Bird Banding Station

Male Wilson's Warbler

Adult Lincoln Sparrow

Bird Banding Station's are set up by ornithologists typically during migration seasons.  Bird Banding or Bird Ringing, as referred to by parts of  Europe and the U.K., was first used by the Romans during the Punic Wars in 218-201 B.C.  Back then it was usually used as a way to send  messages.  Today it is used to gather useful information on specific species and migration.

I had the opportunity to visit a Bird Banding Station on Friday morning.    I was so excited as I walked the trail through the woods towards the Banding Station.  I felt like a little girl anticipating her birthday surprise!  But it turned out it was even more of a treat for me than that!

Tennessee Warbler 

How Bird Banding Works:

Birds are captured in small nets called Mist Nets.  It looks terrible, but surprisingly it really does seem to bother them too much.  The Gill Netting used for fish seemed, to me, more traumatic.

From the Web

Volunteers gather the birds from the mist nets and place them in a small sack:

A small numbered band is placed on their leg: 

Information such as wing and tail measurements are taken:

Cat Bird

Beaks are measured:

The ornithologist blows on the birds breast looking for fat, which indicates it is still on migration path, and a brood patch which indicates it is about to nest:

The birds are carefully put into a PVC tube and weighed:

And then released back into their habitat:

I had such a great experience Friday I am planning on volunteering at the fall Bird Banding Station for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory .