Wright Refuge
 
on our first field trip of the year we learned about bird banding and bird ecology
 

   


gathering in the old orchard at Wright Refuge to divide into three groups
this group went first to check the mist nets, finding a Fox Sparrow in the first
after removal from the net it goes in a soft cloth bag to keep it still and calm
William felt how soft and light the net was with the back of his hand
we found two Winter Wrens in other nets and walked back to the banding station
...where all bandings for the day and the year are carefully recorded
first a bird is removed from it's protective bag
here a tiny Winter Wren is being held in photograph position
...then under the light in head hold for inspection of its skull, a clue to age
kids looking on with rapt attention
each bird is inspected for feather wear
...and feather molt
...with all these details carefully recorded for each bird
...by an assistant
finally the bird is given a band with a unique number
...carefully crimped around one of its legs
...before being released once again to the wild (here the Fox Sparrow)
a happy moment
next our group played some games simulating survival factors in a bird's life
these "songbirds" are racing after food and water cards
...while pursued by hawks
Demi showing "food" she was able to return to her nest hidden from thieving jays
our third activity was a nature walk - here we pause by a patch of Skunk Cabbage
looking through binoculars
Nicholas brought along this family heirloom pair of Army Signal Corps binoculars
which he used in reverse to inspect a redwood sprig
looking under a rock
...and finding a salamander
pleasantly tired at the end of our three rounds we gathered at the meeting place
...reviewed what we'd learned and thanked all the volunteers for a great tour