July 9th - Chick Banding Activities |
Banding activities began with OWSEM volunteer Barb Jensen and wildlife biologist Sergej Postupalski heading out to the Dawson Rd. nest to gather up the chicks. |
These are the three chicks from the Dawson Rd. nest on their way from the nest to the shore where the banding will be done. They were approximately 4 weeks old when this picture was taken. |
Each chick had a federal wildlife band attached to its right leg, and an orange colored ID band to its left. Sergej is applying the metal federal band to this chick. Along with the actual banding, each chick receives a thorough physical exam. Additionally, physical measurements are also made to determine age and sex. |
Once all of the chicks are banded, Barb and Sergej head back to return them to their nest. It takes about 30 minutes to band each chick. |
With the Dawson Rd. nest chicks banded, Sergej and John McFarlin of McFarlin Tower Co. head out to the Wildwing Lake nest to band the single chick there. This was John's training session on how to handle the birds, since he would be the person removing and replacing the chicks in the nest on the cell tower south of Brighton |
Sergej with the single female chick from the Wildwing Lake nest. As one can see, this chick is much larger than the chicks at Dawson Rd., and is much less a willing participant for her physical exam and banding. She would successfully fledge about 2 weeks later. |
After the Wildwing Lake chick was banded, the activity moved to the cell tower located south of Brighton. Shown here is John McFarlin on his way up to the top of this 180-foot high cell tower. The osprey nest is on the top platform (there are three below it) and can be seen on the left side of this photo. John's job was to remove each chick from the nest and send it down to the ground in the canvas bucket he is carrying. When the chick had been measured and banded, it was returned to the top of the tower in the transfer bucket, and John placed it back into the nest. |
On the ground, Lucinda McFarlin handled the line that brought the chick down in the canvas bucket. The chick was imobilized inside by being in a cloth bag, seen tied to the bucket handle. |
Sergej and chick (on ground to Sergej's right) after removal from the cloth bag shroud, and the canvas bucket that brought it down safely from the tower nest. |
Sergej with a newly banded, approximately five-week old osprey chick. After banding, the chick was returned to the cloth bag to immobilize it, secured in the canvas bucket, and transported back up to the top of the tower. There John McFarlin removed the chick, and placed it back into the nest. |
The end of a very successful day, with all seven chicks banded and safely back in their respective nests. The three cell tower chicks have a "million dollar" view! All three chicks have now successfully fledged, and can be seen daily, flying around as they explore their surroundings and learn to fish. |
Copyrighted images on this page provided by Christi Vedejs and John McFarlin.