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Article by Christina Hernandez and Sergey Astakhov
Photo and video by Sergey Astakhov from Northgate Entertainment
Sr. Biologist and owner of Mountainview Biological Consulting Rheanna Neidinger, has been conducting a series of bird banding procedures at Sky Park. Since 1996, there has been no bird banding in the San Bernardino mountains, consequently stifling any information collected on bird species and behavior in the region. The last observation organization was stationed in Big Bear. There have been no bird banding procedures conducted throughout San Bernardino County since 2004.
The motivation for these studies is to monitor avian survivorship and success in reproduction. Rheanna, with the backing of state and federal permits has invested her own time, money, and resources in order to restore these studies. Currently, she is working on “initiating a program with Sky Park, through which visitors can provide bluebird color band observations and learn about citizen science through this program.” They are presently running Western Bluebird color banding observations at Sky Park, with 15 bird houses providing homes for bluebirds, with other houses made for hawks and other birds. The bird houses were built by local Boy Scouts and MPH Kids under a grant program to restore the meadow.
There are ten banding days throughout the season, starting in May and ending in August. It is crucial to band the birds at the right time, while they are not too young, yet not old enough to leave the nest. It is important to clean and restore the birdhouses in September. This is essential, as unhatched eggs can harvest bacteria and parasites. There are approximately 15 blue bird houses on premises.
For more information please visit www.mtn-bio.com or contact Steve Rose at steve_r@skyparksantasvillage.com