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Field Trip – McKellar Island Bird Observatory
Saturday, May 31 @ 7:00 AM
Join us Saturday, May 31, 2025 for an early morning visit to the McKellar Island Bird Observatory, located on Baffin Street on McKellar Island.
Every year thousands of birds stop to rest and eat at McKellar Island during their annual migration. Join this TBFN field trip for a unique opportunity to visit a bird migration monitoring and banding station located right within the city of Thunder Bay.
We will meet at 7:00 am sharp on Baffin Street at the entrance to the Bird Observatory (see attached map) and walk in together to the active netting/banding area. The walk is approximately 250 metres on a flat dirt path. At the field station we will tag along with bird biologist John Woodcock to get an up close and personal educational experience with wild birds. See how birds are captured, banded and then released. Learn about migration monitoring and bird watching in general. This is your chance to ask an expert any bird related question! There are excellent photo opportunities as we will be observing the birds in the banders’ hands.
Each spring, an average of 328 birds of 44 species are banded! Check out the McKellar Island Bird Observatory Facebook page for more information and beautiful photos!
This trip is limited to 15 participants. The trip may be postponed for inclement weather. Please email Monika Holenstein (holensmo@yahoo.com) to register. Participants should come dressed for changeable spring conditions. It is often very cold early in the morning! This area is home to ticks and other biting insects and precautions should be taken to avoid bites. There is no fee for our visit, but participants are encouraged to make donations to support this valuable work.
