Wildlife

Birding

Most birdwatchers know that the thrill of finding a bird that you have never seen before can be quite exhilarating. Since Haida Gwaii lies along a major migratory highway, it is very common to identify unusual vagrant birds. Near the lodge we have seen extremely rare warblers, pipits and even a red-legged kittiwake.  

Marine Mammals

Since the waters of Haida Gwaii are rich with several blending tidal currents and river outflows, it has extremely nutrient-rich waters. The remote distribution of all the islands that form Haida Gwaii is a mecca for plankton, fish, and all marine invertebrates. There are actually 23 species of marine mammals in the area. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions and sea otters have all been seen from the deck of our lodge. Gray whales are the most common sighting as they pass through inshore waters so often. They travel 20,000 km to breed from the Arctic to the Baja breeding lagoons. 

Worlds largest Black Bear

This bear found on Haida Gwaii is actually a subspecies of the common North American version. It is generally larger than its mainland counterpart and has a massive skull and molars. Neither does its color vary much; they are all black. These bears rely heavily on the salmon biomass in our rivers. The availability of salmon is extremely important to the bears of Haida Gwaii. Our lodge is close to some of the best bear habitat on the islands, and in the summer we can view these bears consistently from safe distances.