Kent Farm Research Station

During the breeding season, MAPS researchers use a system of fine mesh nets to capture and band birds. Bird banding is the process of applying a stainless steel or aluminum band with a unique identification number to a bird’s leg; it is currently the only sustainable method we have of gathering longitudinal data about an individual bird. Information is also collected (e.g., age, sex, body condition, and reproductive status) from every species captured. These data allow us to estimate bird populations, annual breeding success, and whether local populations are in decline. All of this helps scientists to understand the effects of humans and climate change on bird communities.

I began my MAPS bird banding journey 24 years ago in the swamps of New Orleans on a unique piece of land called the Audubon Center for Research on Endangered Species. Our team would arrive at 5:30 in the morning wearing waders to trudge a mile through cypress swamps riddled with cottonmouths. The center was home to populations of whooping cranes, resident barred owls, and captive lions. The dawn chorus was surreal; we waded through the swamp that was dimly lit only by our headlamps, hearing the distant yet ferocious roars on top of fluting cranes and, in the forefront, barred owls hooting and grunting to each other. There, we banded gray catbirds, hooded warblers, northern cardinals and Carolina wrens. 

This season was our eighth, and we hosted 9 banding sessions which captured a total of 318 birds. At Kent Farm we have banded over 1,600 individuals and recaptured nearly 700, for a total of 2,337 birds netted!

Over the last eight summers we have seen some interesting trends. Specific birds have decreased on our site, including the common yellowthroat, which is being banded at less than 50% of the rate from when we started. Other families, including woodpeckers, were not banded at all in the first few years and have now become more common. Some species appear only once or twice over eight years, such as the blue grosbeak, scarlet and summer tanagers. Others appear every few years, like the prothonotary warbler and northern parula. Some of our particularly unique bird species include the prairie warbler, the blue-winged warbler, the indigo bunting and the worm-eating warbler.

Our data from Kent Farm is just one in an international constellation of over 1,200 stations. When data is gathered over space and time, clear patterns can develop. Professional and amateur scientists can access these data and use it to influence policy to protect these precious creatures. At the same time, we are able to share the beauty and awe of these amazing migrant and resident birds with hundreds of visitors whose lives are changed by their up-close encounter with these winged wonders. This ability to have an effect both on a local and global scale is what motivates our work at Kent Farm, bringing us back summer after summer, just like our breeding migrants.

If you are interested in supporting MAPS or the MCB, read more here.