News and Stories

At the Cincinnati Zoo’s Bowyer Farm, volunteer Sylvia Hadley has been leading the charge in supporting bird populations passing through the 600+ acres of property on their migration paths since 2016. Over the past ten years, Sylvia’s love for birds has shone through in her contributions to bluebird nest-box monitoring, the installation of kestrel boxes, and beginning in 2020, spring and fall migration banding. Bird banding is a research method that Sylvia has practiced for years, building a large collection of physical data through the attachment of small, uniquely numbered bands around bird’s legs.

On Bowyer’s property, Sylvia has banded 102 different species of birds, even including a rare Connecticut Warbler, which is one of the most highly sought after and elusive migrants in Ohio! Even with species put aside, Sylvia’s contribution to banding in the region is impressive due to its sheer size, with over 4,800 bands administered and collecting data that supports the United States Geological Survey as those birds pass through banding stations.

Humble Birding Beginnings

So, you may ask… How does one begin to achieve these birding accomplishments?

Becoming a master bird bander is no overnight process. Sylvia’s love for birds has been lifelong, and when she first began work in the field nearly 15 years ago, she remarks feeling very lucky to have had a mentor to teach her the birding ropes. Although she had been interested in birds all her life, it wasn’t until after her retirement that she had enough time to become enthralled with the hobby. Beginning as a sub-permittee under her mentor, Sylvia spent many years learning all about birding and banding before getting her master banding permit and putting together a study proposal for banding on the Bowyer Farm property. Now, as a master bander, Sylvia is often helped by volunteers, acting as a mentor herself. Her volunteers range from ages 14-70, proving that birding can be for everyone!

Bird Health: Indicators of a Flourishing Ecosystem!

Sylvia’s banding, along with providing valuable insight on bird migration routes, breeding habits, and lifespans, provides key information regarding the health of Bowyer Farm’s ecosystem. When birds on their migration routes pass through the property after being banded initially, increases in weight or muscle mass can indicate plentiful resources in the area.

For instance, during the 2025 fall migration, one Ovenbird gained 23.4% of its bodyweight in just 11 days after it was initially banded! 6 days later, its weight had increased another 3.9%. This difference is a testament to the success of native planting efforts on Bowyer’s property, supplying plentiful eats for birds needing energy for their migrations.

What Can You Do to Support Birds on Their Migration Journeys?

1. Plant for birds. Incorporating native plants into your garden is a great way to support migratory birds, as they host many insect species that birds rely on for protein and building up their muscles. When Sylvia evaluates the muscle mass of the birds that she bands, those who have travelled from areas with plentiful trees, shrubs, and perennials are packing on the muscles thanks to native plant insect buffets!
2. Hold your housecats near and dear. The number one killer of birds in the United States and Canada is domestic and feral cats, with figures ranging from 1.4-3.7 billion bird deaths in the United States alone every year. Keeping your domestic cats inside can help to reduce this number, while simultaneously preventing Avian influenza for beloved house cats.
3. Decorate your windows! Window collisions are among the top 3 human-related bird fatality causes, with nearly 60% of all collisions being deadly. By breaking up space on large windows with decals, window paint, or devices like BirdSavers, you can prevent collisions and save bird lives! Try it out this fall migration season.

A Different Kind of Forecast

Take a look at this bird migration forecast map, where you can see the migration paths of over 90 million birds making their journeys across the country. Shorebird migration numbers peak in August, while hawk migration will begin in mid-September and continue through October. The map to the right displays a projected migration map for the night of August 5th, when a predicted 91 million birds will be in active flight. Visit BirdCast.org to follow along as the fall migration continues!