Banding at Herdsman Lake
Bird banding at Herdsman started over 40 years ago in 1974, making it one of the longest running banding projects in WA. Since December 2001 the Herdsman Lake Bird Banding Group has been meeting regularly to catch birds using mist-nets and other traps. A metal band with a unique code is fitted to each bird and a set of measurements and other data such as age and moult progression are recorded before the bird is released.
Since 2001 over 17,000 birds of 86 species have been captured including 3,500 re-traps. The vast majority of these are passerines and the most commonly encountered species is the Silvereye, which makes up almost 50% of the total catch. Other common species include Western Gerygone, Singing, New Holland and Brown Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalote, Willy Wagtail and Australian Reed-warbler.
Waterfowl banding also takes place, often through the use of a mist-net across a drain which waterbirds use as a fly-way. Numbers of waterbirds banded are generally low with the exception of Pacific Black Duck, by far the most commonly caught. A few particularly exciting species have been caught in this net over the years including Striated Heron, Great Cormorant, Glossy Ibis and Yellow-necked Spoonbill.
The Herdsman Lake project has provided training for new banders, many of whom commit to achieving an A-class banding permit through this teaching, allowing them to start their own banding projects. Two banding workshops have been held in the past to promote interest in bird banding and seek out potential trainees. The group has also provided assistance with surveys, individual study and research projects and relocation of distressed birds which have been rehabilitated. The group values conservation of species and the environment and welcomes and encourages interest from the public in its activities.
For more information on bird banding see the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS) website here.
