16 August to 5 November (53 days)
Average 4 hours per day with 13 to 15 nets (12-meter equivalents.
In order to compare different locations or years that may operate the same
number of hours but with more or fewer nets, capture rate is calculated
by "net-hours." One net hour is one 12-meter net open one hour, or two
6-meter nets open one hour, etc. This rate is often expressed per
100 net-hours for more managable numbers.)
1878 birds netted:
--- 1496 new birds -- a new season total!
(fall mean 1066)
--- 302 recaps
--- 57.5 birds per 100 net-hours (fall mean 53)
76 species, includes 3 released unbanded (House Sparrow, European Starling,
Ruby-throated Hummingbird).
Interesting species included:
A possible Western Wood-Pewee banded
on 14 September may have to await DNA testing of a feather for confirmation.
This adult female pewee had a bill with a dark underside, and measurements
that placed it outside most parameters for Eastern Wood-Pewee.
Marsh Wren -- the first RRBO has banded, and
only the second record for Dearborn
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RRBOs first Marsh Wren, 11 Oct
copyright RRBO 1999
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RRBOs first Pine Siskin, 28 Oct
copyright RRBO 1999
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Pine Siskin and Common
Redpoll-- An "invasion" year for winter finches, these were
the first of either species RRBO has banded; the redpoll set a very early
new date for Dearborn. Along with them were a couple of Red-breasted
Nuthatches, also enjoying an invasion year.
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was only our second,
and appeared in a net run with two other rarely banded species: two Scarlet
Tanagers and a Blue-headed
Vireo.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
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Totals and species highlights don't include owls ... go to details
on our fall owl banding project
| Most numerous species:
American Robin -- 271 (previous high 135)
Swainson's Thrush -- 147 (fall average 84)
Gray Catbird -- 140
White-throated Sparrow -- 123
American Goldfinch -- 90
Right: New nets in an open area adjacent
to our regular area. Here, Andy Dettling and Christine Hofer retrieve
our improved sparrow catch!
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Other species with a story
Species with above average numbers. A
real story this fall was Fox Sparrows.
Our fall average is 4, with our highest previous total being 8. This
year we banded 21, with more still being banded and observed post-season.
Our only Brown Creeper
of the season was a recently fledged juvenile in mid-August. Last
year we banded a record number of Black-throated
Blue Warblers with 20; observers across the
country reported this species in numbers well above average. We banded
18 this fall, another good showing. Five Connecticut
Warblers is a good total for this elusive
species. Well above average were 38 Northern
Cardinals...ouch. A new set of nets
in an open area helped boost our totals for White-crowned
Sparrow to a new high of 41 (previous high,
24).
Big misses included Mourning
Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (none banded in all of 1999!),
Common
Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and
Winter Wren.
Appearing in low numbers were Hermit
Thrushes, with only 31. Our fall average is 53, and last year
we set a record with 101. Veeries put
in a dismal showing with only three, but are our least frequently banded
thrush.
A Song Sparrow with some white secondaries.copyright
RRBO 1999 |
Unprecedented number of oddly-plumaged birds. Every so
often, banders encounter birds with one or more white feathers (often referred
to as partly albino, more correctly as partially leucistic). They are most
frequent on American Robins, House Finches, and blackbirds. I have
three records in other species from 1992 through spring 1999. This
fall, five birds were found with odd white feathers: a Gray-cheeked Thrush,
Hermit Thrush, two Song Sparrows, and a Common Redpoll. Other banders
mentioned this same phenomena this fall. I'll be collaborating with
other banders to summarize what might be an unusual event. Stay tuned for
an update. |
More info:
A list of all
the birds banded this fall, and totals since 1992
How
does this season compare to other seasons?
What
are the most commonly banded birds?
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