebes or ducks stopping by. The forest between the river and the Wilson Farm Dyke trail is a good spot to get forest birds, as is the area on the southeastern section of the park. The newly re-opened sheep paddock trail has a pond partway along it, which is also worth checking out. Bicycles are allowed on many of the paths in the park.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:38
It can take 3 hours to thoroughly bird the whole park, which has several gravel walking paths. The park pond on the pumhouse trail is open 7AM a must-check spot, as there is often something interesting there, such as American Bitterns, Pied-billed Grebes or ducks stopping by. The forest between the river and the Wilson Farm Dyke trail is a good spot to 9PM get forest birds, as is the area on the southeastern section of the park. The newly re-opened sheep paddock trail has a pond partway along it, which is also worth checking out. Bicycles are allowed on many of the paths in the winter and 7AM to 10PM in the summer, though the restrooms may close at 9AM.park.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:22
The park is open 7AM to 9PM in the winter and 7AM to 10PM in the summer, though the restrooms may close at 9AM.
  • How to get there

Public Transit: Either the 159 or 169 buses can be caught eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station or Westbound from Braid station.

The 159 has stops in both directions near the south-eastern corner of the park while the 169 has stops near the main road entrance to the park.

Biking: Lougheed Highway has shoulders designated as bike lanes. There is also an underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass accessible from Maquabeak park at the end of Burbridge Street.

Driving: The main entrance is accessible from Lougheed highway (highway 7). If parking in the main lot is full, people sometimes park in Maquabeak park and take the underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2026-02-24 13:01
Public Transit: Either the 159 or 169 buses can be caught eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station or Westbound from Braid station. The 159 has stops in both directions near the south-eastern corner of the park while the 169 has stops near the main road entrance to the park. Biking: Lougheed Highway has shoulders designated as bike lanes. There is also an underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass accessible from Maquabeak park at the end of Burbridge Street. Driving: The main entrance is accessible from Lougheed highway (highway 7). If parking in the main lot is full, people somtimes sometimes park in Maquabeak park and take the underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass.
Edited by Stephen Matthews on 2026-02-02 09:03
Public Transit: Either the 159 or 169 buses can be caught eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station or Westbound from Braid station. The 159 has stops in both directions near the south-eastern corner of the park while the 169 has stops near the main road entrance to the park. Biking: Lougheed Highway has shoulders designated as bike lanes lanes. There is also an underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass accessible from Maquabeak park at the end of Burbridge Street. Driving: The main entrance is accessible from Lougheed highway (highway 7). If parking in the main lot is full, people somtimes park in Maquabeak park an and take the underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:11
Public Transit: The Either the 159 bus or 169 buses can be caught eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station or Westbound from Brain station and  Braid station. The 159 has stops in both directions near the south-eastern corner of the park. The other bus option is park while the 159, which runs between the same two stations, but along the west side of the park. This drops off 169 has stops near the main road entrance to the park. park. Biking: Lougheed Highway has shoulders designated as bike lanes There is also an underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass accessible from Maquabeak park at the end of Burbridge Street. Driving: The main entrance is accessible from Lougheed highway. highway (highway 7). If parking in the main lot is full, people somtimes park in Maquabeak park an take the underpass under the Mary Hill Bypass.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 20:48
Public Transit: The 159 bus can be caught eastbound from Coquitlam Central Station or Westbound from Brain station and  has stops near the south-eastern corner of the park. The other bus option is the 159, which runs between the same two stations, but along the west side of the park. This drops off near the main road entrance to the park. Driving: The main entrance is accessible from Lougheed highway.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Not available yet
  • Other attractions

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Not available yet

There are restrooms with flush toilets and running water near the main parking lot. There is also potable water outside, as well as several picnic tables towards the community gardens.

There is a bike rack in the main parking lot, as well as free 2hr electric vehicle charging stations.

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:33
There are restrooms with flush toilets and running water near the main parking lot. There is also potable water outside, as well as several picnic tables towards the community gardens.gardens. There is a bike rack in the main parking lot, as well as free 2hr electric vehicle charging stations.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:16
There are restrooms with flush toilets and running water near the main parking lot. There is also potable water outside, as well as several picnic tables to eat at.towards the community gardens.
Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:13
There are restrooms with flush toilets and running water near the main parking lot. There is also potable water outside, as well as several picnic tables to eat at.

There have been some reported break-ins in the small parking lot near the entrance, but the main lot is usually fine.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Dale Floer on 2021-07-22 21:12
There have been some reported break-ins in the small parking lot near the entrance, but the main lot is usually fine.
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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Reports

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Colony Farm Regional Park - Orniverse