MAPS Banding Session 1
Written by and photos taken by: Delaney Osmond, Avian Field Research and Communications Intern
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Spring Lake Park Reserve
Banded: 70
Re-trap: 1
Seen/Heard: 40
Most Banded Bird of the Day: American Goldfinch (AMGO), 17 birds
Banders: Jennifer V, Rick S, Linda W, Shelley B, Wendy L, Jeanne N, Sonia M, Isabel M, Doreen D, Yvonne S, Delaney O
The first session of MAPS banding at Spring Lake Park Reserve was wildly successful. In total, volunteers banded 70 birds and 1 same-day recapture. Congratulations to the individuals who assisted in selecting net locations, you obviously did a very good job.
Some of the featured birds include Orchard Orioles, Warblers (Yellow, Redstart, Common Yellowthroat), Sparrows (Clay-colored, Song and Field), Catbirds, and more.
Aside from birds banded, our volunteers were able to document many probable and confirmed breeders. Some highlights from the probable breeder list include; Warbling vireo, clay-colored sparrow, yellow-throated vireo, and Baltimore oriole. And some highlights from the confirmed breeders lists are; the American robin, Barn swallow, eastern kingbird, Red-bellied woodpecker, Yellow warbler, Ruby-throated hummingbird, American redstart, and lark sparrow.
There was a large group of bird-watchers who happened upon our research and line of birds. While their interest in the birds and research is appreciated, the swarming around the birds is not as much. Jen, our fearless leader, jumped at the opportunity to elaborate on the project and was able to manage the crowd well.
In case such a scenario happens again in the future, here is a basic outline of the purpose of the Spring Lake MAPS research:
The research conducted this year will serve as a baseline study to determine whether or not the reintroduction of bison to selected areas of prairie inside of the Spring Lake Park Reserve will impact bird productivity. After the bison have grazed, researchers will return to the site, placing nets in the same locations, in order to examine how bird populations have changed. The bird banding that CNC normally participates in also produces fruitful research on how bird populations change in an area over time. Still, it is exciting to participate in research that directly reflects how the re-introduction of native species impacts the land.
After this first session, it became very clear that it would be helpful if there were a few more volunteers. Hopefully, future sessions will be just as successful, but a little more manageable. The results of this research will be very exciting to see.
Thank you for your continued assistance and support.