Bird Banding at Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC)
The bird banding program at PARC records the age, sex, wing length, fat deposits, and body mass of captured species, as well as studying molt in birds. The data gathered
proves useful in many areas of avian research, including migration, behavioral research, and longevity, as well as differences between sexes and age groups, life cycles, weight and plumage changes, population monitoring, habitat use, disease, and ecotoxicology (the harmful effects of chemical compounds on avian species). Bird banding also helps us understand how to conserve the land and environments in which these migrating species live and breed. Learn more on our Bird Banding page.
Avian Perception of Glass
Birds are unable to distinguish window reflections from trees, plants, and sky. This fact results in countless bird strikes and millions of bird deaths from window collisions each year. PARC is conducting critical research that will soon make a difference. Our advanced flight tunnel, one of only two in the world using this design, is helping us understand which commercially available window treatments can prevent bird strikes.
Motus Wildlife Tracking
Understanding connectedness of individual flight patterns across the landscape is inherently necessary to interpret causes of population decline. At PARC, we are using the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network to track those flight patterns and help identify areas of greatest conservation concern.
Foreign Recaptures and Recoveries
Birds in the hand provide a great opportunity to gather information and track species demographics and morphology over time, but have you ever wondered where the birds go once they leave Powdermill? Are our banded birds ever recaught? How far do they travel?
Check out our interactive Storymap to find out more about these questions and other factors that influence avian migration and survival.
Journal Publications
Avian Research at the Powdermill Nature Reserve has spanned over 60 years and a wide range of topics including avian morphology, conservation, migration and much more. Research conducted at the Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) has contributed to our knowledge of the birds around us and in some cases changed or standardized common practices used to safely handle and age birds.
Follow this link for a list of internal publications as well as publications using PARC data.
Monograph
The Eastern Bird Banding Association announces the publication of its first Monograph. This monograph summarizes and uses statistical analyses of large amounts of biological data on North American species of birds.
Visiting Researchers and Collaborations
Avian research conducted at Powdermill offers a myriad of opportunities for scientist to visit and collaborate by conducting research within their field of study, or to use the Powdermill database of over 800,000 records to date.
Follow this link for more information about collaborating with the staff at Powdermill, or to find out more about using PARC data.