George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary | |
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IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
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Sandhill cranes
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Location | Delta, British Columbia, Canada |
Nearest city | Vancouver |
Coordinates | 49°5′50.6322″N 123°9′57.7728″W / 49.097397833°N 123.166048000°WCoordinates: 49°5′50.6322″N 123°9′57.7728″W / 49.097397833°N 123.166048000°W |
Area | 300 ha (740 acres) |
Established | 1963 |
Governing body | British Columbia Waterfowl Society |
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a protected area in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and is part of the Fraser River estuary, designated a site of Hemispheric Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.
The area includes managed wetlands, marshes and dikes. The 300-hectare (740-acre) area has numerous walking trails, bird blinds, lookouts, and a gift shop. It has resident nesting sites for sandhill cranes, bald eagles, mallards, spotted towhees and many others. Migrants include, lesser snow geese, greater and lesser yellowlegs, long-billed dowitchers, and western sandpipers. Over 250 species have so far been recorded in the sanctuary. The sanctuary is open year round from 9 am to 4 pm local time.