2025 Fall Migration Banding Summary

The 2025 fall migration banding season at the Kiawah Island Banding Station (KIBS) began on 15 August and concluded on 30 November. Banding occurred at two sites on Kiawah Island: Captain Sams and Little Bear.  This was the 17th consecutive year of fall migration banding at the Captain Sams site with banding occurring daily during the last 14 years.  It was the 11th season for the Little Bear site which we initiated during the fall of 2015.  The two sites are located at each end of the island about 8 miles apart (Captain Sams on the west end, Little Bear on the east end).  Both sites are situated in coastal scrub/shrub and high marsh habitats, however, the Little Bear site is in an earlier stage of succession.

Collectively, we banded 9,079 birds and had 2,386 recaptures of 111 different species.  Captain Sams had a small decrease in the number of birds banded compared to last fall, while Little Bear experienced a small increase. Combined, however, we only banded 0.5% less birds than last year. This was the most species we have ever banded in a fall.

Overall, the average monthly temperature was slightly cooler than the historical average.  However, November averaged only 1.1 °F warmer than the historic average.  This season was also wetter, and we experienced more rain (21.8”) than normal (17.8”).  Most of the rain this season (10.5”) came in the second half of August.  The first “cold” front arrived on 7 September this year. Most of the cold fronts were weak or had weakened by the time they reached the Southeast. We experienced good movement of migrants with the passage of 2 strong cold fronts in late September (9/20 and 9/28) and three in October (10/1 10/13, and 10/26).   As usual, migration slowed down during November but had decent migratory movements on 4 and 12 November.   

It was a quiet Atlantic hurricane season with 13 named storms including 5 hurricanes. This was the first time since 2015 that no hurricanes made landfall in the US, however three of the five hurricanes were Category 5 storms which was the second most on record. Fortunately for us, only two storms affected our banding operations at KIBS.  Hurricane Imelda in late September and Hurricane Melissa in late October. Both storms stayed well offshore and only brought some wind and rain to our area.

CAPTAIN SAMS

Nets were open for a total of 104 days from 15 August - 30 November.  There were 4 days when banding did not occur because of weather: 8/23 (rain), 8/30 (rain), 10/11 and 10/12 (rain from nor’easter).   

We banded 5,584 new birds of 96 different species.  The most commonly banded species were Common Yellowthroat (1,560), Gray Catbird (855), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (540). Those three species combined made up 53% of all the birds banded this season.  After having a record-breaking year last fall, Common Yellowthroat surpassed their previous total by 2.6% this fall. Gray Catbirds rebounded a bit from last fall increasing by 11% and were 6% above their 14-year average. Despite a good year last year, Yellow-rumped Warblers had a 47% decrease from last fall and a nearly 30% decrease when compared to the average from the last 14 seasons.

The overall effort decreased from 17,502.9 net-hours in 2024 to 17,004.8 net-hours this year.  This difference is negligible, and we banded one less day this year.

We banded 195 fewer birds this year compared to last year, but still 773 birds above the average for the previous 14 years.  The capture rate of new birds was 32.8 birds/100 net-hours. The capture rate decreased by 0.2 birds/100 net-hours compared to last year but was 4.7 birds/100 net-hours lower than the 14-year average of 37.5 birds/100 net-hours.  Our capture rate has decreased every year starting in 2012 except for 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024 when we experienced small increases from the previous year. The capture rate of recaptures is normally very consistent from year to year, however this year the capture rate was 7.9 birds/100 net-hours which is 1.7 birds/100 net-hours lower than the average since 2012.   

 

We had 1,346 recaptures this season compared to 1,506 recaptures from last year representing an 11% decrease.  Recaptures are divided into 3 categories: repeats (birds recaptured in the same season in which they were banded), returns (birds recaptured in a different season in which they were banded), and foreign recaptures (birds recaptured that were banded elsewhere). We had 1,190 repeats, 150 returns, and 3 foreign recaptures.  One of the foreign recaptures was captured twice so there were only two unique individuals. They were both Gray Catbirds and at the time of this report, we do not know where those birds were banded at yet.

We also captured 4 individuals that were banded at our Little Bear site that is located 8.8 miles to the east of Captain Sams.  Despite banding thousands of birds at each site during the fall, we normally have very little movement of the birds between them.  This year we captured a Northern Cardinal originally banded in 2021, a Gray Catbird, Song Sparrow, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet all banded last fall. In addition, we also captured 3 Painted Buntings that were banded during the summer at a bird feeder at Mingo Point which is located about 1.5 miles away from Captain Sams.     

There were 18 days this fall when over 100 birds were banded including 5 days with at least 200 birds.  The best day of the season was on 14 October when we banded 291 birds.  Of those 291 birds, 159 of them were Gray Catbirds!  The next busiest day occurred on 21 September when 231 birds were banded with 189 of those being Common Yellowthroats. 29 September and 13 October tied for the third busiest day with 221 birds.  

We had 16 regularly occurring species that exhibited record high numbers this season:  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (15), Acadian Flycatcher (7*), Tree Swallow (313), Eastern Bluebird (3), Song Sparrow (70), Lincoln’s Sparrow (4), Swamp Sparrow (87), Baltimore Oriole (6*), Northern Waterthrush (184), Black-and-white Warbler (55), Nashville Warbler (4*), Common Yellowthroat (1560)m Cape May Warbler (68), Chestnut-sided Warbler (6), Pine Warbler (5), and Yellow-throated Warbler (2*). Alternatively, we had four species that had record low numbers: Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Northern Mockingbird (1), Eastern Towhee (2), and Scarlet Tanager (1). The * indicates species that tied the record high or low.   

Some other rare and notable species that were banded this fall includes: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1; 15 previous), Sedge Wren (1; 5 previous), Grasshopper Sparrow (1; 4 previous), Vesper Sparrow (1; 1 previous), Brown-headed Cowbird (1; 2 previous), Blue-winged Warbler (1; 4 previous); Connecticut Warbler (2; 2 previous), Kentucky Warbler (1; 4 previous), Blackburnian Warbler (2; 2 previous).

Species notably absent this year included: Eastern Screech Owl (16 total, average 1.1/year), American Robin (59 total, average 4.2 year), American Goldfinch (38 total, average 2.7/year).

We banded one species that has never been banded before: Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Little Bear has banded a few of these over the years but never at Captain Sams. This juvenile hung around the banding station for a while feeding on fiddler crabs in our net lanes.

We hosted 4 groups this year including the SC Master Naturalist Program (30 September), Kiawah Island Natural History Group (23 October), the naturalists from Camp St. Christopher (15 November), and the Environmental Conservation Corps from AmeriCorps (20 November). 

Top 10 Species Banded at Captain Sams

1. Common Yellowthroat (1,560)

2. Gray Catbird (855)

3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (540)

4.  American Redstart (347)

5. Tree Swallow (313)

6. Painted Bunting (185)

7. Northern Waterthrush (184)

8. Red-eyed Vireo (144)

9. Palm Warbler (137)

10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (111)

LITTLE BEAR

Nets were open for a total of 77 days from 22 August - 14 November. There were 7 days cancelled due to weather: 8/23 (rain), 8/30 (rain), 10/7 (rain), 10/10-12 (wind and rain), and 10/28 (wind). Little Bear was closed for an additional day (11/5) for net repair after a deer destroyed 9 nets the day before.     

We banded 3,495 new birds of 93 different species.  The most commonly banded species were Common Yellowthroat (974), Gray Catbird (738), and Palm Warbler (257). Those three species combined made up 56% of all the birds banded this season.  It was a good year for Common Yellowthroats with an 18% increase compared to last fall and a 51% increase over the average since 2015.  Gray Catbird numbers exhibited a 35% increase from last fall and a 12% increase on the 11-year average. Jumping back into the 3^rd spot this year, Palm Warbler numbers were up 62% from last year and 20% over the 11-year average. Yellow-rumped Warbler fell out of the top 3 to down to 7 this year with a 66% decrease from last year.       

We logged 10,543.8 net-hours at Little Bear this fall – an increase from the 9,924.0 net-hours in 2024.  We banded three less days than last fall but added two new nets (net 27 and 28).  The new net weas added to mitigate some of the loss of vegetation surrounding several of our wetland nets.  Excessive flooding and saltwater intrusion have reduced the vegetation in that area severely to the point where a couple nets have very little cover nearby. 

We banded 150 more birds this year compared to last year, and 441 more birds than the average since 2015.  Little Bear’s capture rate of new birds slightly decreased by 1.8% from 33.7 birds/100 net-hours in 2024 to 33.1 in 2025.  The capture rate decreased by 21% compared to the average over the last 11 years. The capture rate of recaptures was up 4.2% from last year but right in line with the 11-year average.    

 

We had 1,040 recaptures this season, which is higher than the 941 recaptures from last year.  We had 938 repeats, 101 returns, and 1 foreign recaptures.  One of the foreign recaptures was a Gray Catbird, however, at the time of this report, the banding date and location is unknown. We also captured a few birds that were originally banded at Captain Sams: Yellow-rumped Warbler (2023), Gray Catbird (2023), Painted Bunting (2025). The Painted Bunting was banded at Captain Sams on 15 September and recaptured at Little Bear on 11 November.  

There were 9 days when over 100 birds were banded including 2 days with at least 200 birds banded.  Last year, we had 8 days with over 100 birds and only one 200-bird day.  The best day of the season was on 14 October when we banded 251 birds and had 23 recaptures.  Of the 251 birds, almost half of them were Gray Catbirds!  The next two busiest days occurred on 13 October and 1 October when 227 and 194 birds were banded, respectively. 

Several species exhibited record high numbers this season:  Mourning Dove (3), Downy Woodpecker (11), Acadian Flycatcher (2*), Eastern Phoebe (58), Hermit Thrush (22), Clay-colored Sparrow (2),Dark-eyed Junco (2), White-throated Sparrow (16), Bobolink (3), Nashville Warbler (2*), Common Yellowthroat (974), Northern Parula (37), Bay-breasted Warbler (3*), Canada Warbler (2), Wilson’s Warbler (2), Scarlet Tanager  (3*). Species that had record low numbers included: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (5*), “Traill’s Flycatcher (9), Blue-headed Vireo (1*), Brown Thrasher (1*), Northern Mockingbird (4), Yellow-rumped Warbler (98). The * indicates species that tied the record high or low.  

Some other rare and notable species banded included: Common Ground Dove (1, 30 previous but none since 2019), Tricolored Heron (1; 1 previous), Blue-winged Warbler (1; 2 previous). 

Species notably absent include Cooper’s Hawk (7 total; 0.6/year), House Finch (11 total; average 1.0/year), Chipping Sparrow (8 total; 0.7/year), Yellow-throated Warbler (11 total; 1.0/year).

We banded three new species this year at Little Bear: Sora, White Ibis, and Dickcissel. This was the 1st Dickcissel ever banded at KIBS!  

Top 10 Species Banded at Little Bear

1. Common Yellowthroat (974)

2. Gray Catbird (738)

3. Palm Warbler (257)

4. Painted Bunting (194)

5. American Redstart (175)

6. Northern Waterthrush (122)

7. Yellow-rumped Warbler (98)

8. Red-eyed Vireo (82)

9. Prairie Warbler (76)

10. Eastern Phoebe (58)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Without the cooperation of many people and entities, this work would not be possible.  The success of this project relies on their commitment, and I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone involved. 

I'd like to thank my awesome team of seasonal banding assistants (Liz Held, Arden Schneider, Camille Beckwith, and Jeremiah Sullivan).  Their hard work over the course of this long season was outstanding.  It was a great season, and I would like to wish them all the very best of luck in the future.  I’d also like to thank Michael Gamble, who was a former seasonal banding assistant from 2015-2018 but is now a full-time biologist with the Town of Kiawah Island. He is a tremendous asset in all operations of KIBS! We were thankful to have Amy Nickerson and Keegan Foster who volunteered for several weeks during the season. Both were looking to gain bird banding experience and while they did get that, we gained two great additions to the team this fall.

From right to left: Camille Beckwith, Aaron Given, Michael Gamble, Liz Held, Jeremiah Sullivan, Keegan Foster. Not pictured: Arden Schneider, Amy Nickerson

I'd like to acknowledge the Town of Kiawah Island for providing funding for equipment, and stipends and housing for the banding assistants.  Thanks to the Kiawah Partners and the Bear Island Holding Trust for allowing access to their property for banding.

Nancy Raginski (97.4), Aidan Boyle (48.7), Kristin Attinger (42.5), Ann McLean (20.5), Jennifer Tyrrell (18.6), David McLean (13.7), Lucian (13.1), Tyler (13.1), Julia Hillary (13), Adam Wolf (12.9), Aidan Given (12.3) and Jacob Gianopulos (11.8) all donated a considerable amount of their time (more than 10 hours) to help at the banding station.  We also had several more volunteers that came out for just the day. I’d like to thank all the volunteers that made it out this year. Because of their help, we were able to operate a more efficient banding station.

Banding Statistics	Captain Sams	Little Bear	Total
# of Birds Banded	5,584	3,495	9,079
# of Recaptures	1,346	1040	2,386
# of Species	96	93	111
Effort (net-hours)	17,004.8	10,543.8	27,548.6
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	40.8	43.0	41.6
Capture Rate of New Birds (birds/100 nh)	32.8	33.1	33.0
Capture Rate of Recaptures (birds/100 nh)	7.9	9.9	8.6
# of Nets	32	28	60
# of Days Operated	104	76
Dates of Operation	8/15-11/30	8/22-11/14

 

Species	Captain Sams		Little Bear
	New	Recapture	New	Recapture
Common Ground Dove	-	-	1	-
Mourning Dove	5	-	3	2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	11	2	5	-
Black-billed Cuckoo	1	-	-	-
Chuck-will's-widow	3	-	2	1
Eastern Whip-poor-will	-	-	1	-
Sora	-	-	1	-
White Ibis	-	-	1	-
Tricolored Heron	-	-	1	-
Yellow-crowned Night Heron	1	-	1	-
Sharp-shinned Hawk	3	1	3	2
Cooper's Hawk	1	-	-	-
Eastern Screech-Owl	-	-	1	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	-	2	-
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	15	8	2	-
Downy Woodpecker	5	26	11	3
Northern Flicker	1	-	1	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	1	-	6	-
Acadian Flycatcher	7	1	2	-
"Traill's" Flycatcher	17	-	9	-
Least Flycatcher	1	1	-	-
Eastern Phoebe	56	3	58	-
Great Crested Flycatcher	3	2	-	-
Eastern Kingbird	2	-	2	-
White-eyed Vireo	54	45	46	16
Blue-headed vireo	5	-	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	144	8	82	-
Blue Jay	1	-	-	-
Carolina Chickadee	6	27	8	26
Tufted Titmouse	4	8	1	-
Tree Swallow	313	1	-	-
Golden-crowned Kinglet	8	-	2	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	111	23	40	3
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1	-	-	-
Brown Creeper	-	-	2	-
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	7	-	1	-
House Wren	41	22	36	-
Winter Wren	-	-	1	-
Sedge Wren	1	-	-	-
Marsh Wren	2	-	1	-
Carolina Wren	3	6	19	75
Gray Catbird	855	495	738	483
Brown Thrasher	6	9	1	-
Northern Mockingbird	1	-	4	1
Eastern Bluebird	3	-	-	-
Veery	17	-	10	1
Gray-cheeked Thrush	4	-	4	-
Swainson's Thrush	34	1	26	1
Hermit Thrush	46	32	22	5
Wood Thrush	6	-	1	-
American Robin	-	-	2	-
House Finch	5	2	-	-
Grasshopper Sparrow	1	1	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	1	-	-	-
Clay-colored Sparrow	1	-	2	-
Field Sparrow	4	-	1	-
Dark-eyed Junco	-	-	2	-
White-crowned Sparrow	3	1	3	-
White-throated Sparrow	21	3	16	-
Vesper Sparrow	1	-	-	-
Seaside Sparrow	-	-	1	-
Saltmarsh Sparrow	2	2	1	-
Savannah Sparrow	4	-	1	-
Song Sparrow	70	10	35	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	4	2	1	-
Swamp Sparrow	87	15	43	9
Eastern Towhee	2	-	3	4
Yellow-breasted Chat	10	3	6	2
Bobolink	-	-	3	-
Baltimore Oriole	6	-	3	-
Red-winged Blackbird	1	-	-	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	1	-	-	-
Ovenbird	35	13	26	5
Worm-eating Warbler	4	-	4	-
Northern Waterthrush	184	40	122	28
Blue-winged Warbler	1	-	1	-
Black-and-white Warbler	55	4	23	2
Prothonotary Warbler	10	-	2	-
Swainson's Warbler	1	6	1	-
Tennessee Warbler	6	-	3	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	21	4	13	-
Nashville Warbler	4	-	2	-
Connecticut Warbler	2	-	-	-
Kentucky Warbler	1	2	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	1,560	135	974	106
Hooded Warbler	5	6	2	-
American Redstart	347	31	175	23
Cape May Warbler	68	-	33	-
Northern Parula	47	1	37	-
Magnolia Warbler	11	-	10	-
Bay-breasted Warbler	6	-	3	-
Blackburnian Warbler	2	-	1	-
Yellow Warbler	35	-	34	1
Chestnut-sided Warbler	6	-	1	-
Blackpoll Warbler	10	-	9	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	92	2	38	-
Palm Warbler	137	-	257	2
Pine Warbler	5	1	1	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	540	130	98	11
Yellow-throated Warbler	2	-	-	-
Prairie Warbler	99	13	76	4
Black-throated Green Warbler	1	-	1	-
Canada Warber	-	-	2	-
Wilson's Warbler	2	-	2	2
Summer Tanager	4	-	1	-
Scarlet Tanager	1	-	3	-
Northern Cardinal	24	64	33	100
Blue Grosbeak	3	-	1	-
Indigo Bunting	38	2	29	-
Painted Bunting	185	132	194	122
Dickcissel	-	-	1	-

Note: All data presented here is considered preliminary until it has been thoroughly proofed and verified by the Town of Kiawah Island.