Featherbed Lane Banding Station -- Goals and projects

Old Field Succession: The longest running project at Featherbed Lane has been monitoring the changing bird use of abandoned hay fields as they develop into forest.

MAPS: The station has participated in the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) Program since its inception in 1989.

Catbirds: Identification of external characteristics to age and sex Gray Catbirds.

Alder Flycatcher (HY) 2 Sept 2001

Empidonax Flycatcher Identification: Development of a flow-chart type key to identify the species of Empidonax flycatchers in the Eastern US based on the data in Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds.

Speedy Pyle: Conversion of the data in Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds into Field Reference Tables.

Ticks and Lyme Disease: Collection of Ixodes ticks found on birds, and DNA testing for Lyme Disease bacteria.

Banding Techniques: Development of improved techniques for band removal.

Data contributions to:
New Jersey Breeding Bird Atlas
New Jersey Herp Atlas
New Jersey Vernal Pools Inventory
Cornell Birdcast Radar Migration Studies
National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count

There are opportunities for volunteers and bander trainees. The station welcomes visitors by prior arrangement. Contact hsuthers@princeton.edu for information.