Here at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory (LSLBO) we are over half-way through our MAPS program, which focuses on breeding birds. So far in MAPS 44% of our captures were recaptures – that’s a bird that is already banded. 

Recapturing banded birds is the only way for us to accurately know the age of a bird and to estimate a species’ longevity. For example, we recently recaptured a female Hairy Woodpecker that was at least 12 years old. Had she not been banded in 2014, we would have said she was “at least two” when we caught her in May. Every year, we commonly recapture birds that are over eight years old, most coming from local breeders in our MAPS program.

When we think of animals that l…

Continue Reading at Source