Well, Julie, we've got some really cool stuff here.

And I'm gonna say that looks like a musical instrument over there, but I know it has to do with birds, so.

(laughs) >>Thank you, Peggy.

>>Yes.

>>Yes.

This is one of my big passions.

This is a bird band, bird bands for bird-banding.

>>Okay.

>>I'm involved in several projects.

What you're looking at here is a box of bands.

Bands are specific for each type of bird.

Different birds wear different sizes.

So here's a series of bands.

This band, for example, might fit a grackle, and this little band here would fit a tiny warbler.

>>Interesting, and you've got some big bands there, too.

>>I do.

These are called a lock-on band, and this would fit a barred owl.

>>Oh, wow, that'd be kind of cool.

>>And we put the bands on with pliers.

And again, the pliers are specific to the different size bands.

>>Okay, what's the black instrument in the middle there?

>>This here is a caliper, and sometimes we have to do measurements of the bird's beak or the bird's tarsus, which is the leg, to get a exact identification of a bird.

Sometimes their plumage may not be brilliant red like it is in the summer for certain birds.

So, we use the calipers for measuring beaks, wings, and legs.

>>Interesting.

>>Mm-hmm.

>>When you've captured the bird, I mean, you've put the band on, you've kind of done some measurements, what else do you do before letting it go?

Oops.

>>Well, we weigh the bird, so we have a scale and- >>Okay, let's put it up here so people can see it.

>>Okay.

>>Yeah.

>>So we measure in grams, and we tare the scale with this piece of PVC.

And again, PVC may be specific to the bird's size.

This one is a little too small for this guy, but we put the bird in head first, and sometimes they fidget, sometimes they don't.

And we get a weight, and the bird is completely unharmed.

And then we release it.

>>Oh, this must take just seconds.

You know, if you get it down to a point where you're comfortable so that you're a minimum disturbance to the bird.

>>Yes, it is completely safe for the bird.

>>Oh, fantastic.

>>Completely safe for the bird.

>>Now, what happens if, what do I do if I've come across a bird that is banded?

>>If you're able to see a bird's band, it has a unique nine-digit number on the band.

These bands are issued by the USGS, so by the Federal Government.

>>Right.

>>(clears throat) That is a unique number to that bird.

And you could report it to the USGS by email.

And if they can turn it up in their system, you would receive a certificate, which will give you the history of the bird.

>>Oh, that's cool.

>>Mm-hmm.

>>That's really cool.

Well, I think, you know, when we talk about band-birding, and we talk about the importance of taking care of 'em and such, even in our own homes, you know, I'm...

There's so many birds that we put up houses for, but what are some of the more unique houses that we can put out for our birds?

>>Great question, Peggy.

I know we have so many bluebird boxes up, but there are a lot of birds that you may not see that are sounding off that will come to a box.

Owls are a great example.

Most of our owls here are residents.

So, screech owls, barred owls are what we call cavity nesters, meaning they will go to a hole.

So a snag in a tree or a box like that.

There is a migratory bird, which I band with a group of folks called a Northern Saw-whet Owl.

And that bird does not breed here, but it will go to a box.

>>Interesting.

I'm gonna jump to migration because that's such a big topic and we only have a few minutes left.

>>Sure.

>>You know, I think, and when we think of migration, we think of those big flocks flying overhead in, you know, a beautiful blue sky.

But that's really not how it goes, is it?

>>No, well, migration is something a lot of people don't realize happens.

It happens every year in the spring, and then again, in late summer, which is happening right now.

Shorebirds start migrating first, and the shorebirds have actually started migrating in mid-July, so, yeah.

>>Oh, we're already into it.

>>Mm-hmm.

>>Yes.

>>After that, we may have thrushes and warblers.

These are all migrants which go down to Central and South America.

And then there is a huge hawk migration, which happens, which we can witness here in Virginia.

One spot is in Afton, which has a hawk watch, which starts August 15th.

>>Interesting.

>>Mm-hmm.

>>But we've got binoculars so we can watch the migration during the day.

But I understand a lot of it happens at night.

So, what can homeowners do to benefit that migration during the nighttime?

>>Yeah, migration at night happens all the time.

And the birds are at risk to hitting large plate glass windows.

There is window protection that people can install, they can put stickers on their windows.

But one thing is very important is to turn off lights, turn off as many lights as you can.

>>Right, and in the last few seconds, I wanna just touch on feeders because part of migration is, I have some birds that migrate through and come to my feeders.

And I think so many people think it's a set it and forget it.

And we have just a few seconds left, Julie.

And I don't mean to leave this, but- >>Yeah, no, can't set it and forget it.

Yeah, I... Hummingbirds, which we're all feeding right now.

This is a really dirty feeder.

It needs our attention.

>>Yeah >>You can clean it with a 10% bleach solution, brushes, toothbrush, anything like that.

>>Just get it clean.

>>Mix it with hot water, and then you can refill it.

>>Sounds great.

>>Mm-hmm.

>>Well, Julie, this is so much information.

I appreciate you so much coming in and sharing it with us because it's parts of birding we don't think about.

We just like to look out the window and watch 'em, at least I do.

>>Yes, thank you, Peggy.

>>Thank you.