The first time I held a bird my heart was just as excited as the bird. What an awesome experience I never would have dreamed of years ago. I had read in our Presque Isle Audubon newsletter that Dr. Sarah Sargent was looking for volunteers to help with bird banding. She had just taken over banding at Presque Isle after longtime bird bander Ron Lieberman retired. So in the fall of 2007 I ventured down to PI at the Niagara boat launch to discover a picnic table tucked away behind trees and shrubs off the main trail and not visible to visitors where Sarah was set and had experienced volunteers helping out. BTW this is where I met Michele and we have been hanging out with the birds ever since.

That first fall of banding I mostly observed and photographed the birds for reference for painting such as my watercolor ‘All Puffed Up’ which did make it into the PA Audubon newsletter. By the end of the season I was hooked and couldn’t wait till Spring for migration and banding. As a volunteer you are taught first how to record, then how to handle the birds, how to carry them back from the mist nets, and when ready how to retrieve the birds from the mist nets.

In the fall of 2008 Sarah was able to acquire grant money to hire interns to help with the banding and enter the data collected into a national database to keep track of migration patterns, recaptures, and habitat. Each season brings a new intern and new experiences. I love hearing their stories about their travels and the places they have been and where they are going next. I listen with envy wishing I was fresh out of college acquiring one temp job after another traveling as far as Costa Rica and Jamaica. The interns take on jobs for a season of about three to six months then move onto the next job bird banding, studying wildlife habitat or plants.

When I arrived at the banding station on Friday morning Andrea and Linnea, the fall interns, were just coming back from checking the mist nets. Linnea was excited over her capture and so were we when she retrieved a Northern Flicker from the carry bag. Their spotted breast area is so beautiful to look at also the bright yellow shaft of the tail feathers and wings. We saved the Flicker for Sarah’s arrival shortly after and as she was looking over the bird noticed that it was still molting under the wing span.

There is always a new experience to view when at the banding station and they welcome visitors anytime after 8am.

Have I peaked your interest yet? Would you like to visit the banding station? There is still plenty of time since they will be banding till the end of October. Here is the schedule.

Erie Bluffs State Park: Thursdays
Frye’s Landing: Mon, Wed, & Fri. Presque Isle State Park
Niagara Boat Launch: Tues. & Sat. Presque Isle State Park

They typically start netting at 7am and continue until about 2pm. This schedule may shift a bit later with the sunrise as we go into October.

Also check out the PI bird banding blog. Presque Isle Bird Banding

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