Vancouver Island Nature Tours

Celebrating the first Matsutake
Originally uploaded by TheRainbird
Masaya is a very persistent fellow! He has been on a mushroom tour with me before, but he didn’t quite get what he was hoping for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they had a great time. But he was hoping to pick some Matsutake Mushrooms on it. [...]

Bear on the Somass River
Originally uploaded by TheRainbird

For most of the year bears are not seen on the far bank of the Somass River. But from mid-August to late October this is the best place to see Black Bears on Vancouver Island. They are commonly seen on low tides at the mouth of the river [...]

Alberni Valley Tourism Award
Originally uploaded by TheRainbird
Alberni Valley Tourism Award
At Tourism Vancouver Island’s 45th Annual Conference on 25 October, Alberni Valley Tourism won the award for Multi-faceted Advertising Campaign. As a board member of Alberni Valley Tourism, I was at the awards dinner and took a couple of shots of the event. Receiving the award [...]

It is near the end of November and business has dried up completely. But the weather hasn’t dried up! It’s coming down in torrents right now. So what does a tour operator do in the off season? Plan for next year!And I have put a bunch of irons in the fire.
First, Rainbird Excursions has partnered [...]

It was one of those rare days on Vancouver Island; the weatherman called for sun and it was the weekend!
So, the nature tour season having ended about two weeks ago, I said to my better half, lets go for an outing this afternoon.  I suggested we go and see if the Sockeye Salmon were spawning [...]

Long Beach
Originally uploaded by TheRainbird
This was taken a couple of years ago near Combers Beach parking area. I love how the walkers have their shoes in their hands. And how the flock of gulls are nearly hidden in the fog. And how she has turned to watch a gull flying. The peace, tranquility and agelessness [...]

Thanks to a very strong web presence and new marketing strategies, Rainbird Excursions’ Magical Mushroom tour went off without a hitch this weekend. In fact I had to turn down some people. Next year promises to be bigger and better than ever. I plan on having more expertise on site and accommodating more people.
Planning an [...]

The more I go to Stamp Falls, the more I am convinced that this Provincial park is the best place to see salmon migrating on Vancouver Island.  And by way of a photo essay I will prove it to you.
It is a little off the beaten track. Those of you who are fixated on [...]

Rainbird Excursions and Batstar Cafe & Picnic have teamed up to create a unique outdoor and gourmet experience. Ron Storey, Batstar’s gourmet chef and creator of the superb meal served last year to a lucky group of guests, will again create a meal fit for an epicure. But first, guests will be escorted [...]

It’s way past time for another entry. I’ve got plenty of irons in the fire these days.
One promising iron is a pelagic birding trip for the American Birding Association. They are having a regional convention in Vancouver and Victoria from 30 August to 6 September 2008. And they have asked Rainbird Excursions to put [...]