Bird banding moved online

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Bird Conservatory of the Rockies have partnered to host  the annual bird banding station. The stations have been running for over a decade.  

Bird banding is done to collect and track information on individual birds. 

Banded birds are then caught and tracked over their lifetime. Information from the individuals is then taken and used to calculate migratory routes, migratory seasons and average lifespan information. 

The bird banding for 2020 is taking place on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Chadron State Park. 

Due to COVID-19 concerns the bird banding has moved to an online webinar. The webinar is being hosted by Wachiska Audubon Society. 

The bird banding team banded 190 birds last year and 1,000 birds this season, the informational webinar will follow the team’s movements.  

The webinar will be led by Delanie Bruce and Colin Woolley. Bruce is the Nebraska wildlife education coordinator for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Bird Conservatory of the Rockies. Woolley is the banding coordinator for the Bird Conservatory of the Rockies.  

The webinar is free and anyone can register on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Website.