Sites
Our Locations
RPBO operates at the following sites.
Pedder Bay Marina, owned by the Oak Bay Marine Group, has been very accommodating and supportive of RPBO since our site was established there in 2011.
RPBO operates the Northern Saw-whet Owl Monitoring and Passerine Migration Monitoring programs here.
Because of its proximity to patrons of the marina and campground, the site offers RPBO an opportunity for community education.
We offer bird walks on Thursdays and Sundays during the banding season.
The site is used for training volunteers.
Parking is in the grassy area adjacent to the marina parking lot, against the log behind the check-in kiosk.
Cell phone reception is typically available, though may be weak for some providers. In an emergency, there are landlines in the office.
There is a coffee shop/snack bar at the marina which is open early.
There are two heated, full service washrooms, one at the campground, the other in the coffee house. (The coffee shop is closed during owl banding.)
**This site has RESTRICTED ACCESS and is not open to the public.**
This site is on lands operated by the Department of National Defense. Special clearance is required for RPBO members and no one without the requisite DND clearance may go onto the site.
RPBO operates the Passerine Migration Monitoring and Northern Saw-whet Owl Monitoring programs here.
There is no cell phone reception from the banding station.
There is a porta-potty about a 5 minute walk from the banding station.
RPBO operates the MAPS program here.
We operate under a research permit granted yearly by CRD Parks. The site is in a grassy meadow and forested area behind the public beach.
Access
Access is from the stairs from Witty Beach Road failed again last winter so, once again, we need to walk in from the Nature House. Meet in the main parking lot and walk the stairs and beach with the BIC (using a headlight for safety). If you arrive late, follow the main trail to the beach. Continue on the grass for about 10 meters after the boardwalk and look for a path beside a large tree. This path leads through the grassy meadow and on to the banding station.
Cell phone service is available from the beach.
There is an outhouse on the beach about a 5 minute walk from the banding station.
RPBO established a MAPS program site on the Power To Be property on Prospect Lake in 2021.
- There is cell reception at this site
- We have our own portable toilet on site
The following map shows the locations of many of the banding sites in our program. Click here to Learn More
Bird Walks are led through the grounds on the second Sunday of every month, all year round, starting at 9 am.
Visiting our Sites
The Pedder Bay site is open daily from July 21st through October 18th for Songbird Migration. But the number of birds caught drops dramatically around the second week of October. For bird safety, nets are closed if there is rain or high winds. Shifts start half an hour before sunrise and run for 6 hours. The best time to visit would be between 8 and 10am (earlier is better). Bird Walks scheduled at 9am on Thursdays and Sundays, so if you want to participate in those, we recommend visiting the station at 8am.
Please monitor the weather on the day of your visit as adverse weather (high winds and/or rain) may require us to close our operations at short notice.
Access Instructions
Directions to Pedder Bay Marina,
If you are coming with a large group please carpool, we have been asked to limit the number of vehicles.
Parking is in the grassy area adjacent to the marina parking lot. Park against the log behind the check-in kiosk to avoid inadvertently trapping boat trailers in the lot. If, for any reason, you are unable to park behind the kiosk then please be careful where you park. If you park too close to the boat trailers fishermen may not be able to get out. Leave at least 2 or 3 car lengths distance between the trailer hitch and your car.
If an RPBO volunteer is not meeting you at the parking area then walk back down the road you drove in on, look for an orange cone on the right hand side of the road about 100 meters past the 2nd speed bump. Walk up the trail to the banding station (to your right at the junction).
Washrooms
There are two heated, full service washrooms, one at the campground, the other in the coffee house.
The Pedder Bay site is open for owl monitoring from September 15th through October 31st. The number of owls caught drops dramatically around the third week of October. Nets are closed if there is rain or high winds as it's not safe for the birds to be in the nets during such conditions. Our shifts start at sunset and run for 6 hours.
Please monitor the weather on the day or your visit as adverse weather (high winds and/or rain) may require us to close our operations at short notice.
Tickets
Tickets are free and can be found on Eventbrite. Please scroll down to see all of the dates.
Visitor slots are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings. If you'd like to visit on a different day of the week please contact us and we'll try to arrange a date (subject to staffing).
Access Instructions
Directions to Pedder Bay Marina
If you are coming with a large group please carpool, we have been asked to limit the number of vehicles.
Parking is in the grassy area adjacent to the marina parking lot. Park against the log behind the check-in kiosk to avoid inadvertently trapping boat trailers in the lot. If, for any reason, you are unable to park behind the kiosk then please be careful where you park. If you park too close to the boat trailers fishermen may not be able to get out. Leave at least 2 or 3 car lengths distance between the trailer hitch and your car.
Owl banding visitors can park at the near end of the main lot.
If an RPBO volunteer is not meeting you at the parking area then walk back down the road you drove in on, look for an orange cone on the right hand side of the road about 100 meters past the 2nd speed bump. Walk up the trail to the banding station (to your right at the junction).
Washrooms
There are two heated, full service washrooms, one at the campground, the other in the coffee house. The coffee shop is closed during owl banding.
RPBO's MAPS program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) runs on a periodic basis from May 31st through August 8th. Under the MAPS protocol we visit each of our sites once in each 10 day period so check the ticket schedule to find dates we will be at the Witty's Lagoon Regional Park site.
Access Instructions
Use the map below for directions to Witty's Lagoon Regional Park, then:
Visitors have two choices for parking, either at the main Witty's Lagoon parking lot on Metchosin Road or at the end of Witty's Beach Road.
If you park at the main parking lot then hike the main trail (left at the first fork) until you reach the beach.
If you park on Witty's Beach Road then walk down the trail to the long staircase. Go down the stairs and turn to your left on the cobble beach. Walk the beach and go up to the grassy area when you see the washrooms. Go beyond the washrooms to the sign at the far end of the grassy area.
With your back to the beach look for the large Garry Oak between the toilets and the boardwalk (closer to the boardwalk). Below the tree you will find a path that leads through the grassy meadow and on to the banding station. The distance from the tree to the banding station is approximately 80 meters.
Washrooms
There is an outhouse on the beach about a 5 minute walk from the banding station.
Please monitor the weather on the day or your visit as adverse weather (high winds and/or rain) may require us to close our operations at short notice.
