FLORENCE - Nestled near Florence is a hidden "aviary" like no other the MPG Ranch has become a crucial research site for bird conservation.

In fact, folks from the University of Montanas Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL) make the trip nearly every day to one of their songbird banding stations.

Watch to learn more about what's happening at the MPG Ranch:

I think that banding is a really good opportunity to share wildlife up-close, birds up-close with the community," said Annie Meyer, a researcher with UMBEL. "You know, if you see a bird in a bush, its cool and it's exciting. But seeing it in the hand sparks a lot of excitement.

And it isnt just Meyer and the other researchers making the trek. MPG Ranch welcomes the public through field trips, giving birders and nature enthusiasts a chance to obs

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