Bird Banding

News and Information

Town of Kiawah Island
21 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
(843) 768-9166

BIRD BANDING

RESULTS

The capture of birds in nets and banding them with a unique identifier can give biologists an insight into the health and demographics of the population of birds being studied. Important information on the productivity, survivorship, and movements of many species can be attained a through banding program.

Banding will occur at 2 locations on Kiawah Island: (1) Captain Sam’s Spit; 32 acre patch of undeveloped scrub-shrub, (2) Cougar Island; 200 acre patch of undeveloped maritime forest. Due to time constraints and limited manpower most of the banding effort will be concentrated at Captain Sam’s Spit. The other site may be used opportunistically during periods when bird abundance may be high (e.g. peak of migration, following a weather front or hurricane).

Bird Monitoring Proposal

Bird Banding Reports

July 2009

Fall 2009 (Captain Sam's)

Fall 2009 (Cougar Island)

Winter 2009-2010

Spring 2010

Bird Banding Photo Gallery

Banding will typically occur at least once per month from late August/early September through May. No or little banding will occur during the summer months because birds, especially small species, can quickly overheat and die when left in the net exposed to high heat and direct sunlight. A minimum if 8, 12 m mist nets will be placed at the site so that all mist nets can be checked in a 10-15 min period. Mist nets will be located in areas that are representative of the entire site. Birds captured in the nets will be placed into a holding bag and returned to a banding station where each bird will be banded, aged, sexed, and other necessary morphological body measurements will be taken. Nets generally will be opened for a period of 4-5 hrs (sunrise until approximately 12:00pm) with exception to winter banding. Nets will be open all day during winter banding sessions. Nets will not be opened during rain, excessive wind, or extremely cold or hot temperatures.

Blue-winged warbler

	# of Birds Banded	# of Recaptures	# of Species	Effort (net-hours)	Birds/100 net-hours
Fall 2009
Scrub-shrub	519	86	41	500.0	121.0
Maritime Forest	283	25	39	258.0	119.4
Winter 2010
Scrub-shrub	388	21	14	71.5	572.0
Spring 2010
Scrub-shrub	87	44	21	350.75	37.3
TOTAL	1277	176	64	1180.25	108.2

Wildlife sightings by Town Biologists

NEW Wildlife Video Gallery

NEW Answers to frequently asked questions about wildlife on Kiawah

View bobcat GPS locations in Google Earth

View wildlife sightings by residents and visitors in Google Earth

View Kiawah bird checklist

Wildlife sightings page provided by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Report an interesting or unusual wildlife sighting to Town Biologists

Submit Kiawah fishing reports and photos

News and Information

WILDLIFE ON KIAWAH ISLAND