Winds gusting from the WNW at 15-18 mph in the pre-dawn hour prevented us from opening all of the nets this morning. However, as it usually does, the wind subsided a bit at daybreak, so we took advantage of this temporary lull and opened the remaining nets. We got about three hours in before the wind started picking up and several nets had to be closed down again.
Bird activity was slow with only 23 new birds and 13 recaptures of 12 different species. Gray Catbirds accounted for more than half of the total birds banded and made up the bulk of recaptures too!
The next few days should be very interesting at KIBS. Cold Canadian air will be arriving later today and we may see morning temperatures in the mid 40's. Along with these cold temperatures are northerly winds which in turn should also bring us some birds.
-Aaron
NEW BIRDS
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
14 Gray Catbird
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
2 Palm Warbler (Western)
1 Painted Bunting
1 Swamp Sparrow
RECAPTURES
1 White-eyed Vireo
1 Carolina Chickadee
7 Gray Catbird
1 Common Yellowthroat
2 Painted Bunting
1 Northern Cardinal
BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded: 23
# of Recaptures: 13
# of Species: 12
Effort: 76.2 net-hour
Capture Rate: 47.2 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets: 20
