Research
Research
Rocky Point Bird Observatory seeks to influence and inform ecological management practices and conservation of migratory birds in western North America through monitoring, scientific research and public education.
International Bird Observatory Conference (IBOC) 2023
The objectives of bird observatories around the world are to assess the needs of birds, use that assessment to educate a variety of different audiences, and ultimately support wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation. Because of this, the majority of observatories are located at strategic points of migration concentration. Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) serves as the only observatory conducting annual standardized migration monitoring on the Pacific Coast.
Operators of bird observatories across the world are recognizing the importance of working collaboratively, to ask and answer the bigger questions, with a goal of imparting greater impact. The 2023 IBOC in Veracruz, Mexico, brought leaders from the world’s bird observatories and birding clubs together. The conference ran from October 17-21, 2023, during the peak of migration. Presentations focused on monitoring and research, public outreach, and conservation challenges and victories within the context of bird observatory operations.
Jannaca Chick, long-time RPBO volunteer, board member, and the lead of banding operations for our MAPS program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) and the Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Project, presented at the conference. Her talk, entitled “Evolution of Banding Station Techniques at Rocky Point Bird Observatory”, focused on the techniques RPBO has implemented and perfected over the years, and emphasized RPBO's commitment to continual improvement.
Presentation by Jannaca Chick, IBOC2023 “Evolution of Banding Station Techniques at Rocky Point Bird Observatory” at IBOC 2023
Read the Article: "Celebrating Birds and Conservation at the 4th International Bird Observatory Conference" by Stu MacKenzie, Birds Canada, 2023
Read the Article: RPBO's participation at IBOC 2019 in Eilat, Israel.
Read the Article: "Traits of Successful Bird Observatories" by C.John Ralph, 2019
Read the Proceedings:: The full proceedings of the IV International Bird Observatories Conference, which took place in Veracruz, Mexico, from October 2023. Each paper within the proceedings contains hyperlinks that will direct to the respective PDF presentations or video recordings, providing a comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed.
CMMN Annual Member Meetings
The CMMN-RCSM hosts annual member meetings, which include updates from the CMMN Steering Committee as well as technical presentations from CMMN stations.
Watch the 2024 RPBO presentation: "RPBO Lessons in Direct Data Entry" by Michael Motek (Time 0:50:30 to 1:04:00). (scroll down to "CMMN Recorded Video Meetings")
Watch the 2024 RPBO presentation: "Movement Behaviour of Northern Saw-whet Owls in Coastal British Columbia" by James Kennerley (Time 1:59:00 to 2:07:15). (scroll down to "CMMN Recorded Video Meetings")
Watch all recorded meetings. (scroll down to "Past Reports")
Scientific Publications
Read papers published using our research data.
Bird Science Collaborations
Read articles on how RPBO collaborates with other organizations to promote bird conservation.
Foreign Recaptures
These are bands recovered from birds originally banded by Rocky Point Bird Observatory.
| American Goldfinch | Aug 14, 2009 | Rocky Point | Oct 26, 2009 | Red Bluff, CA | Found dead |
| American Robin | Oct 11, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Dec 17, 2019 | Thurston County, WA | Found dead, likely window strike |
| American Robin | Jun 21, 2019 | Rocky Point | Aug 04, 2019 | Garden in Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| American Robin | Aug 09, 2016 | Rocky Point | Sep 20, 2016 | Metchosin, BC | Found dead (window strike) |
| American Robin | Jul 29, 2015 | Rocky Point | Apr 20, 2016 | 1259 GILLESPIE RD, SOOKE, BC | Found dead |
| American Robin | Sep 19, 2015 | Pedder Bay Marina | Mar 13, 2016 | PORTLAND, MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON, USA | Found dead |
| American Robin | Aug 01, 2012 | Pedder Bay Marina | Aug 03, 2012 | 25.7 km SW of Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| American Robin | Jun 26, 2005 | Rocky Point | Feb 28, 2011 | Duke Rd, Metchosin | Taken to Wild ARC. DOA. |
| Anna's Hummingbird | Aug 01, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Sep 1, 2021 | Somewhere between Port Alberni and Tofino | Dead bird provided for research study on bird carcasses. |
| Anna's Hummingbird | Jul 13, 2011 | Madrona Farm | Aug 24, 2011 | 3.2 km N of Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Sep 21, 2016 | Rocky Point | Nov 07, 2019 | Cobble Hill, BC | Recaptured and released. |
| Barred Owl | Oct 11, 2017 | Rocky Point | Nov 18, 2018 | near Albert Head, Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Mar 25, 2017 | Colwood, BC | Nov 30, 2017 | Langford, BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Oct 09, 2017 | Rocky Point | Nov 13, 2017 | Downtown Victoria | Found alive |
| Barred Owl | Sep 13, 2017 | Rocky Point | Oct 02, 2017 | Songhees Reserve, Victoria BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Oct 23, 2016 | Rocky Point | Nov 14, 2016 | Downtown Victoria | Found dead (likely predated by a cat) |
| Barred Owl | Sep 09, 2016 | Rocky Point | Sep 18, 2016 | Burnside Rd, Victoria | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Aug 28, 2010 | Rocky Point | Aug 01, 2011 | 1.6 km W of Mill Bay, BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Aug 28, 2010 | Rocky Point | Aug 01, 2011 | 1.6 km W of Mill Bay, BC | Found dead. |
| Barred Owl | Sep 15, 2010 | Rocky Point | Jan 07, 2011 | King's Pond, Victoria BC | Found in poor condition; later died (Wild ARC) |
| Barred Owl | Sep 15, 2010 | Rocky Point | Jan 07, 2011 | King's Pond, Victoria BC | Found in poor condition; later died (Wild ARC) |
| Barred Owl | Oct 09, 2008 | Rocky Point | Dec 02, 2010 | 8 km N of Jordan River, BC | Found dead on road |
| Barred Owl | Oct 09, 2008 | Rocky Point | Oct 02, 2010 | 8 km N of Jordan River, BC | Found dead on road |
| Barred Owl | Oct 14, 2008 | Rocky Point | Feb 02, 2009 | Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Barred Owl | Oct 31, 2004 | Rocky Point | Nov 12, 2004 | Colwood, BC | Found dead; apparently hit by car |
| Chestnut-backed Chickadee | Sep 17, 2020 | Pedder Bay Marina | Aug 05, 2021 | Matheson Lake Rd, Metchosin, BC | Found dead in yard |
| Fox Sparrow | Jan 24, 2013 | Gordon Head neighbourhood, Victoria, BC | Feb 05, 2021 | Gordon Head, Victoria BC | Photographed at feeder in same yard it was banded in 8 years ago! Banded as an adult. |
| Fox Sparrow | Sep 26, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 09, 2017 | Colwood, BC | Found dead |
| Fox Sparrow | Sep 07, 2015 | Rocky Point | Sep 20, 2015 | 16.1 km N from SOOKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | Found dead |
| Fox Sparrow | Oct 14, 2013 | Rocky Point | Jan 06, 2014 | Salt Spring Island | Found dead |
| Fox Sparrow | Sep 15, 2012 | Pedder Bay Marina | Sep 27, 2012 | Shoreline, WA | Bird is currently in care at a wildlife rehabilitation facility. |
| Fox Sparrow | Sep 29, 2009 | Rocky Point | Nov 14, 2011 | 11.3 km W of Hoquiam, WA | Found dead |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Sep 21, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 10, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Found injured on Sep 21, 2018, rehabilitated by WildArc, released on Nov 10, 2018. |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Oct 04, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Feb 09, 2018 | Whidbey Island, WA | Found dead |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Oct 09, 2014 | Pedder Bay Marina | Feb 21, 2015 | Metchosin | Flew into window |
| Hermit Thrush | Sep 27, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 14, 2019 | Sonoma, CA | Found dead in backyard. |
| Hermit Thrush | Sep 21, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jan 02, 2018 | Cypress Grove, California | Found alive |
| Hermit Thrush | Oct 10, 2011 | Rocky Point | Mar 05, 2012 | 40.2 km S of Eureka, CA | Found dead |
| Hermit Thrush | Sep 24, 2006 | Rocky Point | January, 2010 | 4.8 km S of Cloverdale, OR | Found dead |
| House Finch | Jul 13, 2019 | Madrona Farm | Feb 08, 2020 | Lake Hill neighbourhood, Victoria, BC | Killed by cat |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 16, 2015 | Rocky Point | May 21, 2021 | Metchosin, BC | located while metal detecting in Metchosin, band was buried approx 3" underground |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 19, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 14, 2020 | Cobble Hill, BC | Recaptured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 07, 2017 | Rocky Point | Oct 06, 2020 | Cobble Hill, BC | Recaptured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 24, 2017 | Rocky Point | Apr 14, 2020 | Powell River, BC | Found dead, predation |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 30, 2019 | Rocky Point | Apr 06, 2020 | Fullford Harbour, Saltspring Island, BC | Unknown |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 28, 2018 | Rocky Point | Apr 06, 2020 | Qualicum Beach, BC | Found dead on roof (we suspect the finder only found the band but that is unclear from the report) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 26, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Mar 18, 2020 | Metchosin, BC | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 22, 2019 | Rocky Point | Feb 07, 2020 | Scappoose, OR | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 08, 2019 | Rocky Point | Nov 07, 2019 | Cobble Hill, BC | Found and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 01, 2018 | Rocky Point | Nov 02, 2019 | Fort Ward Park, Bainbridge Island, WA | Recaptured and released. |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 01, 2018 | Rocky Point | Nov 02, 2019 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Found and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 06, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 17, 2019 | Cobble Hill, BC | Captured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 20, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 05, 2019 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Captured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 17, 2014 | Rocky Point | Feb 04, 2019 | San Juan Country, WA | Found dead, this owl was 8 years old! |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 26, 2013 | Pedder Bay Marina | Dec 02, 2018 | Duncan, BC | Found dead, this owl was 7 years old |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 02, 2018 | Rocky Point | Nov 10, 2018 | Rocky Point/WildArc | Found injured on Oct 3, 2018 at Rocky Point, rehabilitated at WildArc, released on Nov 10, 2018 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 25, 2016 | Rocky Point | Nov 07, 2018 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Found and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 10, 2018 | Rocky Point | Oct 30, 2018 | Found injured in woods near UVic dog park. | Taken to WildArc on Oct 31 where it was euthanized due to the extent of its injuries. |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 28, 2017 | Rocky Point | Oct 11, 2018 | Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC | Found dead, presumably hit by car |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 26, 2015 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 09, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Recaptured and released. |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 03, 2015 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 08, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Recaptured and released. |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 30, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | May 08, 2018 | West Seattle, WA | Found on the street being harassed by crows, transported to wildlife rehab |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 23, 2017 | Rocky Point | Apr 14, 2018 | Wildcat, AB | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 14, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Feb 18, 2018 | Marrowstone Island, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 30, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jan 02, 2018 | Columbia City, OR | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 01, 2014 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 31, 2016 | Cobble Hill | Found and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 27, 2015 | Rocky Point | Jan 08, 2016 | Near Blanchard Hwy overpass., Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 22, 2015 | Rocky Point | Nov 30, 2015 | 6.4 km W from VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 26, 2015 | Rocky Point | Oct 30, 2015 | 35.4 km W from VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 13, 2013 | Rocky Point | Oct 26, 2014 | Colony Farm, Vancouver BC | Recaptured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 12, 2013 | Rocky Point | Oct 24, 2014 | 11.3 km NW from Clinton, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 16, 2014 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 04, 2014 | Idaho Bird Observatory (Boise, ID) | Captured and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 15, 2010 | Rocky Point | Oct 13, 2013 | 2.4 km NW of Cobble Hill, BC | Recaptured and released (Andrew Stewart) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 17, 2012 | Rocky Point | Mar 25, 2013 | Arlington, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 14, 2011 | Rocky Point | Mar 01, 2013 | 3.4 km NNE of Sequim, WA | Band was found attached to leg bone in a small clump of bones. Appears to have been eaten by an owl. |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 04, 2012 | Rocky Point | Feb 13, 2013 | 1.8 km SSE of Port Blakely, WA | Found and released |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 28, 2010 | Rocky Point | Nov 08, 2012 | Seattle, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 06, 2011 | Leefield Rd, Metchosin | Oct 11, 2012 | Cobble Hill | Recaptured and released (Andrew Stewart) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 05, 2012 | Rocky Point | Oct 06, 2012 | Found and released | |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 30, 2011 | Leefield Rd, Metchosin | Dec 14, 2011 | 1.6 km E of Brentwood Bay, BC | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 28, 2009 | Rocky Point | Oct 12, 2011 | 1.6 km from Burlington, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 12, 2010 | Rocky Point | Feb 12, 2011 | Olympia, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 05, 2009 | Rocky Point | Oct 18, 2009 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Recaptured and released (Jamie Acker) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 08, 2008 | Rocky Point | Oct 10, 2008 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Recaptured and released (Jamie Acker) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 29, 2006 | Rocky Point | Dec 20, 2006 | Schooner Gulch, CA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 27, 2003 | Rocky Point | Oct 23, 2006 | Matador, SK | Recaptured and released (Dan Zazelenchuk) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 28, 2004 | Rocky Point | May 07, 2005 | Saanichton, BC | Skeleton found |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 14, 2004 | Rocky Point | Dec 26, 2004 | Anacortes, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Sep 24, 2004 | Rocky Point | Nov 05, 2004 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Reacaptured and released (Dawn Garcia) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 25, 2003 | Rocky Point | Nov 10, 2003 | Sequim, WA | Found injured on roadside; later died |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 26, 2002 | Rocky Point | Oct 26, 2003 | Bainbridge Island, WA | Recaptured and released (Dawn Garcia) |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 12, 2006 | Rocky Point | Nov, 2006 | Near Tumwater, WA | Found dead |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Oct 08, 2008 | Rocky Point | Oct 2008 | Langford, BC | Found injured; later died (Wild ARC) |
| Oregon Junco | Sep 25, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Oct 27, 2019 | Found in a garden in Metchosin. | Found dead |
| Oregon Junco | Aug 30, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Mar 30, 2019 | WildArc | Taken to WildArc after being hit by car. Operated on and released. |
| Oregon Junco | Aug 07, 2018 | Madrona Farm | Mar 19, 2019 | near Mount Doug summit | Photographed |
| Oregon Junco | Oct 02, 2016 | Rocky Point | Dec 18, 2016 | Helmcken Rd, Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Oregon Junco | Sep 12, 2012 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jul 19, 2013 | Pearson College, Metchosin, BC | Bird entered office space, caught by hand and released. |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Aug 25, 2019 | Rocky Point | Apr 21, 2020 | Parksville, BC | Found dead |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Sep 15, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Dec 28, 2019 | Lockwood, California | Photographed |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Aug 26, 2015 | Pedder Bay Marina | Aug 08, 2017 | Pearson College, Victoria, BC | Found and released |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Aug 19, 2013 | Rocky Point | Jan 05, 2017 | Santa Clara, CA | Found dead |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Aug 14, 2016 | Rocky Point | Dec 25, 2016 | Sonoma County, CA | Found dead |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Jul 25, 2015 | Rocky Point | Sep 04, 2015 | 3.9 km WSW from METCHOSIN, BC | Found dead |
| Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow | Jul 21, 2012 | Pedder Bay Marina | May 17, 2013 | Mount Vernon, WA | Found dead |
| Purple Finch | Aug 31, 2018 | Pedder Bay Marina | Mar 25, 2019 | Sooke, BC | Found dead |
| Purple Finch | Jun 05, 2009 | Leefield Rd, Metchosin | Jul 01, 2010 | Metchosin, BC | Found dead |
| Red-breasted Sapsucker | Jul 30, 2008 | Leefield Rd, Metchosin | Jun 25, 2011 | Happy Valley Rd, Metchosin | Hit by car |
| Red-shafted Flicker | Sep 22, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 04, 2017 | Rocky Point Rd, Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Sep 22, 2010 | Rocky Point | Apr 11, 2017 | Del Norte County, CA | Band found in forest |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Oct 17, 2010 | Rocky Point | Dec 28, 2014 | 0.8 km SW from Metchosin, BC | Bird seen during Sooke CBC, feeding with other blackbirds and sparrows. |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Oct 17, 2010 | Rocky Point | Nov 28, 2014 | Metchosin, BC | Observed during Sooke Christmas Bird Count |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Oct 10, 2018 | Rocky Point | Sep 30, 2019 | King County, WA | Found dead |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Jun 22, 2019 | Witty's Lagoon Regional Park | Apr 14, 2020 | Metchosin, BC | Found dead at feeder |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Oct 01, 2014 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jul 10, 2016 | Near Olympia, WA | Found band still attached to leg bone of bird. |
| Song Sparrow | Sep 03, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Mar 20, 2020 | Portage Inlet area, Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Song Sparrow | Aug 17, 2012 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jul 29, 2013 | Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Song Sparrow | Sep 29, 2008 | Rocky Point | Oct 04, 2008 | Sooke, BC | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 28, 2014 | Rocky Point | Nov 21, 2020 | Near downtown Victoria | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 28, 2019 | Rocky Point | Mar 06, 2020 | Ten Mile Point, Victoria, BC | Found dead, suspected window strike (Cooper's Hawk in the vicinity) |
| Spotted Towhee | Oct 05, 2019 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 06, 2019 | Rocky Point Rd | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Oct 06, 2015 | Rocky Point | Oct 18, 2019 | Port Angeles, WA | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Oct 06, 2019 | Rocky Point | Oct 15, 2019 | Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 19, 2019 | Rocky Point | Sep 27, 2019 | Maple Ridge, BC | Found dead (window strike). |
| Spotted Towhee | Oct 06, 2009 | Rocky Point | Jun 11, 2019 | Maple Bay, BC | Band found on beach |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 28, 2017 | Pedder Bay Marina | Jan 10, 2018 | Cobble Hill, BC | Caught by cat, taken to WildArc where it died of its injuries. |
| Spotted Towhee | Oct 14, 2015 | Rocky Point | Dec 16, 2016 | Sequim, WA | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 17, 2014 | Pedder Bay Marina | Nov 03, 2015 | 8 km S from SOOKE, BC Desc: 5941 SOOKE RD | Found dead |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 27, 2009 | Rocky Point | Mar 17, 2010 | 11.3 km north of Pemberton, BC | Hit by car |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 24, 2009 | Rocky Point | Oct 22, 2009 | 4.8 km north of Victoria, BC | Window strike |
| Spotted Towhee | Sep 24, 2009 | Rocky Point | Oct 16, 2009 | Saanich | Flew into window |
| Swainson's Thrush | Aug 16, 2016 | Rocky Point | Sep 02, 2016 | Snowhomish County, WA | Found dead (window strike) |
| White-crowned Sparrow | Jul 07, 2013 | Witty's Lagoon | Apr 02, 2014 | Victoria, BC | Found dead |
| White-throated Sparrow | Oct 01, 2010 | Rocky Point | Nov 14, 2010 | Longview, Cowlitz County, Washington, USA | Found dead |