Illinois Raptor Center Bird Banding Station

Spring 2026 Banding Summary

Banding days: 21

Total species captured: 78

Total captures: 839

New bands issued: 617

Recaptures (birds previously encountered > 90 days prior): 78

The other 144 birds were repeats (birds banded that season but ended up in a net again), escapees before banding, or species we don’t band (like house sparrows and hummingbirds)

Top 5 species issued new bands:

White-throated Sparrow 82
Gray Catbird. 57
Swainson’s Thrush. 48
Indigo Bunting. 34
Ovenbird. 25

New species banded this season:

#111 Prairie Warbler
#112 Blackpoll Warbler
#113 Orchard Oriole

Huge thanks to all who helped with banding, especially Mark Sadler who was there almost every day to help with banding and taking down nets.

And that’s a wrap on the Spring 2026 banding season.

Today’s banding report

We operated 18 nets from 600-1030

We captured 26 birds from 9 species

8 Indigo Bunting
6 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Northern Cardinal
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Tufted Titmouse
1 Prothonotary Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker