Huntsman is known by many as an education facility but there is also a large amount of research done on campus. For example, Tracey Dean, the Director of Education at the Huntsman has run the St. Andrews Bird Banding Station since 1989. Over the past 22 years, 20,200 birds representing 99 species have been banded. Banding provides important data on the age, sex and body condition of the overall population. Adding to the banding database each year allows changes in songbird’s populations’ health and fluctuations to be “measured”, especially boreal forest species.
Occasionally students participating in Huntsman field courses are given the privilege of assisting Tracey as she checks her nets and bands the birds that have been caught. It is really interesting to see the birds up close and to see Tracey work.
For more information on the St. Andrews Bird Banding Station visit www.huntsmanmarine.ca/html/bird_banding.html.
Putting on the band.
Ready to be released.
