Mentor: Ginny Boehme

Banding is the process in which birds are humanely caught in mist nets and given an aluminum or stainless steel band with a unique identification number. During this procedure a plethora of measurements, such as weight or wing chord length, are taken before the bird is released. The data gathered at bird banding stations is essential for monitoring the health of populations, tracking migration patterns, and assisting in avian research efforts. One way to further enhance the value and accessibility of this data is through photographic documentation. Photography at banding stations provides a powerful tool for advancing avian research and banding education by creating detailed records of feather condition, molt patterns and limits, and changes in coloration. This information is crucial to assessing aspects of a bird's life history such as species, age, sex, breeding condition, and overall health. Thus, becoming familiar with identifying the feather condition, molt patterns, and coloration of necessary birds is a vital skill for banders to possess; however, acquisition of this skill requires extensive practice and there are few resources available to consult for guidance. One such resource that is widely used in North America is “The Identification Guide to North American Birds” by Peter Pyle. While certainly helpful, Pyle’s guide, along with other banding education resources, lacks an implement that is indispensable: standardized photographs. The banding process is inherently visual, and the required educational material should reflect that. It is the goal of this poster to outline the possible methods and processes of obtaining photographs of a wide range of birds at a variety of life stages for use in avian research and banding.

Explore Project