Directions to Iona Island Bird Observatory

Iona Island Bird Observatory (IIBO) is located within Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond, BC. The exact location of the banding station, IIBO, can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J7basZgjRiuD4Vtg9

Getting to Iona Beach Regional Park

🚗 By car from Vancouver: Follow signs toward Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and cross the Arthur Laing Bridge. Follow signs for Templeton Street/Ferguson Road and continue west toward Iona Beach Regional Park. Ferguson Road becomes Iona Island Causeway and continues to the park.

Free parking is available along the side of the park road (please observe parking signs) and at the main parking lot at the end of the road. Park near the end of the parking lot for a shorter walk to IIBO.

🚴 By bike: There is a fully paved and separate bike path along Ferguson Rd. which leads you from Templeton Station (Canada Line) to the gates of Iona Beach Regional Park. The route is flat, wide, and straight, making for a very enjoyable ride.

Bike racks (with limited spaces) are available by the washrooms next to the main parking lot.

🚌 By transit: No public transit goes directly to Iona Beach Regional Park. The closest transit station is Templeton Station on the Canada Line (trains start ~5am). There is an ~7km designated bike path and walking trail on Ferguson Road that connects Templeton Station to the park.

Directions for Visitors

IIBO welcomes visitors to the banding station. The park opens to the public at 7 am and we encourage you to stop by early in the day to get a chance to see the most activity at the station!

We’re in operation most days (weather permitting) from April 15th – May 31st, and August 24th – October 4th.

Directions for Volunteer

For volunteer banders who need to arrive before the park opens at 7 am. Volunteers are responsible for securing their own rides to the park in time for the start of their shift. For volunteers without their own vehicles, you can consider using rideshares or Ubers. Carpools are sometimes arranged amongst volunteers but is not facilitated by WildResearch. Meet at your shift start time at the front gate of Iona Beach Regional Park. The park gates are locked overnight and open at 7 am. When our start time is before the park opens, we unlock the gate, drive through, and re-lock the gate. Anyone being dropped off will need to request a ride from staff or other volunteers, so make sure you arrive at the gate with plenty of time, otherwise it is a long walk in the dark! Volunteers can send a text message to the Bander-in-Charge if something unexpected happens and they cannot make it to the gate at the scheduled time. Volunteers who arrive late may need to park outside the gate and walk in, or wait until the park opens at 7 am.

For census volunteers meet the Census Lead at the Iona Beach Regional Park gate (spring) or parking lot (fall) at the start time indicated on the schedule for your shift start time.  Then, everyone should walk together to the census start location. In the fall, the census begins after the park opens so everyone can meet at the main parking lot. In the spring, the census lead will organize a meeting time at the gate.

For volunteers who wish to bike to the station, note that shifts start before dawn and there are limited to no street lighting along Ferguson Road. We encourage all cyclists to wear protective gear, reflective clothing, carry bike lights, a headlamp, and a sturdy lock for your bike. WildResearch also does not have a designated bike area by the banding station and therefore cannot guarantee the security of your bike. Note that Canada Line operations does not run early enough to arrive in time for shift start times.