MAPS banding program in Hadley

Blue winged Warbler after banding, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 5, 2026

Common Yellowthroat during banding process, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 12, 2026

Common Yellowthroat after banding, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 12, 2026

I made another visit to the MAPS banding program in Hadley this warm, humid morning and got to see a number of birds get banded.  The MAPS program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) consists of multiple banding locations throughout Canada and the US that collect data on breeding species.  The only location in the area is the banding location at the Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River in Hadley.  I made a visit to the location last Friday and returned again today.  Always interesting to see the species that get captured each week with the most common species being Veery, Wood Thrush and Gray Catbird.  The best species in my mind are the warblers that have gotten captured with a Blue winged Warbler last week and a Common Yellowthroat this week.  The banding takes place roughly once a week through the end of July.