Embark on the ultimate birdwatching adventures of 2025!

Are you ready to immerse yourself in a world where the sky meets the sea and the air is filled with the sounds of some of the planet’s most extraordinary bird species? Whether you’re an experienced birder, an avid photographer seeking elusive pelagic species, or just beginning your birding journey, 2025 brings the perfect opportunity for you to explore the incredible avian life of the Salish Sea—one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth!

In partnership with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO), we’re thrilled to offer five exclusive birdwatching tours that will take you to the heart of the Salish Sea’s most coveted birding hotspots. These unforgettable excursions offer you unparalleled access to a thriving world of seabirds, marine life and jaw-dropping vistas.

Feel good! 5% of gross revenue is donated back to the RPBO to help support the great work they do in and around the Greater Victoria region and the Salish Sea.

Why the Salish Sea?

A coastal wonderland, the Salish Sea is an ecological treasure where nutrient-rich tidal waters create a dynamic feeding ground for over 170 species of birds. From windswept rocky reefs and lush kelp forests to sheltered estuaries, these diverse habitats provide a home for migratory birds, nesting seabirds, and pelagic species. This is birdwatching at its wildest—with opportunities to witness feeding frenzies, rare migratory species, and the region’s stunning natural beauty.

Join us for a tour in 2025!

Get ready for an adventure like no other aboard our luxury semi-covered catamaran,  4 Ever Wild, as we take you on epic birdwatching journeys. With an RPBO expert onboard for each tour, you’ll learn about bird identification, conservation challenges, and the fascinating life histories of the species we encounter. And because birding is all about flexibility, we’ll follow the birds, ensuring an experience that’s full of surprises! We’ll go where the birds are!

Thank you to Jeremy Ragan for the amazing video – follow him on Instagram at @jear.bear524 

Upcoming tours

Active Pass and Islands to the East

• When: April 5, 2025
• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC
• Time: 8:00 a.m. departure, 6+ hours
• Cost: $225
• Target Species: Bonaparte’s Gull, Pacific Loon, Surfbird, Brandt’s Cormorant

Prepare for a breathtaking adventure as we cruise through Active Pass—a globally recognized Important Bird Area for the Bonaparte’s Gull, Pacific Loon and Brandt’s Cormorant. Get up close to tidal upwellings that bring marine organisms to the surface, attracting hundreds and sometimes thousands of hungry seabirds. We hope to explore rugged, rarely birded spots like the Belle Chain Islets and Tumbo Island, known for hosting large numbers of migratory shorebirds. Time permitting, we’ll make several other birding stops on our way back to Victoria. This is a wild, dynamic tour packed with action!

BOOK this tour  – very limited space

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Race Rocks & Surrounding Area (Spring)

• When: May 17, 2025
• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC
• Time: 8:00 a.m. departure, 4+ hours
• Cost: $159
• Target Species: Caspian Tern, Harlequin Duck, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone

Get ready for a seabird safari as we cruise west past the Esquimalt Migratory Bird Sanctuary and cruise the waters near historic Race Rocks Lighthouse—a hub for marine birds, seals and sea lions! To help mark Victoria Bird Week, you’ll have the chance to spot iconic species and experience a true wild place. We’ll also explore the waters of nearby Whirl and Becher Bays, known for attracting flocks of migratory birds. Then if sea conditions permit, we’ll move further out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to search for deeper-water birds or head east toward Trial island and Oak Bay, crossing Constance Bank.

BOOK this tour  – very limited space

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Islands of Northern Haro Strait

• When: June 22, 2025
• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC
• Time: 8:00 a.m. departure, 4+ hours
• Cost: $179
• Target Species: Nesting cormorants (3 species), Pigeon Guillemot, gulls

Let the birding action unfold as we explore the sheltered northern waters of Haro Strait. This tour is ideal for birders wanting to hone their ID skills on breeding plumage seabirds. With stops at key feeding, resting and breeding areas like Oak Bay, Sidney Spit and Mandarte Island—the largest seabird nesting colony in the Canadian Salish Sea—this is an unparalleled chance to see and learn about some of our region’s most fascinating bird populations!

BOOK this tour  – very limited space

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Smith Island & Surrounding Banks

• When: August 24, 2025
• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC
• Time: 8:00 a.m. departure, 6+ hours
• Cost: $249
• Target Species: Tufted Puffin, Horned Puffin, Manx Shearwater

Looking for puffins and pelagic species? Join us as we head southeast to Smith Island in Washington State—a secluded breeding ground for Tufted Puffins and (rarely) Horned Puffins. As we scan the shallow waters of nearby Hein, Partridge, Eastern or Coyote Banks, you’ll get the chance to witness the thrilling spectacle of seabirds foraging in the nutrient-rich waters. Keep your eyes peeled for swirling clouds of feeding seabirds, known as baitballs. You may even spot a minke whale or two!

BOOK this tour  – very limited space

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Race Rocks & Juan de Fuca Strait (Fall)

• When: October 4, 2025
• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, BC
• Time: 8:00 a.m. departure, 6+ hours
• Cost: $249
• Target Species: Red-necked Phalarope, Parasitic Jaeger, Short-tailed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater

Experience the fall migration in full swing! As we cruise the waters near historic Race Rocks Lighthouse, prepare for swirling clouds of feeding seabirds and—further offshore—the chance to spot some of the region’s rarest pelagic species. Along the way, we may encounter lunge-feeding humpback whales, hundreds of seals and sea lions, huge flocks of migrating seabirds, and the beauty of fall on the Salish Sea—an experience that is as unforgettable as it is awe-inspiring!

BOOK this tour  – very limited space

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Why choose our tours?

• A true adventure! Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most spectacular birding regions, with expert guidance and an adventurous spirit.
• Flexibility! We go where the birds are, ensuring an unpredictable and thrilling experience.
• Small group, big experience! We keep tours intimate, providing you with personal, up-close views of our feathered friends.

The RPBO is a non-profit Victoria-based organization dedicated to the conservation of migratory birds through monitoring, scientific research and public education. As a member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, the RPBO collects vital data on bird populations and trends across southern Vancouver Island and beyond—giving you access to the best birding expertise in the region!

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Spaces are limited, so book your adventure today and make 2025 the year you experience the Salish Sea like never before!

Accessibility

This is an inclusive experience open to people of all abilities. We can accommodate a wheelchair on 4 Ever Wild, if you have accessibility or mobility challenges, please contact our customer service representatives. They will do everything in their power to help you safely and comfortably enjoy your adventure with us!

Cancellation policy

Our usual cancellation policy is 48 hours before your tour. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can pop up. If this happens, we kindly request that you communicate with us via phone or email as soon as possible!

• minimum numbers are required to confirm this departure time

Private charters

Are you looking for a wildlife experience without the crowds? For the discerning traveller we offer private charters, with the option of setting your own agenda. Contact us and we’ll begin personalizing your West Coast experience today!

Eagle Wing Tours is committed to providing a supportive, safe and welcoming environment that ensures respect and dignity for all employees and guests. Please see our Code of Conduct, which outlines our expectations from guests to help us meet our high standard of service.