Prairie wetland at Beaverhill Lake shorebird staging area

Beaverhill Lake

Alberta · Canada

Habitat
WetlandGrassland
Best Seasons
Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

May-August

Entrance Fee

Free

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

About This Location

Beaverhill Lake east of Edmonton is one of the most important shorebird staging areas in the western prairies and a designated site in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. When water levels are favorable, the lake's shallow margins attract hundreds of thousands of shorebirds during migration.

The Beaverhill Bird Observatory, one of the oldest in western Canada, operates banding stations and hosts the annual Snow Goose Chase Festival. The surrounding aspen parkland and grasslands support breeding owls, sparrows, and raptors.

Location

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Notable Species

Live Bird Data

Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Notable Sightings

Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

6/18/2026Cooking Lake--Blackfoot PRA--Waskahegan Staging Area4 observed

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Vireo gilvus

6/17/2026Beaverhill Natural Area3 observed

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

6/16/2026MMP61 observed

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

6/14/2026Islet Lake Staging Area Trails (Blackfoot Park)1 observed

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

6/14/2026North Beaverhill1 observed

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

6/13/202620241–20299 Township Rd 520, Strathcona County CA-AB 53.45415, -112.870711 observed

Recent Observations

Species reported at this location in the last 14 days

Ring-necked Duck

16/18/2026

Cliff Swallow

16/18/2026

Osprey

16/18/2026

Canada Jay

16/18/2026

Rufous Hummingbird

16/18/2026

Common Loon

16/18/2026

Swainson's Thrush

16/18/2026

American Robin

6/18/2026

MacGillivray's Warbler

16/18/2026

Northern Yellow Warbler

26/18/2026

Lesser Scaup

246/18/2026

Gadwall

26/18/2026

Savannah Sparrow

26/18/2026

Song Sparrow

16/18/2026

Black-capped Chickadee

16/18/2026

Black-billed Magpie

36/18/2026

Northern Flicker

16/18/2026

Red-breasted Nuthatch

16/18/2026

Merlin

16/18/2026

American Crow

166/18/2026

Birding Tips

  1. 1

    Water levels vary dramatically year to year — check with the Beaverhill Bird Observatory before visiting

  2. 2

    The Snow Goose Chase Festival in late April is a great community event for birders

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Beaverhill Lake for birding?
The best months to visit Beaverhill Lake for birding are May-August. The best seasons are Spring and Summer.
What birds can I see at Beaverhill Lake?
Notable species at Beaverhill Lake include Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Franklin's Gull, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit. The area supports wetland, grassland habitats.
How difficult is birding at Beaverhill Lake?
Birding at Beaverhill Lake is rated as Easy. The trails and viewing areas are accessible for birders of all experience levels.
Is there an entrance fee at Beaverhill Lake?
There is no entrance fee at Beaverhill Lake. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily.
What amenities are available at Beaverhill Lake?
Beaverhill Lake offers the following amenities: Parking, Trails.