Dr. Virzi and Stephanie Egger (CWFNJ) banding an American oystercatcher chick.
By Stephanie Egger, Wildlife Biologist
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWFNJ) and the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife – Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) assisted in the banding of American oystercatchers chicks and adults this week. Oystercatchers in New Jersey are banded as part of a long-term mark recapture research project by Dr. Tom Virzi of Rutgers University in collaboration with CWFNJ and ENSP. One breeding adult that was recaptured yesterday was originally banded over a winter in Georgia! Data collected included band color and combination, sex, age, weight, other physical measurements (wing, head, culmen, nares, leg) and a feather sample for DNA purposes. Check out our video from that day!
Over the last few years, widespread mark recapture efforts along the Atlantic coast have revealed connections between breeding and wintering sites and information of the complexity of patterns of movement and dispersal. For more information on the New Jersey data and other state efforts please see the American Oystercatcher Working Group website.
Pam Prichard (Monmouth County Monitor for ENSP) ready to release the American oystercatcher chick after all data was collected.An adult American Oystercatcher originally tagged in Georgia, breeding in New Jersey.
An adult American Oystercatcher originally tagged in Georgia, breeding in New Jersey.
Tags: american oystercatcher, beach nesting bird, beach nesting bird project