The following is extracted from their promotional leaflet:

In 2002, we began a hummingbird research project with the following goals: to determine the best long-term monitoring sites for hummingbirds in western USA and northwestern Mexico, to learn how to effectively sample their population sizes, and to use the resulting information to assist in their preservation and protection. In North America, hummingbird diversity is highest in southwestern USA and most of these species are dependent on habitats in Mexico for their winter survival and, for some, breeding.

This research generates knowledge about hummingbird diversity, abundance, productivity, and survivorship in a variety of habitats. Study sites occur in vegetation zones at different elevations, longitudes, and latitudes. It is a systematic banding study that will detect movement patterns for many hummingbird species in western USA and eventually northwestern Mexico. It defines a methodology that when used by others will yield data that can be statistically compared. Thus, we can begin to understand how hummingbird diversity varies from place to place and from region to region and how hummingbirds move through these regions. The results of the research should provide land managers with information about which areas support a high diversity of hummingbirds, the timing of their occurrence, and seasonal movement patterns that may indicate the size of the areas needed to maintain hummingbird diversity and abundance. It also has provided and will continue to provide training for students, scientists, and members of the general public in the skills required for hummingbird study. Because hummingbirds capture people's imagination, they are excellent subjects for conservation education, one of our main objectives.

For this project, we band hummingbirds once every other week from mid-March to late October. Banding techniques allow researchers to assess population sizes of hummingbirds and other landbirds. Our banding occurs at multiple sites at different elevations, longitudes, and latitudes in a variety of vegetation zones. Each banding session lasts five hours and begins within one half hour of sunrise. Because banding at each site follows a standardized methodology, changes in species occurrence and abundance patterns can be compared among years and among sites. Analyses of these data will help identify important areas for hummingbird migration and breeding. At the end of a season, results from each site are evaluated to determine which sites are still contenders for long-term monitoring sites or if a new site should be added and evaluated. Because hummingbirds have unique flight abilities and require specialized permits to work with them, other avian conservation programs such as MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) fail to adequately sample hummingbird populations.

In 2003, we have expanded to 14 study sites in Arizona and 5 in California. This project is an extension of the Migratory Pollinators Program of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) and has involved many partners of DSCESU. Two of the primary investigators are associated with partners of DSCESU: Ms. Carlson is the Director of 3 Natural Reserves for the University of California at Riverside and Dr. Wethington is a research associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. We are also working in three National Parks: Tumacacori National Historical Park, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument, on BLM land in California, and will soon start a site on US Forest Service land. Additionally, we work with many private landowners as well as a prospective new DSCESU member.

If you are interested in becoming a citizen scientist and joining this all volunteer project, please let the banding team know and they will give you a card with contact information.