Bird Banding at the Valley Nature Center

On Sunday, February 3, 2008 the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco will host a live bird banding demonstration from 8:00 a.m. until 12 noon.  The demonstration will be made by Mark Conway, a Master Bird Bander from Harlingen.

Bird banding is used by biologist to track bird's movement, migrations, and life span.  The bird is captured and a small numbered metal band is placed around the bird’s leg before it is weighed and measured. The bird is then released unharmed into the wild.

Mr. Conway has banded birds for 12 years and has research stations at several locations in the Rio Grande Valley. During the summer months Mr. Conway runs a Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) station where he monitors birds for Avian Flu.

Admission will be $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.  For more information, please call the Valley Nature Center at (956) 969-2475.