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Overview
Iona Park is part of the Greater Vancouver Recreational Area (GVRA). It is located between the Fraser River and the airport. At the end of the road is a sewage treatment plant. Its various ponds are a favorite haunt of many shorebirds. At the end of the access road is parking lot and comfort station. Be sure to lock your car and not leave anything of value visible!
Birds
Opposite the parking area is a marsh that is home to a breeding population of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. The Pier that extends well out into the bay is actually the disharge pipe for the sewage treatment plant. Bald Eagles are often found there as well as Great Blue Herons. The herons are best seen at low tide when there may be more than a dozen working the tidal pools.
Notable Species
Winter Migration Birds: Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur; these 3 birds usually show up in small groups, and stay for a few days to a week. Snowy Owl
Sea birds: Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant and occasional Pelagic Comorants, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, both Barrows and Common Goldeneye, Canvasback, Scaup, Northern Pintail, Dunlin, Sanderling, Western and Least Sandpiper,
Surfbirds, Wandering Tattler has also been sighted. Most of them are migratory too.
Raptors: Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl.
Rarities
Here are the irregular sightings I have made or photographed in Iona in the past few years Inner Ponds: a flock of Greater white-fronted geese, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilson's Phalarope, A little Stint (only once) Semipalmated Plover, A lazuli Bunting, An Eastern Kingbird. Along the jetty: A gray-crowned Rosyfinch, a female American Kestrel, A franklin's Gull, a male Harlequin duck. Outer ponds: one long-tailed duck.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
"to do"
Other Wildlife
Harbour seal, mink, beaver.
Site Information
History and Use
A sewage treatment plant has been built there. There are 3 treatment Ponds inside. The treated product will be sent 4 km out to the sea via the duct which formed the bases of the jetty. Since the place is at the Pacific Rim, it is on the migratory route of birds.
Areas of Interest
The inner ponds - during high tide, many shorebirds may be driven to these ponds, attracting Raptors for them as well. But the place belongs to the treatment plant and is not open to the public unless you get permission from the authority.
The outer ponds and the area around - there are 2, containing clean water. Many ducks can often be seen there, including Pintails, Scaups, Common Mergansers, and sometimes Swans (Trumpeters mainly) From July to September, they are often visited by Ospreys for the Catfish.
During Summer, it is a regular breeding ground for the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Other birds can be seen around the Ponds including Hummingbirds, Wilson's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Swallows (the areas on the East side of the East Pond, by the bank of the Fraser River, is a known place for the Breeding Purple Martins). Goldfinches and Common Yellowthroats.
In Winter Time, Western Meadowlark and Northern Shrike may be found.
For the past 2 years (2009 and 2010), a pair of nesting Common Nighthawks was seen.
Thisa area is also a breeding ground of the Spotted Sandpiper.
The Jetty - 4 km all the way out and birds may be found on the jetty and in the water on both sides.
Access and Facilities
Parking Lot.
A nice Public Washroom at the parking lot and a portable one at the jetty end.
No Information office there.
