Burke Lake Banding Station

​Yesterday I visited Burke Lake Banding Station (BULA) in Rose Lake SGA. BULA is open to the public and I highly recommend a family visit for a great educational experience. 

American Goldfinch in mist net
The birds are captured in mist nets and tenderly removed.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ready for release
​The bander then identifies and takes several measurements of each bird.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the scale
They jump up on the scale to be weighed. Note that all of the birds are not as cooperative as this Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

American Redstart ready for release.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ready for release
When all of the data has been collected BULA assistants will place the bird on a volunteers hand to release it back into the wild. Sometimes they fly off immediately but often they stick around for a minute and you have to blow on the tail to get them to fly away, like the American Redstart and Ruby-throated Hummingbird in these photos.

 You won't find a better way to spend the morning with your family. Here is a link to the BULA Facebook site.