View a list of upcoming Explorer Days and read our Explorer Day Etiquette below!
In response to COVID-19, NatureKids BC is providing online resources and interactions, such as Virtual Explorer Days, to ensure the safety of our members. Please read our COVID-19 Guidelines and Policy for any potential in-person gatherings this summer.
RICHMOND- Iona Island Bird Observatory Visit
Join WildResearch on a visit to the Iona Island Bird Observatory (IIBO) to see bird banding in action! Learn about bird migration, and connect with nature through the lens of community science!
WildResearch is a local charitable organization that builds, educates, and trains the community to contribute to conservation science. Their programs are run by biologists and volunteers who care deeply about conservation, want to contribute meaningfully to science, and educate the public about the importance of community science.
Iona Beach Regional Park is a very special place for birds. It’s part of the Fraser River Estuary, one of the most important stopovers on the Pacific Flyway—a migration route used by millions of birds traveling between their summer and winter homes. Here at the station, WildResearch studies birds through bird banding. This means gently placing a tiny, numbered band on a bird’s leg. Banding helps scientists track where birds go, how long they live, and how healthy their populations are. The information gathered is important for protecting birds and the ecosystems they depend on.
By visiting, you and your children are seeing science in action—and joining a community that helps keep nature thriving!
Register here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/
*Meet in the parking lot of Iona Beach Regional Park, just across the washrooms.
*Bird banding is weather-dependent, so this may be cancelled in the event of high winds or rain. *There’s a public washroom in the park about a 10 min walk from the banding station
*The dirt / grassy trail to the station is flat but uneven in parts.
Explorer Day Etiquette:
Be prepared to HAVE FUN
Pre-registration with your Club Leader is required for most Explorer Days (Friends are welcome if space permits).
Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure enough time for passport stamping and organization. Starting times are firm, and Leaders cannot wait for late-comers!
Please stay with the Leader and let them know if you are leaving early.
Children must always be accompanied by an adult guardian, who is responsible for their behaviour. Children consistently disrupting the experience of others may be asked to leave.
Bring appropriate weather gear, sunscreen, snacks, water, and other useful tools like binoculars, sketch books, cameras, and magnifying glasses.