Last year we had a bit of a crazy spring season here at Presque Isle State Park: we banded 2,080 new birds, which was 811 birds more than the year before that; we had some great recapture rates and amazing recoveries; we caught several species that we don't often catch as well as some that we have never before caught here; and last but certainly not least, we successfully managed our first 'fall out' day where hundreds of birds found their way into our nets at opening when the winds changed direction. Another big thing from last year was that we started placing small radio transmitters on certain species as part of the larger international Motus project that is spearheaded by Bird Studies Canada. In doing so, we were able to discover new info about how some of the birds are utilizing the local area during their migration. With this project, we also had our first Motus tower installed that not only receives transmissions from our tagged birds but also receives transmissions from other animals (birds and bats!) that are tagged elsewhere that happen to be flying overhead. This year we are installing another tower at the landfill and we are once again placing nanotags on 15 birds. There are also bat researchers from Texas Tech University working in the park using the same technology and the same towers. We're all hoping for a great season for our winged comrades, both avian and mammal alike, and are looking forward to the information that we might gain from this new technology that will in turn, help us help them.
We are also working this year on a new coastal migration study that will tie in with the work that we're doing with the radio tagging. This new project aims to assess how migrant land birds use the patches of natural habitat in amongst the houses, backyards, vineyards and farm fields of Erie County, roughly between the city of Erie and the New York State line, and between the Lake Erie shoreline and I-90. We will be conducting 30 short transect surveys of 100 meters long in various patches of habitat, recording the birds that we find during the transect. At several of the patches in which we are surveying, we will also be capturing birds to place the same type of radio tags that we placed on birds in the park last season and then we'll track how long they stay in the patch using a hand held receiver. Hopefully, we will also be able to learn when they leave the area from their transmissions that one of the Motus towers will receive. We are still looking for volunteers to help with this project so, if you live in or near the aforementioned area and would like to help out, please email us at pispbirdbanding@gmail.com
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| Our Motus results from spring 2016. |
Because of the new project, our banding schedule will be slightly different this year. We will be banding at Niagara Boat Launch on Mondays and Fridays. We will be at Fry's Landing on Tuesdays, Saturdays, & Sundays. Wednesday and Thursday we might be banding in the park but we might also be off the peninsula tagging birds for our other project. If you are thinking of stopping by to visit on either a Wednesday or Thursday, your best bet is to check our Facebook page (click here) that day to see where we will be.
Here's to another great season of banding at Presque Isle State Park! We hope to see you all out there.
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