Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Eastern Bluebird - First of the Season

CAPTAIN SAM'S

It was a very productive day thanks to a little bit of migration that occurred last night.  It was evident during the first net run that we were in for a busier day.  Large flocks of American Robins and some Yellow-rumped Warbler lifted off just after first light to find a more suitable daytime feeding areas.  Luckily for us, the Spit is the perfect feeding area for Yellow-rumped Warblers as they target the waxy berries of the wax myrtle shrubs - and the Spit is loaded with wax myrtles.   Of the 132 birds captured today, 101 of them were Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Mixed in with a flock of Yellow-rumps that hit net # 0 (yes, there really is a net # 0) was a male Eastern Bluebird.  This is the first Eastern Bluebird of the season which brings our total species count to 103!   As I was extracting the protesting bluebird, a couple of his buddies began to fly above my head and swoop down at me.  I had no idea that bluebirds would become so aggressive in that type of situation.  I have never experienced something like that while extracting any other species from a mist net. 

It was nice to have Michael back at KIBS today (and last Monday).  Michael was a banding assitant at KIBS from 2015-2017 and was the lead bander at Little Bear in 2018.  I appreciated his help today with all those birds!   

-Aaron

Eastern Bluebird (hatch-year male)

 


 SpeciesCaptain Sam'sLittle Bear
NewRecapsNewRecaps
Eastern Phoebe
-
1
-
-
Blue-headed Vireo
1
-
-
-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4
2
-
-
Golden-crowned Kinglet
1
-
-
-
House Wren
-
1
-
-
Eastern Bluebird
1
-
-
-
Hermit Thrush
3
2
-
-
American Robin
2
-
-
-
Gray Catbird
-
1
-
-
Swamp Sparrow
4
1
-
-
Song Sparrow
3
-
-
-
White-throated Sparrow
3
1
-
-
Yellow-breasted Chat
1
-
-
-
Orange-crowned Warbler
-
1
-
-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
95
6
-
-





Today's Banding StatsCaptain Sam'sLittle BearTOTAL
# Birds Banded
118
-
118
# of Recaptures
14
-
14
# of Species
15
-
15
Effort (net-hours)
173.6
-
173.6
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)
76.0
-
76.0
# of Nets
28
-
28



2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats Captain Sam'sLittle BearTOTAL
# Birds Banded
4,235
2,561
6,796
# of Recaptures
1,041
454
1,495
# of Species
85
79
103
Effort (net-hours)
11,400.2
5,265.75
16,666.0
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)
46.3
57.3
49.7
# of Days8571-

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS) 
Michael Gamble (CS)