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Conserving nature through science and outreach

Volunteer

We currently offer bird banding training opportunities as part of our programs at Iona Island Bird Observatory for individuals of beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to:

  1. Improve their bird identification skills by sight and sound
  2. Learn how to extract birds from mist nets
  3. Learn how to band birds and collect measurement, age, and sex data
  4. Interact with other naturalists and biologists

Volunteers who start as beginners will initially learn the basics of what happens at a banding station.  Beginner volunteers will learn many useful skills for field research such as putting up mist-nets, learning the scribing process (entering data) and learning how to safely handle birds under supervision.  As they progress with these skills, they will be able to advance to extracting birds from mist-nets and applying bands to birds under supervision. Volunteers can be promoted to intermediate level after demonstrating proficiency in station operations, and adequate skills in bird handling, extracting birds from mistnets, and banding, as assessed by our experienced staff banders.

All interested people who wish to volunteer are welcome to participate in WildResearch’s programs. To cover operational costs and liabilities, all volunteers are required to be active members of WildResearch. All WildResearch members are given access to IIBO’s volunteer scheduling software, BetterImpact, allowing volunteers 19 years and over to sign up for volunteer shifts at IIBO. Volunteers between 14 and 18 years are also able to volunteer at IIBO after they meet extra requirements in compliance with guidelines for underage volunteers in BC:

Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 18 may volunteer independently at IIBO after they complete the following requirements before signing up for any shifts through BetterImpact.

Volunteers between the ages of 14 and 15 may volunteer at IIBO accompanied by a parent or guardian who is over the age of 19, and must complete the following requirements before signing up for any shifts through BetterImpact:

It is important to note that at the station prime concerns are bird safety and research quality. It is a privilege to observe and assist with this important work. To enable staff to focus on these priorities, young volunteers under the age of 16 can only volunteer when accompanied by a parent/guardian (19+ years old) for the entire shift. They are under the parent/guardian’s care for the entire time on site, but volunteer tasks will be decided by the Bander-in-Charge present at the station that day. The attending parent/guardian does not need to be a member of WildResearch to attend and supervise their charge, but they do need to be a member of WildResearch if they would like to participate in volunteer activities at the banding station.

We are unable to accommodate volunteers under the age of 14 at IIBO.  However, we always welcome families to the station as visitors.  Please come out and visit us and get a chance to see bird research in action!

Please click here to view the WildResearch website and learn more about the additional benefits of membership and opportunities to volunteer with WildResearch.

For all volunteers:

You will receive a shift reminder the day before each shift with instructions and information about your volunteer shift, with contact information or the Bander-in-Charge that day.

Shift start times are listed in BetterImpact when signing up for a shift and are approximately 1 hr 15 minutes before sunrise (so start times change weekly over the season) and last for 8 hours on average.  All volunteers are expected to attend the entire session of their shift, regardless of age, and are expected to be ready to assist with the research work as directed by the Bander-In-Charge that day. In the case illness or an emergency please cancel your shift on BetterImpact and contact the Bander-in-Charge via email or text if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness and cannot safely attend your scheduled shift ASAP. Shifts are limited, so please be considerate of other volunteers in scheduling yourself for shifts, and avoid cancelling shifts less than 24-48 hours in advance unless it is an emergency. If you cannot stay for an entire shift, but still wish to volunteer or visit the station please discuss with the Bander-in-Charge in advance to see what accommodations can be made. Visitors are always welcome.

Keep in mind that all volunteers will be invited to learn handling, banding, and extraction skills gradually on a case-by-case basis, depending on the volume of birds (not predictable in advance) and the presence of adequate numbers of experienced staff/volunteers. The Bander-in-Charge is the one who holds the federal permits to conduct the research activities and will direct all volunteers during a shift. They will assess the skill level of each volunteer and direct the entire team to ensure bird safety. Do not handle any birds in the banding station or at the mist nets unless you have been directed to do so, and if you are unsure of what to do at any point, ask the Bander-in-Charge for directions.

Please note that due to bird safety protocols, bird banding cannot be conducted during heavy rainfall or during high wind conditions. Cancellations may occur if the weather isn’t forecast to be within acceptable limits for safe banding operations. In the event that the Bander-in-Charge decides to cancel banding the night before or the morning of, the Bander-in-Charge will send an email notification of shift cancellation through BetterImpact.

No special equipment is required, but please come prepared for an early start in the dark, and the outdoor conditions forecasted. A headlamp, waterproof footwear with good tread, sun protection, water, and lunch/snack are highly recommended.

There are no restroom facilities at the banding station. There are restrooms at the parking area, about a 10 minute walk, that are only open when the park is open (after banding shifts begin), so please plan ahead.

Binoculars and a bird identification field guide would be advantageous.

All volunteers are strongly encouraged to read the North American Banders’ Study Guide, published by the North American Banding Council. The Banders’ Study Guide and the other specialized guides (passerines, raptors, shorebirds and hummingbirds) are required reading for anyone banding birds in North America.

Please contact IIBO@wildresearch.ca for more information.