Tofino Shorebird Festival

The Tofino Shorebird Festival is one of our region’s longest running events, and one of the Rain Coast Education’s marquee public education offerings. Due to unforeseen circumstances in 2025, we will be offering a streamlined schedule focused on in-the-field interpretation. 

Every year from late April through May, flocks of sandpipers, plovers, whimbrels, and many other shorebirds pass through the Tofino area. Thousands stop here to feed and rest as they make their impressive journey from South and Central America northward to their Arctic breeding grounds. The protected forests, expansive mudflats, long sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines of the region create the right combination of habitats to draw over 40 species of shorebirds to the area, including the largest migratory concentrations of whimbrels anywhere in British Columbia, and impressive flocks of western sandpipers, dunlin and more.

The Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is 21 square kilometers of rich, diverse habitats for numerous wildlife species. It was established in 1997 to conserve wildlife habitat in Clayoquot Sound and is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Tofino Mudflats WMA is comprised of tidal flats, shallow to deep subtidal areas, rock and gravel beaches, marshes, tidal channels, streams, riparian areas, and dense coastal temperate rainforest. More sheltered than most intertidal environments, and richer in nutrients, the mudflats are a fascinating place to explore.

Birding on the Mudflats

Monday through Friday, April 28 – May 2
On the birding platform at Hotel Zed
FREE Drop-by Event
Monday, April 28, 11am – 2pm / Tuesday, April 29, Noon – 3pm / Wednesday, April 30, 1pm –4pm / Thursday, May 1, 2pm – 5pm / Friday, May 2, 2pm – 5pm
Find fellow birders, spotting scopes and bird guide Mark Maftei from the RES 

This is the best opportunity to spend some time down on the Tofino mudflats to view flocks of shorebirds foraging and resting during their annual migration north. The mudflats at this location offer some of the best and most accessible high-quality shorebird habitat in Tofino. Bird viewing on the mudflats is tide relevant – the rising tide when birds are pushed up towards the upper mudflats for a better view.  This is a great event for both new and experienced birders, as well as anyone interested in learning more about the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area.

Bring your binoculars or spotting scope, or else we will have a couple to share. No dogs please.

Visit our website for more information.