Bird in the Hand

Rather huge day yesterday! I was up at 3am to go bird banding at Bold Park. I havn't banded since my Alice Springs days, so was keen to get involved again. It was a slow morning. We got the mist nets up quickly (before sun up) but the birds just weren't playing! I think they were all having a Sat morning lie in... but eventually a small flock of Silvereye's flew into the nets and we were able to retrieve them, give them individual leg bands and let them fly free again.

Bird banding is a very useful tool in Conservation and Ecology work. Especially for site fidelity studies and can also be used in population studies too. It is not harmful to the bird when done properly and they quite happily get on with their daily business not bothered by the band at all. In Australia we have strict guidelines and licencing to be able to band native birds. I plan to get more involved over here and will be applying for my C class licence soon!

Then it was off to work for a crazy full on day, home for a quick walk with Bonnie and then out to 30th Birthday party! Home after midnight and have been up for almost 22 hours! Hence this has been posted the next morning!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!