Fishing for birds
Last weekend, I observed a bird banding session at Zuma Canyon, in Malibu. The banders had just begun doing Avian Influenza testing on songbirds, as the Pacific Flyway is believed to be the most likely potential entry point for H5N1 in the United States.
To band a bird, you must first capture a bird, and the way to do this is by stringing up fine nets, called mist nets. They resemble somewhat longer, finer volleyball nets in construction and size. Birds cannot see the nets and become trapped until the banders retrieve them.
Watching the bird banding was lots of things: educational, overwhelming, fasinating and frustrating. I have always adored birds, and it is difficult to witness wild animals caught up in nets, no matter how good the reasons are for doing it.
Here are some photographs from the event:
