As the sun rises, Brian Magee, regional land use coordinator with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, walks into the Oxbow Preserve toward a bird-branding project underway. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Eilene Lyon gently removes a bird from a tiny threaded net moments after the bird was caught during a bird-banding project within Oxbow Preserve Wednesday. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

An American Goldfinch is examined by Cristin Salaz after being netted within Oxbow Preserve Wednesday during a bird-branding project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Meticulous data is recorded for each bird netted and banded within Oxbow Preserve Wednesday as part of a bird-branding project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Becky Gillette holds a bird moments after being netted within Oxbow Preserve Wednesday as Eilene Lyon frees another during a bird-branding project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

A bird is prepared to be released at the Oxbow Preserve Wednesday after being netted, examined and branded. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

As morning light pours into Oxbow Preserve, Cristin Salaz and Jason St. Pierre carry a newly netted bird in a cloth sack to be examined and branded for research purposes. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Pat Magee holds a bird after being examined within Oxbow Preserve Wednesday as part of a bird-branding project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

As dawn breaks over Oxbow Preserve, birds are examined and branded for research purposes. From the left is Susan Allerton, Becky Gillette, Eilene Lyon, Rae Moeller, Cristin Salaz and Leigh Gillette collect data on newly netted birds. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald