Center for Conservation Biology

The Kiptopeke Banding Station was established in 1963 as part of a network of fall banding stations under the project “Operation Recovery.” Founding banders were Fred Scott, Walter and Doris Smith, Mike and Dorothy Mitchell, and Charlie Hacker. For more than 4 decades the station has collected valuable information on bird populations migrating along the Atlantic Coast and has provided thousands of individuals with the opportunity to see birds in the hand. Many dedicated banders, researchers, volunteers, and organizations have helped to keep the station operating through the years. The station is currently operated by the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory in collaboration with the Center for Conservation Biology and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation with funding from various sources.

The Kiptopeke Banding Station has banded more birds during fall migration than any station in North America. The banding station reached the 100,000-bird milestone in 1975 and the 200,000-bird milestone in 1985. On 17 October 2005, the Kiptopeke Banding Station reached a milestone when the 300,000 bird was captured, banded, and processed.

Banding data are compiled annually in station summaries. Annual summaries from 2002 on are available online for download. Viewing requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader (click here for a free download).