Birds in Hand, Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts, USA

Tucked away on the edge of Manomet bluff in southeast Massachusetts, the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences operates the Manomet Bird Observatory .  For more than 40 years, Senior Landbird Scientist, Trevor Lloyd-Evans has directed the migratory bird banding program. Over the many years, in addition to being a leading world banding scientist, he has served as a mentor to countless interns, volunteers, school children and, most importantly for me, my own son, whose love of birds was nurtured and blossomed under Trevor's patient tutelege.

I had the opportunity to visit recently with a group from the Plymouth Digital Photographers Club.

Trevor showing the details of a Blue Jay wing.

A Gray Catbird has just received his leg band.  The crimping tool for attaching the band is at left in the photo above.  The green arrow points to the actual metallic band. Each band contains specific identifying data.

The Manomet Bird Observatory sits atop the bluff on Manomet Point. Over it's many decade history, thousands upon thousands of migrating birds have been banded and released to continue their journeys. When banded birds are again caught in distant locations, that information when aggregated over decades has given us accurate information about migration patterns.

Fifty of these mist nets are arranged through the woods and fields surrounding the Center.  Each net is approximately 40 feet long and 7 feet tall.  They are checked for birds hourly by the skilled banders. The banding seasons are spring (April 15- June 15), and fall (August 15 - November 15).

 Follow this link for a more detailed blog by Amy about banding.