2023 Oceanside
Brant Wildlife FestivalThe Brant Wildlife Festival celebrates nature, particularly Brant geese as they rest and feed on the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Welcome to the
32nd Annual Brant Wildlife Festival!
Welcome to the 32nd Annual Brant Wildlife Festival! The namesake for this spring celebration of nature is the chatty Brant Goose who flies from Mexico to Alaska to breed. Our shores are pivotal for fattening up these little geese so they have energy for the flight. Together Parksville and Qualicum Beach comprise the Brant Capital of Canada.
The festival connects local businesses, stewardship groups, and community groups who work together to create and promote educational and entertaining events highlighting the biodiversity of this amazing part of Vancouver Island. Many migrations take place in concert with the annual Herring run.
This year’s festival takes place from March 31st through April 9th, 2023.
Enjoy bonus activities April 14, 15, and 16.
The Nature Trust of BC and the Brant Wildlife Festival would like to acknowledge with gratitude that the land on which we gather and host our events is on the unceded traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, the Qualicum and Snaw-Na-Was First Nations.
Festival Guide
Upcoming Events
Be part of the journey of the Brant Wildlife Festival in Parksville and Qualicum. Explore nature right outside your door. Follow the bird trail, #spotthebrant, and explore the estuary.
There is something for everyone!
“LIFT OFF” with The Nature Trust of BC
240 Dogwood Street Parksville, BC, V9P 1E1
Mini-Film Festival
692 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach, V9K 1H8
Resilient Coasts for Salmon – a Five Year Project to Support Shorelines – Opportunities
100 Jensen Ave E, Parksville, BC V9P 1K3
Who We Are
About the Brant Wildlife Festival
For 18 years the Brant Wildlife Festival was spearheaded by the Mid Island Wildlife Watch Society. Over time, the society was challenged to secure the financial and human resources necessary to organize and operate the festival. In June 2006, the members dissolved the society and transferred the assets to The Nature Trust of British Columbia.
Get Involved
The Brant Wildlife Festival came to be and is made possible by the continued support of businesses, community members and local organizations. These groups and individuals are the backbone of our Festival.
Host an Event
We are always looking for nature-related events including tours, educational events, art shows, and more. Do you or your organization have an idea for an event? We’d love to hear from you!
Spot The Brant Contest
Ready to embark on a mission to find all of the Brants around town and be entered to win great prizes? See if you can find the Brant Geese at local businesses in Parksville and Qualicum.
- Take a selfie with a painted brant goose
- Post it to social media with hashtag #spotthebrant
Thank You
Sponsors
The Brant Wildlife Festival is made possible by the continued support of businesses, community members and local organizations. These groups and individuals are the backbone of our Festival.
Blog
Brant News
Stay up to date with the latest Brant news.
Brant Count – April 19, 2022
Small numbers of Brant were reported from each count area. North: at Surfside Drive West, Little Qualicum Estuary, there were 56 Brant along the shore. Central: French Creek and Columbia Beach, a total of 60 Brant were observed flying east in small groups. There were...
Into the Future
Planning the 2021 Brant Wildlife Festival was like entering uncharted territory. The public health restrictions meant that we could not have gatherings or our traditional events, but with determination and public support, the self-directed festival was a success. This...
Forage Fish – The Foundation of Our Marine Food Web
In Our Waters: Part II by Ross Peterson Forage fish are the foundation of our marine food web. With Pacific sand lance, surf smelt and Pacific herring, these little fish support many of the more obvious icons that we associate with our coast, such as rock fish,...