Friday, August 13, 2021

Virtual Tour of KIBS (Little Bear part 4)

We have now moved to the north side of the dune ridge.  The dune drops off quickly into the seasonally flooded wetland unlike the gradual slope on the other side.  All of today's 5 nets (5, 6, 21, 7, 18) are located within the wetland area.  Narrow bands wetland plants, run up through scrub forming a maze of grasses, rushes, and smartweed creating perfect net lanes.  

NET 5

Net 5 is an original net from 2015.  As you can see from the photo below, the left side of the net lane is open and "grassy", while the right side dense shrubs.  Net 5 has captured 1,209 birds (1,023 new, 186 recaptures).  In 2016, it captured the first Yellow-crowned Night-Heron ever banded at KIBS. 

Net 5

 

NET 6

Net 6 was created in 2016.  This is about the most western extent of the open wetlands.  The area around the net is an open pocket of wetland surrounded by shrubs and small trees.  Net 6 has captured 1,087 birds (886 new, 201 recaptures.  

Net 6


NET 21

Net 21 was in operation  during the 2015 and 2016 fall seasons.  It was eliminated in 2017 due to a little fine tuning of the net lanes but then brought back again in 2020.  Net 21 is mostly sheltered from the sun and the wind, and because most of the other nets at Little Bear are exposed to the elements, we needed some nets that could be run when others had to be closed down. Net 21 captured KIBS first Green Heron back in 2015.  The only other one was banded at Little Bear in 2019.

Net 21


NET 7

Net 7 is another original net from 2015.  There is not much cover around net 7 other than a couple of palms.  That was not always the case though.  Originally, this net has a substantial amount of marsh elder growing all around it.  But after the 1000-year flood in 2015, all of those shrubs died.  I don't think they liked being in deep standing water for as long as they were.  Despite the openness, Net 7 is very productive and has captured 941 birds (772 new, 169 recaptures).  

Net 7


NET 18

Net 18 was created in 2016.  This net is located about 25 yards from net 7.  It is tucked back into a narrow finger of the wetland that is surrounded by shrubs and small trees.  It has captured 954 birds (783 new, 171 recaptures).  This was a good net for waterbirds in 2019, with capture of a Green Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and a Solitary Sandpiper! 

Net 18

-Aaron
   

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