Who We Are:
Birding by Season is an eco-tour company that opened its doors in Stephenville, Newfoundland in 2018. Our year-round tours are led by an experienced local birder who has created quality birding tours and who welcomes the opportunity to introduce birders of all skill levels to this beautiful place. We believe in this place and its people and proudly support local businesses and land conservation programs that benefit local bird habitat. Further, we are committed to acting responsibly by practicing the ABA’s Code of Birding Ethics and by minimizing disturbance to birds and their habitats when we are in the field.
What We Offer:
We offer guided birding tours that take individuals and small groups on an amazing journey through Southwestern Newfoundland. Birding tours can be combined, customized or set up as a private tour and are available in durations of a half day, single day or a series of single days. For those looking for a bit more freedom, Do-it-Yourself tour options are available.
Your host and local guide:
Janice Flynn, the founder of Birding by Season is your host and local guide. A First Nations conservation biologist and experienced birder (Master of Science in Biology), Janice incorporates an Indigenous perspective with birding by ear skills to create a unique and rich interpretative birding experience.
Janice grew up in Stephenville on Newfoundland’s southwest coast, where she discovered an interest in birds at an early age. Her strong connection to nature led her to change careers and while pursuing studies in conservation biology at Acadia University, she uncovered her Mi’kmaq heritage. A field trip to Belize in 2002 ignited her passion for bird song, and it was here at Las Cuevas Research Station that she cultivated her ability for bird identification by ear – a skill she teaches and uses to lead others to birds in a variety of habitats.
She has worked enthusiastically as an Avian Field Biologist in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and has organized and led birding events at the Codroy Valley Wetland Interpretation Centre, Bay St. George YMCA Summer Camp, Stephenville Feather and Folk Festival and for the Canadian Federation of University Women – Wolfville (NS).
She continues to volunteer as a Breeding Bird Surveyor and coordinates the Stephenville Christmas Bird Count for Birds Canada. Janice is happy to share her heritage and fascination with birds, and as a “lifelong student of birds” enjoys learning about them from others.
We love this region and want to share it with you….
- The area code for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is 709.
- The region of Southwestern Newfoundland includes Stephenville and the Port au Port Peninsula south to Port aux Basques and eastwards to Burgeo.
- Southwestern Newfoundland forms part of the Western Newfoundland Ecoregion, one of the most diverse regions in the Province.
- There are plenty of safe, easy-access routes to bird viewing environments in protected and unprotected natural areas.
- Birding environments are accessed by walking trails, resource roads, and the Newfoundland T’Railway (Provincial Day Park).
- Birding opportunities are in less travelled areas (outside major tourism centres) with plenty of room to breathe.
- Home to the Codroy Valley Wetland Interpretation Centre.
- Home to the Grand Codroy Estuary – A Wetland of International Importance and Newfoundland’s only RAMSAR site.
- Southwestern Newfoundland has four Important Bird Areas (IBAs) recognized by IBA Canada.
- Home to the largest undisturbed river-delta system on the Island of Newfoundland (King George IV Reserve).
- Home to four municipal stewardship agreements fostered by the Stewardship Association of Municipalities NL, where wetlands falling within municipal planning boundaries have been set aside for conservation.
- Home to three Provincial Parks – Barachois Pond Provincial Park, J. T. Cheeseman Provincial Park, Sandbanks Provincial Park.
- Home to the Codroy Valley Provincial (Day) Park.
- Home to an active Indigenous culture, as well as Francophone and Acadian Communities.