Where Birds Tell Stories: EOU’s Laura Mahrt Leads Local Conservation Effort Through Bird Banding

Where Birds Tell Stories: EOU’s Laura Mahrt Leads Local Conservation Effort Through Bird Banding

LA GRANDE, Ore. – 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 Eastern Oregon University 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.“Every bird tells a story,” Mahrt said. “Their health and movements are windows into larger environmental changes.” 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, Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship, 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’s banding season, which includes seven sessions spaced roughly 10 days apart, closed with a flurry of activity and purpose.

“We’re particularly focused on breeding birds and hatch-year individuals,” Mahrt explained. “That tells us how healthy our bird populations are and how many new birds are entering the system.”

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 EOU, volunteers regularly and says his appreciation for birds has grown immensely.

“Birds are so light, they feel like air,” he said. “And the care we take in handling them speaks volumes. I love knowing that I’m contributing to real research that helps us understand population changes and migrations.”

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.

“It’s incredibly complex,” she said. “There’s so much more data being collected here than I realized. Watching how quickly and precisely everything is done has been amazing.”

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

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

“Our local work is directly tied to international efforts,” she said. “Through programs like MAPS and partnerships with agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife, we’re creating a network of bird conservation that extends far beyond eastern Oregon.”

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.

“Ethical care is at the center of everything we do,” Mahrt said. “That’s why we monitor weather conditions closely. If it’s too windy or hot, we stop banding. The birds’ wellbeing always comes first.”

With a legacy that spans over three decades at EOU, Mahrt’s 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.

“As a professor and conservationist, it’s about planting seeds—both literally and figuratively,” she said. “This work helps us protect ecosystems, train the next generation, and connect with the natural world in meaningful ways.”

Back at the marsh, as the team bands the final bird of the season, there’s 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 Eastern Oregon University.