Mentor Natural Resources Specialists are undertaking an exciting new project to help study migratory birds that make their way through the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve.
Specialists will be netting and banding birds in an effort to better understand migration trends, population changes, and habitat use preferences. Each bird will be safely fitted by trained biologists with an aluminum band bearing a unique nine-digit code that is entered into a national database. The banded bird will then be measured and safely released.
If the bird is ever caught again by other banding stations, the band can offer clues on its approximate age and its travels.
The public will have several opportunities to see these birds up close at banding demonstrations throughout the year. The next demonstration is scheduled for May 21, 2022. Registration is required and will fill up quickly.
Visitors to the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve are instructed to stay out of areas designated by “Scientific Research” signs as those are not trails. Dog owners are reminded that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times when at the Nature Preserve. It is important that loose dogs not injure the birds, themselves, or damage equipment.
From waterways and wildlife to trees, invasive species and parks, the City of Mentor Natural Resources Division is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, study, and management of the city’s natural areas. Learn more at www.mentornature.com.