"Bird Monitoring Programs: How scientists track bird populations and how this applies to conservation in North Texas" with Blaine Carnes

Ornithologists estimate that the total population of birds in North America has decreased by more than one-third over the last 55 years. To help monitor these population declines, determine their causes, and hopefully reverse them, researchers safely capture and tag birds with markers called bands. Bands are small metal bracelets that go around a bird’s leg, and each band has a unique ID number so that scientists can recognize individual birds when or if they capture them again. Being able to recognize different individual birds allows scientists to estimate total bird numbers at a location, as well as letting them determine demographic data such as the ratios of males to females and older birds to younger birds.

Another way to estimate bird populations and movement is through the use of Audio Recording Units. Recording units are placed in a space and monitored during a chosen season to determine what birds may be in residence. 

Join Ornithologist Blaine Carnes for a fascinating look at different bird monitoring programs and how retrieved data applies to conservation efforts.

Attendees will receive a ticket for one adult beverage (21 and up), light snacks and 20% off select items in the gift shop. There may be a special appearance of our animal ambassadors, too! Tickets are $10 minimum donation. We greatly appreciate any gift above this amount to support our mission of protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.