The YLR Banding Station

At our songbird banding station, we monitor and tag resident and migratory species using various capture methods and contribute those data to a national bird banding database. Banding at Younger Lagoon Reserve began in the mid 70s and operated for approximately 10 years. 

In 2017, YLR staff reinstated the banding station and have continued to band weekly. Our primary goal is to document seasonal and annual trends in avian species composition at a site with ongoing habitat restoration efforts.

This is a unique opportunity to work with expert ornithologists while learning all aspects of bird banding.

Desired Intern Qualities:

• positive attitude, responsible, detail oriented

• should possess an interest in animal censusing, specifically with birds 

• interns with field course or bird experience preferred

• available to join the banding effort on Fridays from approximately 6:00AM to 12:00PM and assist throughout the week prepping for banding days (approx 15 min, 2-3 times a week). 

Our 2-unit bird banding internship is supported by the Environmental Studies Internship Office and is offered each quarter during the academic year!

The best way to get involved is to start with a 2-unit internship, and then students may pursue an upper division or senior internship project related to birds at Younger Lagoon Reserve.

If you have specific questions about our songbird banding station, contact Reserve Director, Elizabeth Howard at eahoward@ucsc.edu.

We are FULL for Winter 2025. If you are interested in joining us as an intern in Spring or Fall 2025, please apply here.