If the sights and sounds of thousands of snow geese lifting into a cold winter sky set your pulse racing, head for the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, part of the Alaksen National Wildlife Area at the mouth of the Fraser River.

The snow geese may be the most renowned birds at the sanctuary, but they are hardly alone out there. This patchwork of mudflats, fresh water, brackish and salt marshes, and upland fields attracts the largest wintering population of waterfowl in Canada; 37 species of ducks, geese, and swans have been sighted in the George Reifel sanctuary. More than 268 bird species have shown up, and many are either residents or regular visitors.

A network of dikes allows you to hike in the sanctuary. Several lookout points and an observation tower enhance your viewing opportunities. The traditional human travel month of July is the quietest time to visit the sanctuary, because there is relatively little avian activity. The migrants start arriving in the late summer and fall and peak in early November.