Bird banding at Bremer Sanctuary provides vital information

A new project was started at Bremer Sanctuary this spring with the banding of the nest box nestlings. Bird banding is a tool that enables biologists to obtain information about birds, much of which could not be acquired in any other way. Each nestling is fitted with a special, lightweight aluminum leg band that is inscribed with a unique nine-digit number.

The nestlings need to be 12-15 days old, depending on species, and currently acquiring their flight feathers. At this age, their legs are full size and since they do not add fat or muscle to this limb, the same size bands are also used for t...