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The
Zeballos viewing area offers a double attraction: an opportunity
to view plants and animals in their natural environment while
enjoying the charms of British Columbia's smallest municipality
(population about 200).
Like
so many North Vancouver Island communities, Zeballos is re-inventing
itself and, at the same time, re-discovering its heritage. Once
Vancouver Island's premier gold mining town, Zeballos is a small
treasure at the end of a spectacular journey across the rugged
spine of Vancouver Island. The wildlife viewing platform is located
in the
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Zeballos Viewing Platform
click on image to view |
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centre of
town, showing just how close to nature the village is. The platform
provides views of the Zeballos River estuary.
Fall, winter
and spring are best viewing times for waterfowl, which include
trumpeter swans, grebes, bufflehead, goldeneyes, mergansers, mallard
and widgeon. During winter storms, scoters, scaup, cormorants
and other outer sea birds take refuge in the estuary. In the summer
and fall black bears, shorebirds, raccoons, black tailed deer,
otter, and seals use this rich feeding ground. Mew gulls can also
be seen as there is a breeding colony nearby. Eagles and great
blue herons use the region year round.
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North
Island Wildlife Viewing Network
