Tuesday March 3, 2026 | METCHOSIN, BC [Posted at 10:33 am PST | Updated 11:06 am]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Along the Pacific Flyway, where millions of birds travel north and south each year, a 21-hectare property in Metchosin has been permanently protected by the BC Parks Foundation.
The acquisition was made possible with support from the Wilson 5 Foundation, the Metchosin Foundation, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, and community donors.
A celebratory announcement was held today on the property, attended by District of Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little, members of Metchosin council, Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation and other guests.
Headquarters for Rocky Point Bird Observatory:
In partnership with Rocky Point Bird Observatory, the site will serve as the organization’s headquarters and as a bird sanctuary, supporting research, education and community outreach programs.
Known as Hummingbird Hill, the property’s meadows, ponds, and veteran trees provide habitat for species ranging from turkey vultures and hummingbirds to the northern saw-whet owl.
The west shore region within Greater Victoria is widely known as the Birding Capital of Canada. In a rapidly urbanizing landscape, areas such as this provide stopover and nesting habitat for migratory birds moving between continents.
The site borders the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, lies near Matheson Lake and Metchosin Wilderness parks, and adjoins a proposed Tribal Park at Mary Hill. When the property came up for sale, the Metchosin Foundation approached BC Parks Foundation to help conserve it.
Metchosin Foundation:
“We love supporting local volunteers like the great people at the Metchosin Foundation and Rocky Point Bird Observatory,” said Andy Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation.
“Protecting stopover spots like this helps birds complete their epic journeys across continents. Small creatures face big odds these days, and a single piece of land can make a difference,” said Day.
“As a small, volunteer-led group, we act as connector, catalyst and accelerator in bringing people together to protect the places we love,” said Valerie Jaeger, president of the Metchosin Foundation.
“We operate at the speed of trust, and the deep trust we share with BC Parks Foundation enables a shared vision for regional biodiversity protection,” said Jaeger.
The project builds on the partners’ 2024 creation of the Bilston Headwaters Nature Reserve, expanding a growing conservation corridor in the region.
District of Metchosin:
The District of Metchosin — a local rural municipality — has provided property tax relief in support of the project.
“Within BC’s Capital Regional District, Metchosin is appreciated for its outdoor recreation opportunities, local agriculture and biodiversity,” says Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little.
“This second successful collaboration between BC Parks Foundation and the Metchosin Foundation demonstrates the power of organizations working together to create outcomes that benefit British Columbians,” says Mayor Little.
Mayor Little is in her first term as Metchosin’s Mayor, seeking re-election in the October 2026 municipal election. She is in her third year as Vice-Chair of the Capital Regional District (CRD) board of directors.
Rocky Point Bird Observatory:
Since 1994, Rocky Point Bird Observatory has tracked bird migration across southern Vancouver Island, contributing data to international studies. Its four monitoring programs collect data on songbirds, owls, hummingbirds and seabirds of the Salish Sea.
More than 125 volunteers and licensed banding staff collect data—including ticks for Lyme disease research and pollen from songbirds for pollinator studies—from thousands of birds each year.
“Our 31 years of data provide insight into how birds are doing,” said Rosa Munzer, president of Rocky Point Bird Observatory. “Our researchers are pleased to find that this site has healthy numbers of rufous hummingbirds, a species whose population has dropped by half since 1970. It’s encouraging to witness their resilience here.”
BC Parks Foundation staff have also observed regular activity from mammals such as cougar, bear, deer and elk, underscoring the site’s ecological importance.
Public access:
Because of the ecological sensitivity of the area, public access will be offered through guided walks, talks, and volunteer programs organized by Rocky Point Bird Observatory. The adjacent Galloping Goose Trail remains open to the public.
“Preserving Hummingbird Hill is something positive and real that benefits birds, wildlife, and people now and in the future,” Day said. “It is another example of British Columbians working together to conserve important landscapes.”
Donors:
“This land sits at a special intersection of movement and nature. With the Galloping Goose running alongside it, the area invites people to get outside and stay active while preserving habitat for birds and other species,” say Summer and Chip Wilson, founders, Wilson 5 Foundation.
“By working with partners like BC Parks Foundation, and with the support of generous donors, we can protect carbon-rich coastal habitats in British Columbia,” says Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
“These ecosystems store carbon, provide critical stopover habitat for migratory birds and protect biodiversity. The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund is playing a critical role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss and advancing Canada’s 2030 climate targets,” said Dabrusin in today’s BC Parks Foundation news release.
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