Master Bander Sue Finnegan will take you out to the Wing Island Bird Observatory and show you how birds are caught and their data collected, as well as explain its importance to understanding our local environment. There will also be a chance to see some of the birds that pass through during Fall migration.

The Wing Island Bird Observatory, established in 2000, has amassed over 26 years of research, processing over 100,000 birds. This year, the team began using AI to analyze population trends, uncovering new insights into species behavior.

“One area of interest was the rate of decline in the number of Myrtle Warblers,” said Sue Finnegan. “Our analysis revealed that while the population shows high volatility, the long-term trend indicates a 73% decline over 26 years. It’s possibly due to their later arrival times and changes in habitat, such as the proliferation of honeysuckle over their preferred Bayberry plants on Wing Island. Continued monitoring and analysis will be crucial in understanding these trends and informing conservation efforts.”