Board & Staff

In February 2000, a board of directors formed a society to manage the observatory. RPBO is a registered charitable organization in Canada and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The Board of Directors for Rocky Point Bird Observatory consists of five executive members and up to 10 additional Directors at large.

Star Power!
In 2024, our 30th Anniversary Year, the standing 13 Board Members had a collective 263 years of Board experience and a collective 234 years of serious birding experience. 

2025 Executive

RosaMunzer
Rosa Munzer
President

Rosa Munzer, RPBO President

Rosa Munzer is a strong advocate for bird conservation who joined RPBO as a member-at-large in 2022. She brought over 35 years of utility and provincial government experience in lands management and service delivery, strategic planning, policy development, public relations, and information management. She has served on six other boards including two local government boards.

Bio
Terry Bird
Terry Bird
Vice President

Terry Bird, RPBO Vice President

Terry Bird received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of British Columbia in 1994.  He was a faculty member at the University of San Diego for several years where he taught biology and conducted research in microbial genetics.  After retiring in 2021, he returned to Canada and currently resides in East Sooke.

 
Bio
Johnny Caron Treasurer
Johnny Caron
Treasurer

Johnny Caron, RPBO Treasurer

Johnny serves as the Treasurer for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, connecting through Volunteer Victoria. He is dedicated to ensuring the observatory's financial health, managing budgets and contributing to long-term planning that supports their important bird research and conservation efforts in the Victoria/Saanich area. Johnny values the opportunity to contribute to his community and learn more about local birdlife. 

Bio
Andrew Harcombe
Andrew Harcombe
Past President

Andrew Harcombe, RPBO Past President

Andrew Harcombe is a retired conservation biologist, with a background in vegetation ecology and rare species and ecosystems. He spent his entire career working in British Columbia landscapes. He has extensive experience in nonprofit national and international conservation boards, and has served on the RPBO Board since 2014 as President, Vice President or Secretary. He is presently Membership Director. He has a lifetime interest in natural history, especially birds.

Bio

2025 Directors

Dan Burgin
Dan Burgin
Director at Large

Dan Burgin, Director at Large

Dan recently moved to Vancouver Island from Aotearoa, New Zealand. He began volunteering with RPBO soon after arriving, assisting with the Nocturnal Owl Monitoring program. Dan has over a decade's worth of experience as an Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist, working in New Zealand, Canada and the UK, monitoring and researching a variety of threatened species, notably seabirds and shorebirds. He recently worked as part of the coordination team for the New Zealand Bird Atlas project, relishing the opportunity to support the birding community in such a nationally significant community science initiative. He is looking forward to using his work and volunteer experience in the conservation space and learning from the RPBO community to help best support and assist with the valuable work that RPBO undertakes.

Bio
Mark Byrne
Mark Byrne
Operations Coordinator

Mark Byrne, Operations Coordinator

Mark has been volunteering with RPBO since the fall of 2016 after seeing a Northern Saw-whet Owl while visiting the Pedder Bay Banding Station. Since then, he has been involved in most RPBO projects including MAPS, Migration Monitoring, Nocturnal Owls Monitoring and SeaWatch. In 2019 Mark joined the Board, took on the responsibility of inventory control for the banding stations as well as becoming a relief bander for the Northern Saw-whet Owl program. In 2022 he took on the role of Operations Coordinator and is currently working towards obtaining his passerine banding permit.  

Bio
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Robyn Byrne
Volunteer Coordinator

Robyn Byrne, Volunteer Coordinator

Robyn started volunteering with Rocky Point Bird Observatory in 2016 and since then has become active in almost all projects including MAPS, Migration Monitoring, Owls and SeaWatch. In 2019 she joined the Board, became a  relief bander for the Northern Saw-whet Owl program and took on the role as a Volunteer Coordinator.  Robyn is also the compiler for the Sooke Christmas Bird Count and a Zone Leader for the Victoria count. Robyn and her husband Mark also host the ‘Bird Babble Podcast’. 

Bio
Jannaca Chick
Jannaca Chick
MAPS and Owl Bander

Jannaca Chick, MAPS & Owl Bander

Jannaca began volunteering with RPBO in 2012, knowing almost nothing about birds, and has become an ardent volunteer and supporter of RPBO and bird conservation in general. She has served on the board for many years, in the capacity of Secretary and Vice President. She has become a licensed bander, leading our MAPS and Nocturnal Owl Monitoring programs, and in 2023 obtaining her hummingbird banding permit. Jannaca has always loved to travel and now combines this with her love of birds, visiting and volunteering at banding stations in different parts of the world. She has been fortunate to see some wonderful birds and meet fascinating people involved in bird research and conservation in places such Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Greece, Israel, Thailand, and Cuba.

Bio
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Simone Littledale
Education Portfolio

Simone Littledale, Education & Outreach Portfolio

Simone is a multidisciplinary artist and the principal of the Vancouver Island School of Innovation and Inquiry. Simone has been volunteering at RPBO's banding stations since 2022. Born and raised in Vancouver, her love of the natural world started early, with a childhood exploring the forests and little coves around her home and falling in love with watching wildlife. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing and a BC teaching accreditation, both from UVic. Her interest in birds was kickstarted by a post-graduation trip to the Colombian Amazon, and she's been hooked ever since. When she isn't teaching, Simone can usually be found birding, in her home studio, or in her garden, where she is working to rewild her yard with native flora.

Bio
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Ann Nightingale
Migration Coordinator

Ann Nightingale, Migration Project Coordinator

Ann has been birding since the mid 1990s and has been an active volunteer for Rocky Point Bird Observatory for almost as long. As well as being a licensed bird bander, Ann is a past-president of both RPBO and the Victoria Natural History Society, and served a four-year term on the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network Steering Committee and three years on the American Birding Association board. She is currently a member of the Project Owlnet Working Group.  

Ann coordinates the Victoria Christmas Bird Count and is a zone leader for three other count circles. Her dedication to the understanding, conservation and promotion of birds has garnered the attention of the media and some pretty impressive organizations. She is frequently called upon by local radio and television statements when the subject turns to birds!

Ann is a recipient of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, the American Birding Association’s Award for Conservation and Community,  the Victoria Natural History Society’s Distinguished Service and Honorary Lifetime Awards and BC Nature’s Regional and Nature Mentor Awards. In addition to her volunteer work in the field, she also gives dozens of presentations on birds to community groups each year. She has written articles for both the popular press and peer-reviewed scientific journals.

 

Bio
Liam Seward-Ragan
Liam Seward-Ragan
First Nations Liaison

Liam Seward-Ragan, First Nation Liaison

Liam is the B.C. Provincial Coordinator for Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) with B.C. Nature and specializes in First Nations engagement, fundraising, and volunteer coordination. He holds a BA from McGill where he studied Anthropology and Environmental Studies and is in the early stages of a M.Sc focusing on Indigenous led conservation. He has been volunteering with RPBO for 2 years and recently joined the Board in 2022. Liam hopes to support RPBO's efforts to create accessible ornithology and bird watching opportunities for historically marginalized communities as well as build collaborative partnerships in conservation and research with First Nations on Southern Vancouver Island.

Bio
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Julian Dunster
Director at Large

Julian Dunster, Director at Large

Julian Dunster is a Professional Forester,  Professional Planner, and Certified Arborist with two degrees in forestry and a PhD in Regional Planning and Resource Development. His work with trees and land use planning has taken him to many countries. He has authored books on tree law in Canada, environmental impact assessment, aspects of professional practice, as well as the Dictionary of Natural Resource Management published by UBC Press, in addition to many articles dealing with trees and land use issues. Julian's work has been recognised with several awards, and he is an Honourary Life Member in the International Society of Arboriculture.

He has extensive hands on practical experience with construction work on large and small projects, as well as timber testing structures such as log cabins, bridges, large wood stave culverts, and the Kinsol Trestle. He helped to design and implement the structure to retain the Hollow Tree in Stanley Park. 

Bio

2025 Staff

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Ashlea Veldhoen
Lead Educator

Ashlea Veldhoen

Ashlea is originally from Ontario and has two diplomas in Ecosystem Management Technology from Fleming College and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Trent University. While in school, she unearthed a love for birds and has been working with them in various ways ever since. Ashlea has been involved with Rocky Point Bird Observatory since 2018 and has been working with birds and in outdoor education settings since 2012. Starting as a banding volunteer with RPBO in 2018, then as a member of the Board of Directors, a migration banding intern and most recently as a fully-fledged bird bander, has given Ashlea a unique understanding of both the birds of Vancouver Island and Rocky Point Bird Observatory itself. Ashlea is eager to share her knowledge with others and is grateful for the opportunity to explore this next facet of her career with Rocky Point!   

Bio
Gaylia Lassner
Gaylia Lassner
Development Director

Gaylia Lassner, Development Director

Five years ago, I could recognize approximately three species of birds, had never heard of Merlin or eBird, and had no idea that buried deep inside me was a "bird nerd".  I did, however, have a background in fundraising and non-profit development, mostly in the realm of health issues and visual art, so based on that, I joined RPBO as Development Director.  I am very grateful that I did. The leadership and volunteers of RPBO are quite simply the finest people I have ever worked with, dedicated to doing whatever can be done to address the threats birds currently face. I completed a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Entrepreneurship, and appreciate working with an organization that encourages creative and entrepreneurial thinking. I spend as much time as possible outside, hiking, walking my two dogs, and introducing my tiny grandson to the wonders of gardening.  I'm currently completing a Master's Degree in Writing and New Media, and grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to so many new ideas and ways of communicating. Becoming an active bird-lover has enriched my life in many ways; I look forward to sharing this experience with as many people as possible.

Bio
Leesa Watson
Leesa Watson
Administrator/ WebMaster

Leesa Watson, Administrator & WebMaster

Leesa joined RPBO in August 2021 bringing many years of experience in Administration, Human Services, and Information Technology (IT). It is her hope that her knowledge will greatly benefit the important work of RPBO. Leesa’s best jobs have been in the not-for-profit world and she strongly supports the mission, vision, and values that not-for-profits like RPBO strive to achieve in their communities.
As a military spouse (retired), Leesa has lived in many towns and cities in Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and BC. Her career has been as diverse as the communities in which she has lived. Leesa attributes her sense of humour to the many people she has met across this great country, and holds dear the life lessons they imparted. In her downtime, she can be found in her studio painting, weaving or creating silver jewellery.
Leesa has a strong affinity to birds and shares their freedom to explore. She looks forward to learning from and working with the RPBO community.

Bio

2025 Banders - Coming Soon!

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