AT: Bird Banding at GCBO

You are invited to join us for our monthly bird banding program at the GCBO HQ in Lake Jackson. Licensed bird banders and GCBO Research Associates Robert and Kay Lookingbill will be banding at the sanctuary on a regular basis. Birds are captured for banding in very fine nylon nets known as “mist nets” because they are almost invisible in the environment. Captured birds are weighed and measured and their species, sex, and age are recorded. Each is fitted with an aluminum leg band with a unique number provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and released unharmed. If the bird is captured again, the band provides the link to retrieve this history, which then provides important information on the routes used by migrating birds, their longevity, and general physical condition.

The purpose of the project is to establish baseline data for the GCBO property on both resident and migratory bird populations.