Public invited to help band ducks at Agassiz NWR

An evening of duck banding will be on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in rural Middle River. All are welcome to join in the fun and “ruffle some feathers.” Meet at the Refuge headquarters at 5:30 p.m. No pre-registration is required and the event is free. Banding ducks is a “hands on” experience, and can be a little messy so participants will want to dress sensibly. Old clothing or rain gear is recommended if you plan on handling the ducks. Those who would rather watch are urged to bring their cameras to capture the experience. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the life history of several duck species, baiting, capture, and handling techniques, as well as sexing and aging techniques. Staff band predominantly mallards, with a few wood ducks, blue-winged teal, and northern pintails mixed in. Agassiz bands close to 1,000 ducks per year. More than one million birds are banded in North America every year. Banding provides valuable information on migration routes and breeding and wintering areas of different bird species, as well as help support hunting regulations development and detect changes in bird populations. Secondarily, the strong waterfowling contingent in northwestern Minnesota also recognizes harvested ducks sporting “jewelry” in the form of metal leg bands as special trophies. Refuge Headquarters is located 11 miles east of Holt on Marshall County Road 7 (290th Street Northeast). For more information, call 218-503-2128, or email Lynda Knutsen at lynda_ knutsen@fws.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.