Ducks n' Dougs: A Mini Forest Planting Event for All Buffleheads Day
Sun, Oct 18
|Gorge Waterway Nature House
Join GWAS in a fall forest planting event in Esquimalt Gorge Park! When we finish planting, we'll head to the water to check out buffleheads in the Gorge Waterway on their annual migration south.
Time & Location
Oct 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Gorge Waterway Nature House, Esquimalt Gorge Park, Tillicum Rd, Victoria, BC V9A 1M9, Canada
About the event
The best things about fall are the return of planting events after a long, dry summer, and the return of the buffleheads!
We're celebrating both in this inclusive event in Esquimalt Gorge Park.
First, join GWAS staff in planting native seedlings in the Mini Forest and the Indigenous Youth Stewardship site. No experience or equipment necessary, just dress comfortably for the weather in clothes you don't mind getting muddy.
Once we finish planting, we'll walk over to the beach in front of the Nature House and the salt marsh to observe buffleheads on their annual journey south. Buffleheads (bucephala albeola) are some of the most punctual bird species, and show up in the Gorge Waterway each year around October 15.
Snacks, tea, and coffee will be provided. Bring your family, friends, and anyone in your community who loves native plants and native ducks!