Donate
Protect Birds Year-round with a Monthly Donation
Over the past 30 years, donors like you have made it possible for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory to operate five avian monitoring projects, turn the data we collect into peer-reviewed results, and contribute that data to larger continent-wide datasets that help to inform conservation decisions.
Monthly donors make a difference. Your gift of $10 buys a warming pad for chilly birds on cold days. $150 pays for a cold night of banding owls at our Pedder Bay banding station. You will have a long lasting impact with $400 to provide a workshop for elementary school children to explore issues of bird conservation, or $1000 for publication fees for an article in a scientific journal.
Your support allows us to look forward to making an even greater impact in the future.
Thank you for being a part of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory!
2024 Vancouver Island Big Year - with Liam Ragan
A "big year" is a challenge birders undertake to identify as many species of birds as possible, either by sight or sound, within a specific geographic area during a single calendar year. Liam Ragan has set a personal goal to see 275 species of birds on Vancouver Island in 2024. The previous record of 268 was achieved by Ann Nightingale in 2016.
Become a Conservation Partner
Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) stands at the forefront of a crucial mission: understanding avian populations and their behaviors in an era increasingly defined by climate change. As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the implications for bird species are profound. Many are left vulnerable as their preferred habitats become altered or even uninhabitable.
Our dedicated migration monitoring efforts are not just data collection; they are a lifeline for understanding how birds are adapting—or struggling to adapt—in the face of these dramatic environmental changes. We meticulously document shifts in migration timing and routes, revealing how closely these changes correlate with climate change milestones. For instance, early spring arrivals or altered paths underscore the urgent need to respond to an evolving crisis.
Birds are sensitive indicators of the health of our environment, and the data RPBO has amassed over more than 30 years is invaluable. This extensive analysis allows us to track population trends, identifying which species are faltering due to habitat shifts and food source scarcity, all exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, these adverse conditions affect nesting success and reproductive rates, putting entire populations at risk.
The insights we gather at RPBO are not kept behind closed doors. Our migration monitoring programs play a pivotal role in informing conservation strategies. By making our findings accessible to the scientific community, wildlife managers, policymakers, and the public, we pave the way for proactive conservation efforts. As the sole provider of Pacific coastal data to the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN), our contributions are vital for fostering a collective, informed approach to conservation.
Beyond data collection, RPBO champions the cause of climate awareness in our local community. We nurture a deeper appreciation for the need to protect our avian neighbors by engaging in banding activities. Together, we can spark collective action, rallying individuals to stand before the daunting challenge of climate change.
Join us in amplifying the message: the time to act is now. Support RPBO and help us safeguard the future of our birds and the intricate ecosystems they inhabit. Together, we can ensure a thriving avian population for generations to come.
Give to Honour or in Memory
Your gift to Rocky Point Bird Observatory in someone’s name is a meaningful way to honour that person and support bird conservation at the same time.
Giving in Honour
When you make a gift in someone’s name, you will have the opportunity to send an ecard to your honouree, letting them know you have made a gift to Rocky Point Bird Observatory in their name.
Giving in Memory
A memorial gift is a meaningful way to celebrate the life of a friend or loved one. You can send an ecard notifying a loved one of your gift. If you would like more information about giving in memory, please contact Gaylia Lassner by email development@rpbo.org
Legacy Gifts
Remembering Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Your Will
Legacy gifts play a vital role in ensuring the future of bird conservation efforts. By considering a legacy gift to RPBO, you can leave a lasting impact on the protection of birds. Your generosity will help fund our work and conserve birds for future generations. Join us in our work to create a world where birds thrive, and let your passion for conservation impact the future. Your legacy will make a difference.
If you would like to have a confidential conversation about how you can make a future gift to Rocky Point Bird Observatory, please contact Gaylia Lassner, Development Director, at 778-214-2026, or email development@rpbo.org.
Thank you for your interest in leaving a legacy for birds!
Help While You Shop
Some local merchants offer programs that support local charities. RPBO has joined two of these programs so when you buy gas at a any of the Co-op Gas stations or your cleaning supplies at The Soap Exchange your purchase can contribute to our operations.
Co-op Gas Stations - When you buy gas from a Co-op Gas station enter RPBO's member number (80246) at the pump and RPBO will receive a rebate at the end of the year.
The Soap Exchange - When you buy soap from the Soap Exchange the store will donate 10% of the net purchase to RPBO. Tell them you'd like to donate to Rocky Point Bird Observatory at checkout.
You can have your bottle return refund donated to RPBO at any of the local Bottle Depot return centres. Advise the cashier at the beginning of the transaction that you would like to donate the bottles to RPBO.
You can have your bottle return refund donated to RPBO at either the Esquimalt or Sidney Return It return centres. Advise the cashier at the beginning of the transaction that you would like to donate the bottles to RPBO.
RPBO Endowment Fund
You can also contribute to the RPBO Endowment Fund through the Victoria Foundation.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory Fund has been established with a contribution of $25,000 by longtime RPBO volunteer and Board member, Dr. Michael Porter. The Fund, which will serve as an endowment for RPBO, will be managed by the Victoria Foundation. In the future, part of the annual earnings of the Fund will be available to RPBO to be used to support ornithological studies and activities, to stimulate interest in birds and bird studies among young people and students, and to pursue other activities, beyond the normal operations of RPBO, which would otherwise be beyond the means of the organization. RPBO intends to undertake fundraising activities to enable the capital of the Fund to grow over time.
To donate to RPBO, contact the Victoria Foundation.


Back row left to right: Tom Gillespie, Rod Mitchell, David Kelly, Michael Porter, Rick Schortinghuis, Marilyn Lambert, Andy Stewart
Front row left to right: Bander-in-charge Gabriel David, Paul Levesque, Donna Ross, David Allinson
Absent are: Alan Burger, Denise Gubersky, and Jessica Murray