In 2020, local photographer and author, Mike Yip, published Beginner鈥檚 Guide to Common Vancouver Island Birds.

It was the first-ever comprehensive guide for Vancouver Island birds, documenting 250 species seen every year or almost every year on the Island. It was instantly in demand by naturalists, beginning birders and newcomers and by late 2023, it was out of print.  

Despite selling out, Yip recognized that there is never a guarantee that it would do as well in the future. Reprinting the book would be a sizable financial gamble, but with many book stores still asking for copies, Yip decided to take the plunge and has ordered another 1,500 copies.

Yip has been birding since 2004. He told Black Press he still finds it interesting not just seeing new birds, but seeing old birds and observing their different behaviours, like foraging and interacting with one another.

鈥淚t just became passion of mine or maybe an obsession, even, and I was out trying to photograph birds as much as possible,鈥� Yip told Black Press. 鈥淭he birds themselves are absolutely fascinating and I never realized how many different species we had around the Island until I started photographing them and looking for more and finding out what other people were seeing and then trying to find them myself.鈥�

Yip said birding is an easy hobby to get into and that his guide will make it even easier.

The book is expected to be in book stores by late February. For information email:  admin@vancouverislandbirds.com.