As you may recall, my yard is a designated Nest Watch site. This week was my annual site visit where scientists come out and spend the morning observing, safely catching, examining, and banding birds. I observe these banded birds throughout the year and report my observational data back. The purpose of the program is to monitor natural habitats, migratory patterns, and current sustainability of various species of interest.
I am not a morning person. Ever. But the scientists arrive to my house every year by 6:30 a.m. on this day. It is truly the only day of the year where my alarm going off before the sun doesn’t extract a groan from me or a hit of the snooze button. Every year Grace also stays home from school to be a part of the research. Her school excuses her morning absence to their credit, because it is truly an educational experience—for us both.
I think what I love best about the program is that our banded birds – and we have quite a few now – continue to call our yard home year after year. They stay around here and we know that thanks to their unique colored bands. These bands have also allowed Grace to name them and create interesting storylines to explain their observed behavior throughout the year. Better than reality tv, although I recognize that’s not too high a standard. You get my point.
For reasons you’ll be learning about soon, I added a Facebook Live component to our visit this year. So as added media to this edition of Call Me Katherine, take a look at the Facebook Live from our capture of a house wren.
If you are interested in applying to be a NestWatch yard, go to their website to learn more. Associated programs like eMammal are also really great too, so check them out while you’re at it. These citizen scientists programs allow you and your family to become more knowledgeable and in love with your yard, while supporting the larger ecosystem of your place.