Tweeters,

I just returned from a wonderful birding trip to Texas in which I saw
233 species of which 31 were life birds. What an incredible area to
bird especially during migration. It's an awesome experience to witness
first hand the efforts made by birds in migration. At High Island we
watched foraging song birds among the tree branches but what truly
brought home the incredible journey these birds make was our experience
at Padre Island National Seashore. We were standing on the seashore
observing Terns flying up and down the beach when we noticed three tiny
birds battling head winds and approaching from across the water. We
watched as a Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting and another songbird
fluttered about fifteen feet above the water and finally dropped into
the grass on the beach. They disappeared completely in the grass. At
this point on Padre Island there are no trees, only grass covered sand
dunes. At the visitor center we could look down into the grass and
watch Gray catbirds, Ovenbirds, Buntings and many species of Warblers
foraging among the blades of grass.

While at the park we met a team of people who were banding migratory
birds. The person in charge was Dr. Cheney (spelling) and he was
working with the cooperation of the park personel. They had two mist
net stations where birds were trapped and then placed into cloth bags.
The birds were then brought to a central location where they were
weighed, measured, checked for body fat, banded and then released into
some of the few mesquite trees available. We watched for approximately
45 minutes. They banded a Least Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Painted
Bunting, and a Black and White Warbler while we watched and helped to
release the birds.

Because I have never been trained in bird banding and I do not have any
knowlege in the process, I am in no way criticizing the operation we
watched. The people handling the birds were extremely professional and
avoided all possible injury to the birds but because the birds were
already in an exhausted state some died before being banded. They had
approximately 50 birds in cloth bags waiting to be handled and more were
still being brought in from mist nets. Dr. Cheney had been banding birds
on the Island for five or more years and I asked him how many bird bands
were returned and although he did not give me a percentage the
impression I got was that very few were ever recovered. We never did
understand what was being studied by banding these migratory birds. So
now my question comes to those who have banded birds and those who have
experience in obtaining data from banded birds. Are birds banded for
information relating specific studies or are they banded to receive
general information? Do we learn more from the data collected at the
time of the banding or from if and when the bird band is recollected?
And I would like to know what your thoughts are concerning stressing
already exhausted birds. I'm very soft hearted and each time I saw a
bird complete the process I was relieved to see it fly away into the
trees.

What a fantastic phenomenom migration is. After coming home I've
appreciated every hummingbird, tanager, warbler and flycatcher in my
yard just a little bit more for the strength those birds must have to
endure the journey they take.

Yvonne Bombardier
Everett, Wa
ravenn at premier1.net