Participants observe MAPS demonstration at Cowee.

Southern Appalachian Raptor Research, in collaboration with the Little Tennessee Land Trust and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, initiated a pilot bird monitoring project to explore birds of the Cowee Mound site along the banks of the Little Tennessee River. Over 25 students and adults from the Cherokee Language Camp, lead by Shirley Oswalt, helped with banding, measuring, and transporting birds.

Participants had the chance to observe wild birds up-close, then release them back to their habitat. A total of 16 new birds were banded: four Indigo Buntings, three American Goldfinches, two Northern Parulas, two Carolina Chickadees, and one Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Orchard Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Blue Grosbeak.