House Wren being extracted from mist net

  MAPS Songbird Banding at McNary Wildlife Refuge

The songbird banding station is located in the riparian zone along the south side of the Walla Walla River on the Wallula Habitat Management Unit, and is coordinated by the Institute for Bird Populations.  With over 500 banding stations across North America, Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorshps (MAPS) is part of a multi-national study.  Mist nets hung in the usual avian flyways are used to capture birds for data accumulation and release.  In addition, the Wallula station's data provides refuge staff with trends of resident breeding birds.

Of the 100 target species listed in MAPS, 22 have been banded at Wallula.  MAPS provides long-term data on songbird life history, breeding and migration.  Non-target species such as quail, kestrals, northern flickers and yellow-breasted chats have also been captured at the site.

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in banding and may contact the office of Friends of Mid-Columbia Wildlife Refuges, (509) 543-8322 for more information.

Common Yellowthroat being compared to bird guide field marks

Gray Catbird

Orange Crowned Warbler wing examined to estimate age

Downy Woodpecker.

Orange Crowned Warbler held prior to release