Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER/ ASSUMPTION OF RISK
The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a federally-protected designated conservation area. A visit here is primarily an outdoor experience in a conservation area in rural Delta. The Sanctuary is managed by the British Columbia Waterfowl Society under an agreement with the Government of Canada. In this Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the goal is to provide natural habitats for populations of wild birds that depend on coastal habitats during part or all of their life cycle. Maintaining the health of trees, shrubbery, wetland vegetation and water quality for the birds is a high priority. Trails and lookout structures and other facilities such as the parking lot, washrooms and picnic sites are provided for visitors. These are designed to provide basic access to receive visitors and allow for pedestrian activities in this conservation site while minimizing the impact of trail building and visitor traffic on these critical habitats.
Visitor activities include but are not limited to: nature exploration, bird-watching, photography, research activities under permits, participation in educational tours, supervised volunteer projects and other group outings. Most visitors spend at least an hour in self-guided exploration of trails and views from various structures. Seasonally, a wide variety of conditions can occur in the Sanctuary. To minimize risk, visitors are expected to dress appropriately for the weather and wear good walking shoes or winter boots as needed and to come prepared for seasonal weather conditions. All visitors are expected to stay on the trails, keep away from the water’s edge and watch for natural irregularities in the terrain and possible hazards overhead or along trails related to the natural vegetation. They are expected to use common sense on all elevated viewpoint structures and avoid any risk-taking behaviour that could result in falls, other injuries or destruction of habitats and property. Visitors are often in close proximity to wild birds, other wildlife and other people. They are expected to follow instructions regarding the safety of the birds, their own safety and impacts on other visitors, and the management goals of the Sanctuary.
By its very nature, this environment has many potential risks, dangers and hazards, including but not limited to: changing weather conditions; changing outdoor trail conditions; irregular trail surfaces and elevations; changes in walking surfaces including steep or slippery surfaces, holes, raised roots or stumps, falling branches, loose rock or depressions; proximity of ponds, channels, intertidal marshes and other waterways; aspects of constructed features such as viewing decks, stairs, and ramps; impact or collision with natural and constructed objects or other pedestrians; encounters with wild animals; effects of physical exertion, contact with other guests, including negligence on the part of other participants; and negligence on the part of the British Columbia Waterfowl Society.
By entering the premises, visitors acknowledge that they are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with Sanctuary activities and accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards and the possibility of personal injury, death, property damage or loss resulting therefrom.
