Check the MAPS
Learn all about our Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship Project!
Why Study Birds?
Birds are vital indicators of environmental health. Like the “canary in the coal mine,” they reflect ecosystem changes, from habitat shifts to climate fluctuations. Because birds metabolize their food quickly, they also bioaccumulate toxins—giving scientists a real-time look at environmental conditions. With birds present on every continent and in diverse habitats, they are one of the most accessible and effective species for long-term ecological study.
Birds Banded in Summer 2024
MAPS Bird Banding: How It Works
MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) stations use mist nets to safely capture birds in designated study areas. Trained banders take careful measurements, attach a USGS-issued band to each bird’s leg, and release them back into the wild.
The Early Bird
Banding takes place at sunrise and lasts for six hours during one day of every 10-day period
Summertime is for the Birds
The season runs from early June through early August in Jackson Hole.
Have a Safe Flight
Licensed professionals ensure the birds’ safety, monitoring their well-being throughout the process.
Experience Bird Conservation in Action!
Join us at a Bird Banding Station this Summer and experience an educational outing that will make you light as a feather! Learn about wildlife in our amazing Jackson Hole setting.
Let's Band Together!
Understanding Avian Population Change
Proximate Factors (Immediate Influences)
- Productivity – How successfully birds reproduce.
- Survivorship – How long birds live.
- Recruitment – How many young birds survive to adulthood.
Ultimate Factors (Broad Environmental Influences)
- Weather
- Habitat Change
- Climate Change
Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation
Office Location:
25 S. Willow St., Suite 10
Jackson, WY 83001
Mailing Address:
PO Box 8042
Jackson, WY 83002
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