Bird Banding at Presque Isle

[MicheleRF]

I recently started volunteering at the bird banding station at Presque Isle State Park which is an excellent opportunity to learn about birds, help a good cause and get some neat photos. ;) It was very overcast with an off and on light rain but I got a few shots of the banding in action. Some of the warblers should be migrating through here soon so I hope to get some shots of them within the next few weeks. :)

A Swainson's Thrush getting banded:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmswthgettingbanded_edited-1.jpg

Master Bander weighing an ovenbird:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmovbisarahweigh_edited-1.jpg

An immature gray catbird getting banded:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmGRCBbanded_edited-1.jpg

The same immature catbird after banding:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmGRCBbanded2_edited-1.jpg

An ovenbird waiting to be banded:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmovbibanded_edited-1.jpg

[canonloader]

Great stuff Michele. I haven't seen a concerted banding party before, but have seen a few hawks banded, as they were caught.

[Paul A]

Great way to get to know the birds. Did they use mist nets to capture them?

[MicheleRF]

Yes, it is a great learning experience. They have 13 nets set up in clearings in the woods. They range from 10 to about 30 feet off the shoreline. We were advised before we started not to wear clothes with buttons because they so easily get caught in the nets. I had a jacket on with a tiny carabiner-type hook on it and got caught a few times while walking by the nets. Here is a pic of one of the nets:

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/asmmistnet_edited-1.jpg

[MicheleRF]

Here are a couple of shots I took last year of a red-eyed vireo caught in one of the mist nets. I have never seen a bird injured in one of these although it does not look comfortable :(

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/pbasmreviinmistnet_edited-1.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb238/MicheleRF_photos/pbreviclose.jpg

[hTr]

Great Documentry series Michele

[busbyea]

Love the story behind the pictures...

Nicely Captured Michele...A friend has asked if I'd be interested in going with him. Definitely something that looks exciting & fun.