Bird Banding at Ijams Nature Center

Meeting Location: Each public banding day will meet at Meads Quarry. There should be a staff member in the parking lot to help guide you from the gravel lot to the banding station (an approximate 5 minute walk). If you have any questions about meeting location, feel free to email [email protected] for clarification.
All participants MUST complete an Assumption of Risk Form (only once in a calendar year) prior to participation in the program: ijams.org/waiver
If you have already filled out a waiver for another Ijams Education Program this year, there is no need to fill out another one.
Join the Ijams Community Science team for a day of bird banding, getting an intimate look at migratory and resident songbirds as they're safely captured, banded, and released after the banding team collects necessary data to help better understand the health and productivity of birds in our vicinity. Participants will have the opportunity to see these birds up close, release them after banding, and join the team on net runs to see what birds have been caught before being brought to the banding table.
Ijams Nature Center's bird banding station began its operation in early 2025, created to better understand how resident and migratory songbirds utilize fruiting plants throughout the year. For this project, the banding team is especially interested in the consumption and dispersal of native vs. non-native invasive plant species. By looking at various sites across Ijams, they’ll track how songbirds use and influence specific habitats before and after active invasive species management!
Ages: This program is ideal for ages 6+
Parking: Parking for this Ijams Education Course is free for all participants. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the course begins to obtain a free parking pass upon check-in. If you have been issued a yearly membership or parking pass, you're all set! To learn more about Ijams membership opportunities, visit: ijams.org/membership.
Accessibility: Participants can expect to walk a short distance (500 feet) along uneven trail to the banding table, where they will spend a good portion of the program. The banding table is shaded, and seating is available. Net runs are optional, and will require walking over similar terrain and distance.
Weather: This program is weather dependent. If it is raining, the program will be cancelled and participants will be refunded. Every participant will receive an email if the program is cancelled - please check your spam folder!
Clothing: If you plan to accompany the banding team on net runs, we recommend that you wear long pants, socks, and hiking boots or tennis shoes. Nets are located off-trail and could require folks to walk through unmaintained brush, on rocky hills, or over one small stream.
*All banding is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the USGS BBL, and appropriate biosafety practices are being followed.