Cape Florida Banding Station

The Cape Florida Banding Station (CFBS) is a migratory bird banding station located in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Since 2002 biologists, recent graduates and community members from across Florida have collaborated with CFBS to gain hands-on training and contribute to the station's long term data set. 

CFBS is located within a restored hardwood hammock and offers a unique opportunity to promote a hemisphere-wide understanding of migratory birds. Our goal is to enhance bird conservation in South Florida and along the Atlantic Flyway. CFBS has banded over 45,000 neotropical migratory birds of 119 species, with an average of 1,900 birds banded each season. Birds are examined for age, sex, and body condition, and are given a numbered leg band before being released back into the wild. Birds banded at CFBS have been encountered in maritime Canada, Puerto Rico, and many places in between.

CFBS is operated almost exclusively by volunteers of all ages from the local community. In Fall 2023 CFBS became an independent worker-led nonprofit organization and are fundraising to continue our work for future scientific research and conservation. Our Give Miami Day fundraising goal of $12,000 will be used to replace worn equipment such as mist nets and applied towards the salaries of experienced field supervisors/trainers for the 2025 Fall season. 

Your donations will aid the project’s continuity for this unique and consistent long term data set that will contribute to the research used for climate justice. This is the only scientific research station of its kind here in Miami-Dade County.

                                                                                        Michelle Davis, Co-director and Founder (Top left), Nicole Rita, Co-director (Top right), Nasim Mahomar,  Co-director (Bottom)

*All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.