Vern Kleen, retired avian ecologist and master bird bander, frees a bird from a mist net during a banding demonstration held at the IRC, May 14.

Diary of a Restoration

16th Installment, May 14, 2005

Saturday, May 14, was International Migratory Bird Day, the perfect opportunity to bring the Girl Scouts to the Illinois Raptor Center for a program on bird migration.

The main feature of the day was a bird-banding demonstration by Vernon Kleen, retired avian ecologist, formerly with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Vern is also a master bird bander who told scouts how scientists use information gathered from bird bands to track bird movements and determine how long they live.

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A colorful magnolia warbler is one of seven species of warblers captured for banding and then released. Click here to see more pictures of warblers.

Vern banded 21 birds, including two species of thrushes - Swainson's and gray-cheeked - and seven species of warblers. Girls were allowed to release banded birds after Vern showed them how to gently hold the birds and then slowly open their hands so the birds could fly free.

The Girl Scouts of the Shemamo Council and the Illinois Raptor Center wish to thank Vern for presenting such an interesting and informative program. Scouts also "adopted" banded birds by contributing $5 to the Illinois Audubon Society's land acquisition fund. The $50 contributed by the girls was matched by an IRC volunteer for a total donation of $100. Vern is an active member of Illinois Audubon as well as the Springfield Audubon Society.