In celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week, the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with Mass Audubon, hosted a special bird banding program on October 15. Participants had the unique opportunity to witness bird banding firsthand, guided by experts Ben Flemer, the station manager, and Bill Gette from the Friends Board of Directors.

The sessions filled up quickly, and attendees gathered at Parker River NWR to watch and learn as birds were safely captured, banded, and released.

Data collected from banding at the refuge contributes to a larger effort led by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory, with records dating back to 1960. For example, data on the Eastern Phoebe—one of the first migratory birds to arrive in spring—reveals fascinating patterns about where these birds are encountered. Over 100 banded Eastern Phoebes have been recorded in Massachusetts alone, according to migration research. You can explore more bird banding data here.

Bird banding data plays a critical role in the conservation of migratory species. We encourage members of the Friends of Parker River and the wider community to get involved in this important work.

A special thank you to Bill Gette for organizing the event, to our leaders Ben Flemer and Bill for their expertise, and to all the volunteers who helped make this event such a success.