Visiting Us
Visiting our Sites
For your safety, and the safety of all staff and volunteers (and the birds!), please ensure you are familiar with this protocol before visiting our stations. RPBO-Fire-Plan
Visiting our Passerine (Songbird) Migration Program at Pedder Bay
The Pedder Bay site is open daily from July 21 to October 18 for Songbird Fall Migration. The number of birds caught does drop dramatically around the second week of October.
Staff and Volunteer 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 are scheduled at 9am on Thursdays and Sundays. Meet the bird walk leader at the Pedder Bay Coffee Shop before 9am. You’ll be treated to an educational bird walk (flat terrain) followed by a visit to the bird banding station where you can see the birds up close! Everyone is welcome; bring binoculars if you’ve got them, and learn about the local birds!
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. For bird safety, nets are closed if there is rain or high winds.
Access Instructions
Directions to Pedder Bay Marina in Metchosin.
If you are coming with a large group, please carpool; we have been asked to limit the number of vehicles.
PARKING:> Parking is in the grassy area adjacent to the marina parking lot, against the log behind the check-in kiosk. 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 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).
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, and the other in the coffee house.
Visiting our Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Program at Pedder Bay
Dates & Time:
RPBO's Nocturnal Owl Monitoring runs every night from September 15 to October 31. Volunteer shifts start at sunset, and run for 6 hours. Guest visits are open to the public on certain nights, for one-hour time slots.
Weather:
Please monitor the weather on the day - adverse weather (high winds or rain) may require us to close our operations on short notice, for the safety of the birds.
Public Visits:
Visit the RPBO Calendar of Events to book your visit.
For special event group visits, please contact us and we'll try to arrange a date (subject to staffing).
Tickets to the banding station visitor experience are free, but please consider a donation to support this important conservation work. The Nocturnal Owl Migration program relies on your support to continue our focus on conserving these beautiful and unique species.
Access Instructions:
Directions to Pedder Bay Marina in Metchosin
Parking is in the grassy area at the end of the marina's main parking lot. Park against the large logs behind the Check-in Kiosk. If you are unable to park here (the chain may be up), then Owl Night visitors can park at the near end of the main lot. *Please be mindful to park well away from all trailers and boats.*
If you are coming with a large group, please carpool; we have been asked to limit the number of vehicles.
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 and a wooden ramp on the right hand side of the road about 100m past the 2nd speed bump. Walk up the dirt trail to the banding station. Keep right at the junction about 25m up, and you'll see the lights of the station.
Cell phone reception is typically poor or unavailable, for some providers.
There is a heated, full service washroom at the campground.
The coffee shop is closed during owl banding.
Visiting our MAPS Program at Witty's Lagoon
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. Here are the dates we’ll be at the Witty's Lagoon Regional Park site.
- Thursday, July 24 – 5:20 am to 12:50 pm
- Friday, August 1 – 5:30 am to 2:00 pm
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 on short notice.
Access
The banding site is in the orchard behind the picnic area on the beach. From either the main Witty’s Lagoon parking lot on Metchosin Road or the Witty Beach Road parking lot, make your way down to the beach and find the information kiosk near the picnic tables. Near the kiosk you’ll see a grassy trail to a large oak tree. Follow that trail into the orchard. You'll find the bander and other volunteers in that area.
There is an outhouse on the beach about a 5 minute walk from the banding station.