91传媒

Where Birds Tell Stories: 91传媒鈥檚 Laura Mahrt Leads Local Conservation Effort Through Bird Banding

Where Birds Tell Stories: 91传媒鈥檚 Laura Mahrt Leads Local Conservation Effort Through Bird Banding

LA GRANDE, Ore. 鈥� As the sun rises over the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area in Union County, Oregon, a dedicated team of volunteers, scientists, students, retirees, and conservationists, led by 91传媒 professor Laura Mahrt, works deep inside the marsh to catch, band, and release birds as part of an ongoing conservation effort.

Behind every capture is a vital data point in a much larger story, one that stretches across continents and connects eastern Oregon to global conservation efforts.鈥淓very bird tells a story,鈥� Mahrt said. 鈥淭heir health and movements are windows into larger environmental changes.鈥� Mahrt, a  Master Bander, has a special permit issued by the Bird Banding Lab  through the USGS to band birds.

The effort is part of the MAPS program, , a continent-wide bird banding initiative that gathers long-term data about breeding bird populations. At Ladd Marsh, eight mist nets are strategically placed and checked every 30 minutes. Mahrt and her team measure, weigh, assess age, sex, breeding status, and band each bird with a tiny, lightweight identifier before releasing it back into the wild unharmed.

This summer鈥檚 banding season, which includes seven sessions spaced roughly 10 days apart, closed with a flurry of activity and purpose.

鈥淲e鈥檙e particularly focused on breeding birds and hatch-year individuals,鈥� Mahrt explained. 鈥淭hat tells us how healthy our bird populations are and how many new birds are entering the system.鈥�

Each session is a community affair. Professors from various disciplines, interns from ODFW, retirees from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and even first-time birders contribute to the effort.

Anthony Stenson, a psychology professor at 91传媒, volunteers regularly and says his appreciation for birds has grown immensely.

鈥淏irds are so light, they feel like air,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd the care we take in handling them speaks volumes. I love knowing that I鈥檓 contributing to real research that helps us understand population changes and migrations.鈥�

Elsie Morton, a La Grande native and intern with ODFW, says her experience at the Ladd Marsh station gave her a new perspective on conservation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly complex,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much more data being collected here than I realized. Watching how quickly and precisely everything is done has been amazing.鈥�

Mahrt’s expertise deepened during her recent eight-month sabbatical in Ecuador and the Gal谩pagos Islands, where she collaborated with international researchers and earned certification to attach MOTUS tracking devices, tiny transmitters that reveal detailed migratory pathways.

Now, she鈥檚 bringing that global knowledge back to the Grande Ronde Valley.

鈥淥ur local work is directly tied to international efforts,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough programs like MAPS and partnerships with agencies like the , we鈥檙e creating a network of bird conservation that extends far beyond eastern Oregon.鈥�

The bird banding team recently handled species like the Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Spotted Towhee, each providing insights into population health and breeding success. Mahrt noted that the Spotted Towhee, known for its stress response, is always handled first and released quickly to minimize disruption.

鈥淓thical care is at the center of everything we do,鈥� Mahrt said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we monitor weather conditions closely. If it鈥檚 too windy or hot, we stop banding. The birds鈥� wellbeing always comes first.鈥�

With a legacy that spans over three decades at 91传媒, Mahrt鈥檚 commitment to field research and mentoring future scientists continues to grow. She’s actively creating opportunities for students to intern, research, and take part in international collaborations that mirror her journey.

鈥淎s a professor and conservationist, it鈥檚 about planting seeds鈥攂oth literally and figuratively,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his work helps us protect ecosystems, train the next generation, and connect with the natural world in meaningful ways.鈥�

Back at the marsh, as the team bands the final bird of the season, there鈥檚 a quiet sense of accomplishment. A warbler takes flight, marked but unharmed, carrying with it the story of a summer morning, a team of passionate scientists, and the hope of conservation in motion.

Interested in learning more? Visit our link to discover programs and research opportunities at .