Constant Effort Banding is an extremely useful tool as it allows researchers study a number of different things: breeding rates, migration patterns, habitat use, bird condition, etc. It however is limited in scope to passerines and other small birds and does not account for the numbers of larger birds such as: raptors, ducks, seabirds, shorebirds, etc. At most inland banding stations this does not matter much as the vast majority of birds are indeed passerines. Monomoy however is a unique coastal location and major stopover site for shorebirds, seaducks, and terns, it also hosts good numbers of dabbling ducks and seabirds. This is why MRBS undertaken a regimented census in 2012.

Beyond the simple goal of documenting bird movement through the station the census will also allows us to compare how migrations of different types of birds are related to each other. We may find striking patterns between long distance vs. short distance migrants of different groups, or perhaps we will see patterns between movements and weather patterns that link migration across all groups. Finally, Monomoy is a major draw to birds being such prime habitat surrounded by ocean it could perhaps bring in some truly amazing rarities that would be missed by only banding.

So far in 2012 after a month of census we have had good numbers of birds and good diversity shorebirds (especially considering we missed the last 2 weeks of Aug) including: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 species of peeps, and thousands of Semipalmated Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, and Sanderlings.

October has welcomed the arrival of Peregrines and Merlins chasing shorebirds at Powder Hole and Flickers in the trees. Although we may by chance capture one of these in a net but it is unlikely. Visual ID of these species however is easy and the census accounts for them. October has also brought in large numbers of seaducks in the Atlantic with all three species of scoters showing up in the thousands and increasing to tens of thousands by the end of the season.

Thanks to the great effort and skills of our techs we are amassing large amounts of data on the birds passing through Monomoy. At the end of the season we will mine this data and look for connections between the migration movements of divergent groups of birds hopefully finding patterns as yet undiscovered by science. If not at lease we will arrive a wonderfully immense species list for the station.

More birds to come.

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge has long been known as a premier location for migrating birds and other wildlife.  In the fall, over 100,000 shorebirds stop here for refueling on their journey south.  It is not unusual to see 10,000 sea ducks on a clear day.  The refuge also provides valuable breeding habitat for federally protected piping plovers, roseate and least terns  –  all of whose breeding grounds are threatened by rising sea levels linked to global warming.

Monomoy Refuge Banding Station  (MRBS) was established in 2011, with the cooperation  of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is operated on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge near the lighthouse on South Monomoy. MRBS represents the first effort at long-term landbird banding on the Refuge, the operations of which are patterned after those at other US and International bird observatories that utilize standard research protocols. In addition to collecting valuable scientific data, MRBS serves as an opportunity for those interested in expanding practical skills in field ornithology.

The principle rationale for the season was to evaluate the potential of the site for passerine monitoring during fall migration, and if applicable, to identify the best locations for nets. As such, the emphasis was on experimentation, rather than strict adherence to protocol. In particular, multiple nets were moved, abandoned and adjusted during the course of the season, and a number of the nets were only used part-time due to logistical issues (such as lack of sufficient staff or wind-safety concerns). As a result, the data collected this season will not be comparable to future seasons at MRBS, though they will be invaluable in establishing a basis for future site management.

The first banding occurred on August 17 to scout the area and assess the viability of the project. The true start of the banding season was August 31 – September 2. This was followed by sessions during the following periods: September 16–18, 21–23, October 1–2, with the final banding session on October 8–11.  In future years, the banding season will be expanded to initiate in mid-August and continue through early November.

The pilot season at MRBS was a smashing success considering the limited number of banding days.  Despite essentially missing all of August and the second half of October due to logistical problems, 70 species were captured. This high level of diversity compares very favorably to other banding stations, especially considering the early and late migrants that were missed. Given that, 1000 individuals were caught in only 18 days of banding. Extrapolating out to a 90 day banding season would yield about 5000 captures. This would represent a significant contribution to the North American banding program, would add greatly to the knowledge of landbird use on the Refuge and could contribute to important management decisions.

It is strongly recommended the MRBS be operated again in 2012 with an extended season, to begin in mid-August and continue through early November. This level of effort would require two experienced banders to provide accurate data and complete coverage. Assistance from volunteers would still be very useful, but the complicated logistics of acquiring access to and from the remote site will require a weeklong commitment from any volunteer.

Finally, the protocol details concerning banding hours, observations, and census will need to be refined and finalized.  Banding hours will be adjusted to maximize compatibility with data from other banding operations while fitting the unique challenges posed by Monomoy’s geography. Observations will be noted throughout the banding day and recorded in numbers at the end of each day. A formal census will be taken after banding each day and will focus on other groups (seabirds, shorebirds, waterbirds, waterfowl and raptors) using the refuge. The proposed census route would set out from the seaside and travel to the bayside by way of the lighthouse ponds, it will end at Powder Hole inlet taking approximately 1 hour to complete.

A concerted focus on migrating Ammadramus sparrows should also be undertaken next fall. The three coastal species are listed as species of highest concern by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture and are thought to be one of the groups most affected by rising sea levels. North Monomoy offers an extensive salt-marsh habitat that could be utilized for capturing and monitoring these birds using drag lines. Currently very little is known about Ammadramus migration. This poses an additional opportunity to add to our knowledge of Refuge usage without taxing the resources of Refuge staff, and will also give banders an opportunity to practice and refine an additional bird capture technique.

A late fall Saw-whet Owl banding effort is also under consideration. Operating a limited number of nets near the lighthouse could potentially yield many captures. There is a limited amount of data on owl usage on the Refuge.  It would take very little effort to contribute significantly to our understanding of Refuge usage by this species.