Chichester Wetland Park

Chichester Wetland Park is Rutland's neighbourhood wetland, a small City of Kelowna natural park of ponds and tall trees off Fitzpatrick Road where a surprising amount of wildlife packs into a short trail. Nearly 180 species of birds have been recorded here: marsh breeders such as sora, Virginia rail, marsh wren and blackbirds in the cattails, migrating warblers and western tanagers passing through in spring and fall, and a resident flock of mallards that winters on the open water. Painted turtles haul out on the logs on sunny days, and the easy loop is short enough for a lunch-hour visit or a first birding outing with children. It is a stop on the BC Bird Trail, free and open year-round, with street parking at the Chichester Court and Sumac Road West entrances. Dogs are welcome on leash — this is the one Kelowna wetland park on the trail that allows them — so keep them close around the water.