Warner Park Nature Center S

Warner Park Nature Center BIRD BANDING STATION Established in 1982

What is Bird Banding? 1) Placing uniquely numbered bands on bird’s legs and recording information. 2) A universal and indispensable technique for studying the movement, survival and behavior of birds. 3) One of the most accurate means of ornithological research. 4) A sampling technique. 5) One of the most useful tools in the modern study of wild birds. 6) A way to enjoy, appreciate and learn more about birds.

Who Bands Birds? 1) The North American Bird Banding Program is administered jointly but the US Department of the Interior and the Canadian Wildlife Service. 2) The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) with the USGS’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland issues permits, provides, the bands and coordinates the marking projects in the United States 3) The Warner Park Nature Center has staff with a Master Banding Permit and subpermits and a specialized permit for banding hummingbirds.

Why Band Birds? To increase our knowledge and understanding of birds and their habits and to assist us in bird management and conservation. And to learn about …  Migration and Dispersal  Distribution and Population  Breeding and Wintering Areas  Behavior and social structure  Life History  Breeding Age  Survivorship and mortality  Territory  Lifespan

How do we catch the birds? 1) Potter traps around bird feeders (mostly in winter) 2) Other specialized traps (such as hummingbirds and hawks) 3) Mist Nets – nylon nets placed in bird flyways

More Questions??? Ask staff or volunteers at the bird banding table. We love to talk about birds!

Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation