A Bird in the Hand

Today we are going to do something a little different.  We're going on a field trip!  

Not too far from ‘my little place in the world’ is a special place called Woodbourne Sanctuary.  The reason we’re going there is to get up close and personal with some backyard birds.  You’ve seen these birds before on my blog... fairly up close (as in-- just outside our window).  But now, we’re going to have an even closer look!

Dr. Jerry Skinner is the resident biologist at Woodbourne.  Many children (including ours) have been introduced to the joys of nature by him.  Today though, he’s teaching a small group of adults about bird banding.  The class is called “A Bird in Hand” and is part of the Montrose Area Adult School.

The history of bird banding is interesting.  According to a guide that Dr. Skinner gave us, a ‘type’ of bird banding has been recorded as far back as 200 BC when marked birds were used to send messages.  A scientific method of bird banding began in Denmark in 1899.  The “delicate art and precise science” of bird banding has come a long way since then.  The class today was only a basic  introduction (it requires years of study) but I was impressed with the incredible knowledge contained in Dr. Skinner’s two volume set of bird banding books.  (and by his own personal knowledge!)

Now, after that introduction, let’s get back to our field trip!

First, the birds have to be caught.  A mist net set up near the bird feeders in Dr. Skinner’s backyard accomplished this.  

Three of the class participants in front of the mist net, looking at a Rose-breasted Grosbeak caught in it.

We’ll follow this male Rose-breasted Grosbeak thru the banding process.

The mist net does not hurt the birds at all.  The same cannot always be said for the bander, whose fingers are targets for the nips of sharp, strong beaks while he is gently removing the bird from the net. 

After the bird is out of the net, it is carefully placed in a cloth bag.  Dr. Skinner had a number of birds already in bags and we added the Grosbeak and a few others to the line-up.

Birds in bags waiting for their turn!

Next, the bird is examined to determine, if possible, its’ sex (obvious with the grosbeak since the male and female are very different-looking) and approximate age. 

Forms are filled out about each bird.

The white tool with various size slots in the background is used to measure the birds leg for the correct size band.

After the bird is measured for the correct size band, the band number is recorded with the rest of the bird's information.

Dr. Jerry Skinner, selecting a band from his box.

Using special banding pliers, Dr. Skinner placed the band on the bird's leg.  

Then... the release!

Off he goes, free to enjoy Woodbourne Sanctuary again!

Besides the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, we were able to get up close and personal with a number of other species.... 

a Blue Jay:

Much harder to tell if it's a boy or girl, but there are ways to try to figure it out!

Baltimore oriole:

You can see the tiny band in between thumb and finger.

Several goldfinches, including this one:

She is having her feathers compared to those in the chart in the book.

 A Downy and a Hairy Woodpecker:

With a Downy in one hand and a Hairy in the other, Dr. Skinner points out their differences in a field guide.

 A female Purple Finch:

A White-breasted Nuthatch:

 Finally, my favorite... a female Red-bellied Woodpecker.

She doesn't seem too happy to have her belly feathers blown on to see if that reveals a brood patch.

Though the birds may not have enjoyed it, it was a real treat for us to see these birds up close, to marvel at their beauty,  and to actually hold them in our hands!   At the next class (it’s a series of three) Dr. Skinner is going to move the nets to a different location where we may catch and band some warblers.  I can’t wait!