Conservation

This Spring marks the 13th season of spring migration banding at Gilmore Ponds Interpretive Preserve in Fairfield, Ohio. Sharon Pawlowski is the station operator and has been running the station since 2005.

The data we have collected was helpful in initiating some land management efforts many years ago, and again the past two years. Our data was used to help Gilmore Ponds attain its Important Bird Areas status, thanks to the efforts of Mike Busam. We have banded almost 90 species of birds and 23 species of Warblers to-date during the spring banding! The Fall banding has produced additional species not banded in the Spring.

We are concerned about the future of this research as it has been very difficult to find volunteers. Sharon is by herself. This station can not operate with one person. We would very much like to see a “regular” volunteer who Sharon can depend on and train. Banding will be on most Saturdays and Sundays from a half an hour before sunrise to just before lunch. Dates are on the calendar page of the website, www.hbrcnet.org

Please contact Sharon if you can help out and learn how to be a volunteer with her for Spring and/or Fall migration banding. Pass the word around to others, too. High school students are fair game and have been some of our best volunteers over the years!