Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife band geese at OCTC

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Representatives from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife came to Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) on Wednesday to band the newer generations of geese that have hatched on campus.

Officials explain bird banding is a very important technique for studying, identifying and tracking individual birds.

OCTC says approximately 50 Canadian Geese were safely corralled in a shady area near the larger of two lakes on the campus Wednesday morning. From New Hartford Road, passerby could see 20 Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives herding the geese. Once corralled, the younger geese were separated from the flock to determine whether they were large enough to be banded. Those too small for bands were put in a separate enclosure and later released with the first adult female that was successfully banded.

Officials explain many of the geese tagged Wednesday are considered “local” because they were born and raised in the area. OCTC’s Nature Committee, Maintenance and Operations department, administration, staff, faculty and students take pride in the wildlife fostered on campus and work together to ensure they are protected.

OCTC officials say on the opposite side of its campus is the Virginia Miles Nature Center, which is home to the second, smaller lake on campus. At the center of the lake is a nesting island which provides important nesting habitats for various animals and birds. The 18-acre nature center is home to many species of wildlife throughout the year and serves as a stopover for migratory birds.

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