Duck Banding

So we woke up at 5:30 last Monday morning to go take the kids out Duck Banding. It was so much fun and really neat to see what they do! We met up with Fish and Game Officer Aaron and his MIL that came with him at 6:30 somewhere near Cataldo. He showed us where they bait the ducks during the night. Sawyer was going crazy with his "duck" "duck" "duck" "quack quack quack" He loves his duckies! Jarrin went right to the cage and started to tell everyone the species of ducks that were in there. Aaron was surprised he knew, then we told him that he studies in his books about them with Daddy's help :)
Aaron then goes in with some bags that he puts the ducks in that he catches that don't already have a band on. Then we very carefully take the bags onto the shore to an area that makes it easier to do the work.
Sawyer has the cutest face in here! I just want to kiss him all up :)
Keeley and Daddy..Awww how cute :)
Aaron gets one of the ducks out and he was showing the kids how to tell what species they are and their sex and how old they are. His Mother In Law that came with him helped record all that information along with the band number that will be going around the ankle of the ducks so they can be tracked for migration patterns,lifespan and so on. Just like what they do with most other animals that get tagged.
Here he is pushing the metal band closed with his special pliers. Jarrin couldn't stop touching the ducks :) We had to keep on reminding him that he needs to stay out of Aarons way so he can get it done quickly as to not frighten the duck anymore that he has to.
It was so interesting the things you learn!
Recording and banding.
Sawyer wanted to eat everything he pulled out or off of the ground. Here he is trying to eat something....
And here is Daddy pulling it back out :)
After everything was recorded, The kids got to take turns holding the wings down and walking them over to the water to let them go! They loved this part the best!!
Check out that smile! Aaron went the first time with both children to make sure they could handle it with the ducks trying to get loose :)
Walking still ... didn't get the ending on this one, Jarrin jumped in the picture too soon :)
More smiles :) Here we go again :)

Almost to the water :)

Walking to the water edge. I love the duck head in this picture :)

Free at last!!!

I even go to take one to the water! It was a cool experience!
We even took a quick family picture with some duckies. Sawyer is still in awe that he is so close to real ducks!

Keeley with Aaron.


Here are some videos that we took of the kids taking turns with the ducks!


It was so much fun! We are looking forward to doing it again!!