About 40 Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club members and their families gathered at Myeerah Nature Preserve recently to watch licensed bird bander Dr. Blake Mathys apply small metal rings to the legs of four Ohio songbirds.
Dr. Mathys is a Benjamin Logan High School graduate and an associate professor of environmental science at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. He holds banding permits from both the state and federal governments.
Banding is a powerful research tool, and more than one million birds are banded annually.
The Ohio Dominican professor is currently conducting research into two of Ohio’s eight owl species — long-eared owls and saw-whet owls. In the past he has conducted owl prowls for the Environmental Science Club, and another such walk is being scheduled for this year.
To capture birds for banding, several mist nets were set up at the edge of wooded areas at Myeerah. Mist netting is very fine and is not seen by the birds as they fly.
When a bird has been collected in a net, it is carefully removed. The species, sex, and age (when it is possible to determine) are recorded.
An aluminum band, bearing a unique serial number, is then applied to the bird’s leg.
The process does not harm the bird, and a later recovery of the tag provides useful information about the life span and migratory habits of these avian neighbors.
Dr. Mathys explained that if a bird bearing a band is found, the recovery should be reported at www.reportband.gov, which will add the find to a large database.
Each of the four birds banded Saturday were of different species. The birders were able to have a close look at a song sparrow, a Carolina chickadee, a seldom seen brown creeper and a hermit thrush.
Dr. Mathys provided field guides and allowed the students to be the ones to identify the birds. He also instructed the young birders in the use of a bander’s grip that secures the bird without causing it harm. Volunteers were able to briefly hold the birds before their release.
The Environmental Science Club is co-sponsored by the school district and the Logan County Land Trust and is in its fifth year of operation. Approximately 40 students from fourth- through sixth-grades participate in activities weekly.
The club hosts guest speakers, conducts learning activities such as the dissection of owl pellets, and also participates in service projects such as the establishment of a permaculture area in Ricketts Park in West Liberty.
The Environmental Science Club is directed by Ryan Kerns, Spencer Reames, Bruce Smith and Bob Stoll. For more information about the Logan County Land Trust, visit logancountylandtrust.org.