2023 Oceanside

Brant Wildlife Festival

The 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.

 

Festival EventsBecome A Sponsor
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.

Brant Geese on the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach
Baby brant geese Parksville and Qualicum Beach

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-Naw-As 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!

Click HERE for summary of event listings:

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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
  • Don't do Social Media? Just send your image to us! We'll post it for you. coordinator@brantfestival.bc.ca

    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!

    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.

    Brant Wildlife Festival geese
    Blog

    Brant News

    Stay up to date with the latest Brant news.

    A Message from Our Orca Sponsor Mid-Island Co-op

    A Message from Our Orca Sponsor Mid-Island Co-op

    Mid Island Co-op is proud to sponsor the 32 nd Annual Brant Wildlife Festival. Your Mid Island Co-op is truly local. Since 1959 we’ve been 100% community owned, and with now over 70,000 active members, today we’re stronger together than ever before. As a member of Mid...

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    A Message from Our Brant Sponsor – The City of Parksville

    A Message from Our Brant Sponsor – The City of Parksville

    Welcoming the Brant to Parksville Beaches The Black Brant geese we see feeding along the shores of Parksville are on a remarkable and arduous journey of migration from California and Mexico to northern nesting grounds. Our beaches provide an abundant food source for...

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