The strait between Denman and Hornby Islands — a federally designated Important Bird Area, whale corridor, and one of BC's richest marine environments
Lambert Channel is the body of water separating Denman Island from Hornby Island. It's only about two kilometres wide at its narrowest point, but this narrow strait is one of the most ecologically significant waterways on the entire British Columbia coast. Federally designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA), Lambert Channel supports the second-largest concentration of wintering waterfowl in BC and serves as a critical corridor for whales, sea lions, salmon, and herring.
Lambert Channel's IBA designation recognizes its extraordinary importance to migratory and wintering birds. From October through April, tens of thousands of seabirds and waterfowl gather in these waters. The channel's strong tidal currents and nutrient-rich upwellings support dense populations of herring, sand lance, and euphausiids (krill), creating a feast that draws birds from across the Pacific Flyway.
Species you'll see on the water include surf scoters, white-winged scoters, Pacific loons, common murres, rhinoceros auklets, Brant geese, harlequin ducks, buffleheads, and red-necked grebes. Overhead, bald eagles are a constant presence, and great blue herons work the shallows along both shorelines. During the herring spawn in late February and March, the bird numbers explode — thousands of gulls, scoters, and diving birds converge to feed on herring eggs and milt.
Lambert Channel is a regular corridor for humpback whales and Bigg's (transient) killer whales. Humpbacks feed in the channel from late spring through fall, drawn by the abundant herring and krill. It's not unusual to see them lunge-feeding or bubble-net feeding right in the middle of the channel, sometimes within view of the Hornby ferry. Bigg's orcas transit Lambert Channel year-round, hunting harbour seals and sea lions.
At the southern end of the channel, Norris Rocks hosts hundreds of Steller sea lions, and Chrome Island is surrounded by harbour seal haul-outs. Dall's porpoises are regularly spotted zipping through the channel, and Pacific white-sided dolphins make occasional appearances. The concentration of marine mammals in such a small area is remarkable.
Every year in late February and March, Pacific herring mass in Lambert Channel and Baynes Sound for one of the largest herring spawns on the BC coast. The water turns milky turquoise as billions of eggs are deposited on kelp, eelgrass, and rocks along the shoreline. The spawn triggers a feeding frenzy — sea lions, seals, whales, eagles, and thousands of seabirds descend on the channel. It's the single most dramatic wildlife event of the year in these waters, and Lambert Channel is ground zero.
The same nutrient-rich currents that support all this wildlife make Lambert Channel excellent fishing water. Spring salmon, coho, and pink salmon all move through the channel at different times of year. Lingcod and rockfish inhabit the rocky reefs along both shorelines. Captain Pat fishes Lambert Channel regularly on his fishing charters — the combination of productive fishing and spectacular wildlife viewing makes it one of the best stretches of water on the coast.
You can view Lambert Channel from Boyle Point Provincial Park at Denman's southern tip or from Tribune Bay on Hornby Island, but the best way to experience it is from the water. Captain Pat's sightseeing tours cruise the full length of the channel, stopping at Chrome Island, Norris Rocks, and other wildlife hotspots along the way. Whether you're a birder, a photographer, a whale-watcher, or simply someone who wants to see one of BC's most extraordinary marine environments, Lambert Channel won't disappoint.
Lambert Channel is Captain Pat's home water — he's been navigating this strait for decades. Join a sightseeing tour to see whales, sea lions, and thousands of seabirds, or book a fishing charter in some of the most productive waters on the BC coast.