You are invited to the annual Fort Morgan bird banding event at the southern tip of Alabama, the largest banding activity for the Banding Coalition of the Americas each year. This fall the banding event will take place October 3rd to October 10th from 8am to 3pm, although banding will finish at noon October 10th. Each year about 600 people from the local area and from across North America visit the banding station to learn about bird banding, observe the process, and experience the fall bird migration spectacle at Fort Morgan State Historic Site in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
During a recent fall banding event, the crew banded 523 birds that included 55 species during the 9 day banding period at Fort Morgan. Conducted each year since 2019, the Banding Coalition of the Americas operates this public bird banding session for 8 or 9 days to continue fall banding and migration research combined with their public outreach efforts. During a recent October banding week, bird banders experienced something of a slow beginning to the banding week, with at least 40 birds being banded per day, which permitted the banders to focus on educational talks and engaging with visitors. However, on the last day of the banding session, migrating birds really showed up and the crew banded 324 birds in the span of 7 hours!
The top 5 species banded that year, 2023, were Gray Catbirds, Common Yellowthroats, White-eyed Vireos, Wood Thrushes, and American Redstarts. Rarer birds of note that surprised the banding crew included a Western Tanager, Bell's Vireo, and Western Wood Pewee. It all happens October 3 to 10 at Fort Morgan State Historic Site in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and you can learn more at Fort Morgan Bird Banding | Banding Coalition