Welcome to the banding station!

So this is where I call home for the fall! This is a picture of the banding station (where the banding takes place). We have mist nets set up nearby the banding station that we use to catch the birds, and then go on net runs to extract the birds and bring them back here to be processes. After processing, we release the birds from here.
As far as banding stations go, this is a very nice set up. Not all banding stations are so, well, permanent and constructed! Many are just a tarp laid out on the ground or and old card table. This site has seen its changes over the years as to what made up the banding station. Starting off as just a card table, then to a gazebo and now a full blown building! This new(er) set up is great for us! We can band birds quickly and offers great viewing for the public! So far this year, I will estimate that we have had over 3,000 visitors to the banding station this fall! And we still have a month to go! Been a very busy year for us as far the visitors go, the birds on the other hand have had an off year. We are currently less than half of our normal total, sitting at just over 3,100 birds for the season. WAY below normal.