While birding for the Pelican Dive Bar Birdathon Big Day Jeremy Lucas and I found two Snowy Plovers at Grayland Beach State Park. These birds were foraging in separate areas of dry sand in the dunes outside the protected area. Jeremy had his scope and spotted leg bands on the first bird. As we headed back to the trailhead, we found the second plover which was also banded. I was able to get photographs of both birds showing the leg bands.
Bird Banding: Helping Research and Educating Ourselves
While attending the Western Field Ornithology conference in August, I decided to try something new and skipped the field trip one morning to participate in a bird banding workshop. It was my first experience with bird banding, and it was a treat to see birds close-up and hold a live bird in my hand!