At 8am every Wednesday morning from April to December, Ian and crew are banding and recording data on wild birds! This is a very cool process to witness up close if you're a nature or bird lover!
I finally got to visit after 2 years trying to coordinate a trip! Today was a sunny November morning and we arrived an hour late, so we did not see many birds banded this day, but even one was exciting.
There was a group of Audubon members present to watch and see who they could spot. These are avid birders, so take note, this is a hotspot for rare finds! Ian has banded over 80 species of birds!
An Audubon member tipped me off on late September as the best time to catch a variety of migrating birds to see a volume and variety get banded. Noted for next year!
Ian also let us know that the earlier you arrive, the more birds you will see (so get there at 8am sharp!) and overcast weather is ideal for catch-and-release because the birds can't see the nets and are more easily trapped.
Visitors have naturalists and Ian on hand to answer questions. They are very experienced and knowledgeable. If quiet, you may follow Ian to check his nets for specimens, and he'll take them to his banding station to band, measure, photograph, and record any other notes in the data. Then you can give birdie a little gentle pat, and off it goes.
It is a very fun, up-close experience, and a great way to learn bird identification.
Note: this is not a preserve where you show up to hang out whenever. You must have an invite or have contacted them ahead for a planned activity. read more