Kelleys Island
2021 marked the 26th year of the bird/banding avian research project on Kelleys Island conducted by Tom and Paula Bartlett, and with the continued pandemic, followed similar rules to 2020 however with a little more public involvement. The Bartletts, along with their assistants, banded almost 3029 individual birds from 84 species in 2020. In the fall owl banding sessions, 122 Northern Saw-whet Owls and 3 Eastern Screech Owls were banded. For the 2021 banding year, no new species were added to the island’s list. Uncommonly banded birds included five Red-bellied Woodpeckers, two White-eyed Vireo, three Fox Sparrow, a Northern Waterthrush, four Orange-crowned Warbler, three Connecticut Warblers, and three Rose-breasted Grosbeak. On October 22, Tom banded a Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Scheele Preserve, his 100,000th bird banded since he began banding birds in 1971. Then on November 3rd, they banded their 1000th Northern Saw-whet Owl on the island. To date, 23,704 birds of 122 species have been banded by the team on Kelleys Island.
We ask members and visitors to respect and follow the protocols for visitors to the stations in 2021, as they become known. We know that the banding station will be open to visitors in 2022 but with some restrictions. Check the KIAC website, our Facebook page, or Tom’s personal FB page at “KI Birder” for the latest information as the year progresses. The KIAC would like to express our deep appreciation for the tireless efforts of Tom and Paula Bartlett over these many years. They are truly an “Island Treasure”!
At banding, see the migrating, neo-tropical songbirds and owls up close and personal.
Meet at the Jones Preserve, Long Point, the north end of Monagan Road for songbirds and Scheele Preserve on Monaghan Road for owls.