Tucked inside one of Calgary’s oldest communities lies a walking trail with over 200 bird species, making it one of the city’s most peaceful and unexpected escapes. Just minutes from downtown, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary feels like a completely different world from the moment you step onto the trails.
The sanctuary sits along the Bow River and has protected birds and natural habitats for decades. It was originally established to preserve the area as a safe stopover for migratory birds and has continued to serve its purpose ever since.
The history behind the sanctuary
According to the City of Calgary, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary has been a protected haven for birds and wildlife for more than 80 years. The land itself has a long history, originally associated with Colonel James Walker, an early member of the North West Mounted Police, who owned the area in the late 1800s.
In 1929, his son, Selby Walker, played a major role in shaping what the sanctuary is today by working to have a portion of the land officially designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. This designation helped formally protect the area for birds using the Bow River as a migration route.
In 1970, the land was purchased by the City of Calgary, and has since then been managed and protected, making it one of Calgary’s most important wildlife areas.
Today, you can walk through the sanctuary using its self-guided trails and see just how much wildlife is tucked into the area. According to the City of Calgary, over 200 bird species have been recorded here, with the highest variety typically seen during spring and fall migration.
Along the trails, you may come across mallards and Canada geese on the ponds, pelicans hanging out on the Bow River, and, if you’re lucky, you may even come across a bald eagle soaring through the trees.
It’s not just birds either. The sanctuary is also home to other wildlife, such as muskrats, beavers, and the occasional deer, which can be spotted along quieter sections of the trails, especially early in the morning or late in the evening.
So let this be your gentle reminder that you don’t need to leave the city to find peace and quiet. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is proof that even in the middle of Calgary, you can be surrounded by wildlife, nature, and trails that make the city feel a little further away than it actually is.
When: Open year-round
Time: Open 24 hours
Where: 2425 9th Ave. SE, Calgary, Alta.
Cost: Free to visit
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Kaiya Williams
Kaiya is a Calgary-based writer and content creator with a background in marketing and digital storytelling. She has a passion for community-driven stories and covering local experiences that connect people.
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