Coin-du-Banc 2025: An Exceptional Bird Banding Season

Located on the Gaspé coast, the Coin-du-Banc banding station, operated by the Rimouski Bird Observatory, is experiencing an extraordinary 2025 season. Every fall, this station becomes a key hub for the scientific study of migratory birds. This year, record-breaking numbers and remarkable captures once again highlight the importance of this unique site in Québec.

Record-breaking days at the station

On August 21, 2025, the station experienced a historic day with 248 birds captured, setting a new daily record (see results on Trektellen). The very next day, ornithologists were surprised by the capture of a Great Blue Heron, a species rarely handled in this kind of monitoring program.

Another highlight of the season was the capture of a Pileated Woodpecker — the very first ever caught in the nets of the Rimouski Bird Observatory. This remarkable event underscores the exceptional richness of migration monitoring at Coin-du-Banc.

And the discoveries didn’t stop there: since August 1, three Belted Kingfishers have been banded — an event that illustrates the diversity of migration at Coin-du-Banc.

By August 24, the American Redstart seasonal record had already been surpassed with 450 total captures, including 301 new bandings. Achieved well before the end of fall migration, this number highlights the exceptional activity of the season and promises a wealth of data for science.

The scientific value of bird banding

Bird banding is far more than just data collection: it is a cornerstone of avian science. Each band provides crucial insights into the lives of migratory birds:

• Population size: helps track long-term population trends.
• Migration routes: reveals the sometimes surprising journeys of certain species.
• Health and body condition: indicates the availability of food resources along migration routes.

Combined with data from other banding stations across North America, these results help us understand the impacts of climate change and habitat loss on bird populations. They also serve as a foundation for concrete conservation actions.

A human and educational project

Behind every capture and data point is a passionate team. This year, the Coin-du-Banc station is led by master bander Laurent Auger, who oversees daily operations with rigor and enthusiasm.

Beyond research, the station plays a crucial role in public education. Each visit, each banding demonstration, brings people closer to the reality of migration and fosters awareness of the need to protect birds and their habitats.

The BirdzNow team had the privilege of being on-site this season to support the station’s activities and witness the richness of this scientific and educational work.

A source of pride for Gaspésie and for Québec

The 2025 season will be remembered as a milestone year for the Coin-du-Banc station. The records broken, the rare species captured, and the vitality of the operations all demonstrate once again the invaluable role this site plays in both research and public awareness.

In Gaspésie, Coin-du-Banc is more than a banding station: it is a bridge between science, nature, and the public — a reminder that every bird migration is a fragile phenomenon that deserves to be observed, understood, and protected.

 

Alexandre Lajeunesse