Science Bird Banding

The Heard operates a bird banding station on the wildlife sanctuary that monitors the flow of migrant songbirds during spring and fall migration each year. The station was established in 1978 and is the oldest bird banding station in the state of Texas. During the summer months the banding station actively participates in the MAPS program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship).

During this program, mist nets are operated from late May through August to catch and band neotropical species that breed on the sanctuary. Bird banding programs such as these help determine the local population status of target species throughout their continental ranges.