Berkshire Bird Observatory

Ben Nickley holds a ruby-crowned kinglet

Ben holds a ruby-crowned kinglet … just before releasing it with its new band.

At our October annual meeting Ben Nickley brought a wonderful presentation on the Berkshire Bird Observatory bird-banding project at Jug End Reservation. From August through November Ben and his interns net and band birds every morning, collecting data on bird health, movement and DNA samples. Many of these birds are migrating through the area and with their leg bands their movement can be tracked. Some of us had the opportunity to observe their work earlier in the day.

Last summer Ben installed three kestrel nesting boxes in Alford. One was occupied immediately and produced five chicks. Hopefully some of these will return to Alford in years to come and populate the other nesting boxes.

The Alford Land Trust is a proud supporter of the Berkshire Bird Observatory. Here is their website:
berkshirebirds.org.

Kestrel chicks and eggs

Here three chicks have hatched, two eggs still waiting.