Researcher bands oldest Indigo Bunting songbird in North America

Julie Craves, supervisor of avian research for the Rouge River Bird Observatory (RRBO) housed inside UM-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center, recently documented the oldest Indigo Bunting songbird ever recaptured by a bird bander in North America.

The bird, which was first banded by the RRBO in 2003 and most recently recaptured on Sept. 29, was recorded by Craves as being 8 years and 3 months old, which is a longevity record for the species in North America according to records kept by the Bird Banding Lab. Craves' recapture beats out the previous record by three months.

For the full story, visit the RRBO's blog, Net Results.

Photo by Julie Craves