I bring an owl captured for banding at night to a location where people can see it without interrupting the banding project. Lucky observers get to release a Saw-whet Owl by perching the owl on their upturned hand, letting go with the other hand, and waiting for the owl to fly when it is ready. Based on positive feedback, banding demonstrations leave lasting impressions. Songbirds in the hand are as captivating as raptors. Visitors to songbird banding projects get to gorge themselves on close views of tiny but colorful birds.
Some visitors stay to apprentice and eventually become skilled assistants or banders themselves.
Researchers sometimes think it would be difficult to conduct field studies with observers or unskilled assistants hanging around and getting in the way. Allowing newcomers to witness and eventually assist in ongoing projects, including banding and bird surveys, may engender lifelong interest. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has recognized the value of training volunteers and so has developed a citizen-science bird monitoring program. A myriad of bird-centered activities exist. The results have been overwhelmingly positive.