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A podcast by volunteers of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory located in Metchosin, BC on southern Vancouver Island. Bird Babble is a podcast aimed at providing the listeners with an informative yet personable look at what goes on at the observatory. Focusing on the birds, the banding stations, various projects and the people who volunteer, we share stories about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, other avian research programs and talk with guests from around the world.
Episodes
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
We're back for another season of the Bird Babble Podcast! Since it's a new year we've made a New Year's resolution to podcast more often, especially during the busiest times at the RPBO banding stations!! You can hold us to that one!!
This episode is all about the 2022 Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) that took place in Victoria, Sidney, Sooke and Duncan B.C. and the many volunteers of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) who participate in the count days.
Victoria CBC Coordinator Ann Nightingale provides us with a little history of the Christmas Bird Count, we stopped by the Victoria Christmas Bird Count for Kids and chatted to 3 year old Archer who participated this year and we also talked to RPBO's Education Director Julie Howe and RPBO's new Lead Educator Caitlin Acquroff about the event.
The CBC preliminary results are starting to trickle in and we share some numbers and interesting notes about each area.
We finish up the podcast with some upcoming events that RPBO is planning as we head into another busy year of birds!!
Mentioned in This Episode
e-Bird Checklists for The Christmas Bird Counts
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org and visit their Facebook Page and Instagram Page to stay up-to-date on what's happening.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, become a member or to volunteer, please visit their website at rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
The first Rocky Point Bird Observatory project for 2022 is now underway and Jannaca Chick joins us for a conversation about how the MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) project is going so far and a bit about her recent travels.
The MAPS program is a continent-wide collaborative effort coordinated by The Institute for Bird Populations among other public agencies, non-governmental groups, and individuals to assist in the conservation of birds and their habitats through bird banding.
Check out the links to Bear Divide and Cowichan Bring Back The Bluebirds
The Rocky Pointer's 2022 are once again participating in the Birds Canada Great Canadian Birdathon and at the same time raising funds for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. The goal for 2022 is $5000.00 and you can support the team by following this link Rocky Pointer's 2022 or support team members The Bird Babbler's directly.
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the 2021 banding seasons.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, become a member or even volunteer with them please visit the website at rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
We are back for our 3rd season of the Bird Babble Podcast! Our guest on this episode is long time volunteer Julie Howe. Over the winter, Julie decided to take on the role of Education Director for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory and she brings a ton of energy and passion to the position.
Julie talks to us about the second annual Victoria Bird Week presented by the Rocky Point Bird Observatory that is set to begin on Sunday, May 8th! It's a week long event ending with a World Migratory Bird Day celebration at Beaver Lake Park (Saanich, BC) on Saturday, May 14th! You can find out more about Victoria Bird Week by checking the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website or Facebook Page.
Julie mentions that the Rocky Point Bird Observatory is looking to hire a Lead Educator. It's a part-time paid position and you can contact Education Director Julie Howe at education@rpbo.org or at rpbo@rpbo.org
It's spring which means the RPBO banding station projects are getting ready to start and we let you know what's coming up next and who's the who (no pun intended LOL) in each project.
The Rocky Pointer's 2022 are once again participating in the Birds Canada Great Canadian Birdathon and at the same time raising funds for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. The goal for 2022 is $5000.00 and you can support the team by following this link Rocky Pointer's 2022 or support team members Bird Babbler's directly.
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the 2021 banding seasons.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, become a member or even volunteer with them please visit the website at rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Sooooooo many Northern Saw-whet Owls!! Lots of other amazing birds and adventures during 2021 at the Rocky Point Bird Observatory too! On this episode Ann Nightingale and Jannaca Chick joined us with a wrap-up of the banding season and to do a bit of a deep dive into the second busiest year of Northern Saw-whet Owl banding at RPBO.
This year a pilot project was launched to deploy 38 Motus tags on Northern Saw-whet Owls in collaboration with the Vancouver Island University and the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory. Curious about what Motus is? Check out this amazing technology by visiting motus.org and search for Project 434 - Tracking movement of Northern Saw-whet Owls in Coastal BC (#434)
Want to support (adopt) and follow a Northern Saw-whet Owl with a Motus tag? The Adopt a Motus-tagged Northern Saw-whet Owl program is now available by visiting Adopt a Motus Tagged NSWO
Follow the Rocky Point Bird Observatory Fall Migration Blog that was written each week by a banding team member by clicking on this link. RPBO Blog
The Team Rocky Pointers completed their Big Sit on October 9th to raise funds for the Birds Canada Great Canadian Birdathon and the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. So far $5,450.00 has been raised and the team is still accepting donations until December 31, 2021. You can support them by following this link The Rocky Pointers . A BIG shout out to the team members who participated in both of the 2021 Global Big Day's and a special thank you to those who made a donation.
Are you interested in joining the Rocky Point Bird Observatory team as a Lead Educator? It's a part-time paid position and you can contact President Jennifer Armstrong for more information at prez@rpbo.org or at rpbo@rpbo.org
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the 2021 banding seasons.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, become a member or even volunteer with them please visit the website at rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
While school was out for most students a couple of young Rocky Point Bird Observatory volunteers spent their summer as interns, learning how to band passerines during the Fall Migration project that is currently underway. We talk with Liam Singh and Rebecca Reader-Lee about how the intern experience has been and put them through a lightning round of questions.
The Fall Migration project is nearing the midpoint for this year and things are starting to pick up at both stations although on some days we have to wonder where are the birds? On this episode we let you know how things are going after week 6 as well as some of the surprises experienced at the stations.
Follow the Rocky Point Bird Observatory Blog that is written each week by the banding team by clicking on this link. RPBO Blog
Another great banding station that is being managed and staffed by former RPBO members is the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory. They also have a daily blog that you can read by clicking on this link. TLBO Blog
The Team Rocky Pointers are back at it on October 9th to do another Big Day of Birding to raise funds for the Birds Canada's Great Canadian Birdathon and the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. You can support the team by donating at this link. The Rocky Pointers
Are you interested in joining the Rocky Point Bird Observatory team as a Lead Educator? It's a paid position and you can contact President Jennifer Armstrong for more information at prez@rpbo.org
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the recent banding sessions.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Sunday Aug 15, 2021
Sunday Aug 15, 2021
It's the Rocky Point Bird Observatory's busiest time of the year as they transition from the MAPS project into the Fall Migration project with four banding stations operating at the same time. On this episode we bring you up to date with the projects underway including a discussion with the Seawatch Coordinator Daniel Donnecke and the trouble with fog during the heat domes that BC has experienced. We also talk to RPBO volunteer Jacquie Taylor who is the Project Coordinator for the Cowichan Bring Back the Bluebirds project.
Ann Nightingale's Adventures Blog
Cowichan Bring Back The Bluebirds
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org to find out more about the Hummingbird Project and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the recent banding sessions.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
Thursday Jul 29, 2021
On this episode we provide updates on the RPBO projects that have been underway for the past few months as well as what's happening now that the Fall Migration project is up and running. The last couple of weeks have to be the busiest time for the observatory with the overlapping projects and a lot of planning and hard work by the staff and volunteers has made it possible. The Pedder Bay banding station had a very special visitor, Lieutenant Governor of BC Janet Austin stopped by to see the amazing research being done and Pedder Bay also had a few surprises in the nets too!
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org to find out more about the Hummingbird Project and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the recent banding sessions.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
Hummingbirds ….. they're more than just iridescent gems that come to our backyard feeders. On this episode we have a talk with RPBO Director Dr. Alison Moran about what hummingbirds can tell us by doing DNA analysis of their poop!!
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org to find out more about the Hummingbird Project and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the recent banding sessions.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Saturday Jun 05, 2021
Saturday Jun 05, 2021
On this episode we talk to Bander in Charge Jannaca Chick about the RPBO MAPS project (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). RPBO is back to banding at two locations this year, Witty's Lagoon and its new location at Power To Be on the old Prospect Lake Golf Course property.
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org to find out more about the MAPS project and visit their Facebook Page or Instagram Page for photographs from the recent banding sessions.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com
Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
On this episode we talk to The Rocky Pointers on the evening of May 8th who have each just completed a Big Day of Birding to raise funds for the Birds Canada's Great Canadian Birdathon and the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.
Robyn and I participated with The Rocky Pointers as The Bird Babbler's Big Day and you can still help support bird conservation as well as RPBO by making a donation up until December 31, 2021 in the team links above.
Check out the Rocky Point Bird Observatory website at rpbo.org to see what is being planned for the first Victoria Bird Week presented by the Rocky Point Bird Observatory during the week of May 8th -16th.
The Rocky Point Bird Observatory is a non-profit organization and relies upon donations and grants to operate. If you would like to support the organization or this podcast you can do so by following this link: Donate to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory
To find out more about the Rocky Point Bird Observatory visit rpbo.org
Please be sure to visit and follow us on the Bird Babble Podcast Facebook Page and the Bird Babble Instagram Page
If you have any questions or comments, they can be sent to us at birdbabblerpbo@gmail.com
Music for this Bird Babble episode is provided with thanks by Purple Planet and their website can be found at purple-planet.com