This week I visited the bird banding station at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is a very small operation, run almost entirely by volunteers, that bands mostly smaller songbirds.
While I was there, they captured a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and a Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). Both birds were weighed, measured, and examined. The tiny Carolina Wren already had a band from a previous year and the much larger Thrasher got a band. The bands come in all sizes—it was amazing to see the range of sizes.
When it was time to release the wren, one of the volunteers handed her over to me. It was such an amazing feeling to hold the little bird in my hand and then to slowly release my grip and feel the tiny points of her little feet press down on my palm as she took to the air.
Click this link For more info on the banding station including hours of operation.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Aw, that must have been nice.
It was definitely a cool experience–there is no other way that I would ever be so close to one of these wild birds.
I read and explained the post to Benjamin this morning. He was worried that the bands would give the birds “ouchies” and I assured him that it wouldn’t hurt them. He was thrilled that you held the little bird in your hand and then let it fly away. “WOW, Mr. Mike, you are a hero!” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
You may be able to reassure him that the band around the birds leg is like a bracelet around your wrist and doesn’t hurt at all.