How do researchers study bird migration?
Banding Studies: Scientists have developed several techniques to place bands on birds so that they can be easily identified. For small songbirds, such as warblers, researchers place small, metal bands on the birds’ legs. Each band is stamped with a unique number, so that when the bird is captured again or found, the researcher can look up the number to learn when and where the bird was first banded. This information can tell us a lot about a bird’s migration, as we can compare when and where a bird was banded with when and where it was resighted. Researchers in many countries are using similar techniques to band cranes. In the United States, for example, researchers from the International Crane Foundation are banding Sandhill Cranes to learn more about these birds in central Wisconsin. The researchers place brightly colored plastic bands on the birds’ legs, which are easily seen from a distance using binoculars. Each bird has a unique combination of colored bands and may also have a la
