I love Presque Isle State Park.  I can't tell you how many times I've been there to enjoy the many things it has to offer.  However, there's one thing that's been taking place at the peninsula since 1960 that I've never experienced.  Until today.

It’s the bird banding station at a section of Presque Isle called Fry's Landing. It's spring. It’s that special time of year when many species of birds migrate from the tropics to places as far as Northern Canada. It's an opportunity for staff and volunteers at Erie Bird Observatory to capture, band, and release the birds in order to collect valuable data. Scientists want any information on how migrating birds are coping with climate change. Sarah Sargent, the executive director of Erie Bird Observatory, explains to me some of the things that are learned from the banding.

"The numbers of birds.  What's the timing of different species coming through and whether the same birds are coming back again.  We do recapture birds we have banded before,” she said.  

To migrating birds, the Presque Isle peninsula is like a rest stop on a freeway.  Some of the birds, such as the Palm Warbler, have to fly over a thousand miles to get to Canada.  They fly at night.  In the daytime, they need a break, especially if they choose to fly over Lake Erie where there's no place to land. At least one Palm Warbler will be banded today at the station.

"During the daytime, they have to rest and refuel.  This bird will stay here at Presque Isle probably 4 or 5 days, maybe a week to put on some fat,” says Sarah.   

Mist nets, made of fine mesh material, are used to capture the birds in the woods.. The birds are carefully placed in cloth bags and taken to the banding station.  It's a thrill for the banding staff to open a bag and see what kind of bird is inside. There is joy and excitement when a Northern Parula is lifted from a bag.  Wow. That's the kind of bird that graces the cover of a book here at the banding station!  He's a tiny little thing.

"And yet he's flying a thousand miles probably, or more,” says Sarah.

The approximate age, weight, and other measurements are quickly documented.  Then, the bird is released.

We see a Lincoln Sparrow, a Veery, a Gray Catbird. All of them are beautiful, temporary visitors to Presque Isle. They are a sight to see. So why not come out to Presque Isle this month? The public is invited to watch the banding take place. What a great opportunity!

The banding station is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 2.   Weather permitting. The migration ends soon so the station will close at the end of this month. It will re-open in the fall. Fry's Landing is located between the Perry Monument and Beach 11.  Look for the sign.