| Basic
Procedures for Booking a Visit:
Sanctuary programs encourage the discovery and appreciation of
wild migratory birds and their habitats, the Fraser River estuary,
and conservation initiatives in this coastal region.
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604-946-6980
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We take only one morning and one afternoon class booking
per day in order to give each class our full attention.
Reservations are for classes of 15 to 30 students.
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Book
several weeks in advance to reserve a suitable date.
We confirm dates and fax basic guidelines to review before
visiting this federal migratory bird sanctuary. Payment
is expected upon arrival.
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Please notify us as soon as possible
if cancelling a visit so we can accomodate other visitor
needs.
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The booking includes a group admission rate and a guide for approximately
1.5 hours, including any time spent in the museum. Outside
of the booking, facilities and staff need to be made available
to other visitors, and children need to be under supervision at
all times. When arranging transportation, please provide our location
map and phone number to parent drivers and/or bus drivers.
A Special Thank You to those who sponsored classes
into our programs in
the 2007-08 School year! (details)
| K-7
Nature Walks
Learn about the diversity of local wildlife and habitats
by exploring the trails and viewing the estuary from the observation
tower. Guides discuss the importance of the estuary and the
role of the Sanctuary, bird identification, wildlife needs
and habitats, and special terms used. Students should be suitably
dressed for the weather, as most of this 1.5 hour program
is outside. This program is adjusted for different grades
and can includes themes such as the migration of birds, winter
survival, habitats and communities, and animal life cycles.
Visit our Teacher
Resource Page for the series of resource booklets on different
themes.
Programs
for Older Students
At the time of booking, please indicate which subject the
class is taking. Our staff are versatile, and can help focus
your students on themes that address Biology, Social Studies
and Geography curriculum topics.
Work
Experience Programs
Enquire
at the office regarding work experience opportunities.
Teacher
Workshops
 |
Project
Wild workshops are
hosted every fall at the Sanctuary. Enquire at the Office for details. |
Free
Website Teacher Resources
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Theme programs to explore:
Migration
Studies: Grade 4- 7
Spend
part of your booking time exploring our museum displays
to focus student attention on migratory birds such
as the snow goose, and to learn more about their
habitat needs, migration routes, and how scientists
study them. Visit our Teacher
Resource Page
for a resource booklet on this theme. |
| Just
Hatched: Grade K-3
Focus on life cycles,
the needs of wildlife species, and close up looks at
our museum specimens, followed by a short walk along
trails to discover seasonal items of interest. Visit
our Teacher Resource Page
for a resource booklet on these themes. |
| Project
Webfoot: Grade 3-5
Ducks
Unlimited Canada (DUC) links sponsor funding with
classes to provide free Project Webfoot classroom
wetland education kits plus funding assistance for
field trips to the Sanctuary. For more information,
contact the local education
coordinator in Surrey. |
| Migratory
Bird Management and Conservation: Secondary
Learn about how researchers
census and manage migratory bird populations across
North America. Students practice survey techniques,
waterfowl identification and the use of classification
keys. Visit our Teacher Resource
Page and our Links page
for more information on migration, migratory birds and
global conservation initiatives. |
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Gift
Shop Supplies for Educators
Enquire about teacher resources at the gift shop. We carry
some educator guides and many posters, and may be able to order
other resources upon request. A class set of the Sanctuary's Waterbirds
of the Strait of Georgia (field guide) can also be purchased
by educators at a special discount rate of $100.
Pertinent
BC Science IRP's (2005):
K-1 Life Science : Characteristics
of living things; Properties of objects and materials; Surroundings;
Needs of living things; Daily and seasonal changes.
2-3 Life Science : Animal growth and
changes; Air, water and soil; Plant growth and changes.
4 Life Science: Habitats and communities;
Weather.
Earth and Space Science Renewable
and non-renewable resources.
6 Life Science : Diversity of life.
7 Life Science : Ecosystems; Earth's
crust.
Biology 11 (Ecology, and the factors
affecting populations)
Social Studies 11 (Environmental issues)
Biology 8 (The diversity of biomes,
adaptations of animals to their environment, impacts of the use
of natural resources)
Geography 12 (People and the environment;
sustainability and the use of renewable and non-renewable resources).
A
Checklist of Common Birds
| Pied-billed Grebe _____
Double-Crested Cormorant _____
Great Blue Heron _____
Trumpeter Swan _____
Snow Goose _____
Canada Goose _____
Wood Duck _____
Gadwall _____
American Wigeon _____
Mallard _____
Blue-winged Teal _____
Northern Shoveler _____
Northern Pintail _____
Green-winged Teal _____
Lesser Scaup _____
Bufflehead _____
Hooded Merganser _____
Common Merganser _____
Bald Eagle _____
Northern Harrier _____
Cooper’s Hawk _____
Red-Tailed Hawk _____
Peregrine Falcon _____
American Coot _____
Sandhill Crane _____
Killdeer _____
Greater Yellowlegs _____
Lesser Yellowlegs _____
Western Sandpiper _____ |
Dunlin _____
Long-Billed Dowitcher _____
Glaucous-winged Gull _____
Rock Dove _____
Barn Owl _____
Great Horned Owl _____
Barred Owl _____
Northern Saw-Whet Owl _____
Rufous Hummingbird _____
Belted Kingfisher _____
Northwestern Crow _____
Tree Swallow _____
Barn Swallow _____
Black-capped Chickadee _____
Marsh Wren _____
Downy Woodpecker _____
Northern Flicker _____
Golden-crowned Kinglet _____
American Robin _____
Cedar Waxwing _____
Spotted Towhee _____
Song Sparrow _____
White-crowned Sparrow _____
Golden-crowned Sparrow _____
Dark-eyed Junco _____
Red-winged Blackbird _____
House Finch _____
American Goldfinch _____
House Sparrow _____ |
Our
Museum Collections
Scheduled class bookings often include a short visit to our Lecture
Hall, with its museum collections of taxidermy birds, eggs, furs,
bones and posters.
The Leo Malfet Bird Collection takes up the majority of the space
and is housed in cabinets. In 1958, the Malfet family gave their
late father’s collection of 509 (taxidermy mounted) birds
to the Carnegie Museum at Main and Hastings street in downtown Vancouver.
When that museum was closed in 1967, the collection went into storage
at the new Vancouver Centennial Museum at Kitsilano. Eventually,
the Museum and the Malfet family realized the collection would not
be displayed there, and a new home was sought. The family requested
that the Leo Malfet name be kept on the collection, that it be kept
intact in one place, and that a “decent portion” of
it be on display. The British Columbia Waterfowl Society was chosen
as the most appropriate recipient and has taken care of the collection
since January 31st, 1984.
A
Note About Nesting Season
Over 50 species of birds nest regularly at the Sanctuary, so help
us keep young birds and young humans safe.
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Geese, cranes and ducks defend their nests and will
attack to defend their young, which travel with them
for several months
until they can fly. Please keep a respectful distance
and do not allow your children to run at or try to handle
these birds.
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The young of smaller bird species spend several
weeks helpless in well-camouflaged nests. Parent
birds bring them food until they grow and can fly. Keep
away from these nests and leave protective
vegetation in place around them so that predators do
not find them.
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Education
Program Partners
Back
to Home Page
©The
British Columbia Waterfowl Society, 5191 Robertson
Road, Delta, BC V4K 3N2 Phone/Fax: 604-946-6980.
Last updated
July 8, 2008
. Please report any website problems to our webmaster. |
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