May Bird Counts

Each May, volunteer naturalists conduct counts of the bird species seen or heard at the sanctuaries. An officially licensed volunteer bird banding team also bands birds to provide key information to conservation researchers. Knowing which bird species are using the sanctuaries enables us to ensure that the habitats they depend on for food, cover, and places to nest are carefully maintained.

The 2016 May Bird Counts tallied a combined 88 species at our sanctuaries! Among the birds seen or heard were a common loon, great blue herons, green herons, three hawk species, bald eagles, barred owls, chimney swifts, ruby-throated hummingbirds, six species of woodpeckers, purple martins, tree swallows, barn swallows, Eastern bluebirds, wood thrush, cedar waxwings, fourteen species of warblers, scarlet tanagers, four species of sparrows, Baltimore orioles, American goldfinches, and many more.

Be sure to watch your membership emails for the announcements of the bird counts and bird banding next May!

Want to volunteer to help with the May Bird Counts or bird banding? Please contact our sanctuary manager, Mark Kulis. He will be happy to tell you more about these volunteer opportunities.