Captain Sam's
Things slowed down quite a bit today at Captain Sam's with 51 new birds and 12 recaptures of 16 different species. Due to the presence of a bobcat, the banding site was managed a little differently today. Normally, we would do a net run, bring the birds back to the table to be processed, and then head back out on another net run 30-40 minutes later. Because of the bobcat and the potential for it to take birds from the nets, we had three people constantly checking nets with one person back at the table processing the birds. When a predator is onsite, maintaining a presence around the nets is crucial. If we are unable to maintain a presence due to low staffing or an abundance of birds, then we will close down nets in the area where the predator is hanging out. Our capture rate was most likely negatively affected due to our constant presence around the nets (i.e. the birds avoided the nets), but I am happy to say that we prevented any birds being predated while in the nets.
Today's bobcat was the same one that we fitted with a GPS collar back in late August. (See post from August 26th: https://kiawahislandbanding.blogspot.com/2017/08/banding-bobcats.html)
Because of the collar, we are able to track her movements and know when she is onsite so we can take appropriate action. The banding site is only a small portion of her home range, so thankfully she does not spend all of her time out there.
-Aaron
Little Bear
Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS)
Mattie VandenBoom (LB)
Michael Gamble (CS)
Kristen Oliver (CS)
Brandon Connare (LB)
Paul Carroll (CS)
Hannah Conley (LB)
Things slowed down quite a bit today at Captain Sam's with 51 new birds and 12 recaptures of 16 different species. Due to the presence of a bobcat, the banding site was managed a little differently today. Normally, we would do a net run, bring the birds back to the table to be processed, and then head back out on another net run 30-40 minutes later. Because of the bobcat and the potential for it to take birds from the nets, we had three people constantly checking nets with one person back at the table processing the birds. When a predator is onsite, maintaining a presence around the nets is crucial. If we are unable to maintain a presence due to low staffing or an abundance of birds, then we will close down nets in the area where the predator is hanging out. Our capture rate was most likely negatively affected due to our constant presence around the nets (i.e. the birds avoided the nets), but I am happy to say that we prevented any birds being predated while in the nets.
Today's bobcat was the same one that we fitted with a GPS collar back in late August. (See post from August 26th: https://kiawahislandbanding.blogspot.com/2017/08/banding-bobcats.html)
Because of the collar, we are able to track her movements and know when she is onsite so we can take appropriate action. The banding site is only a small portion of her home range, so thankfully she does not spend all of her time out there.
-Aaron
Little Bear
Despite having winds from the south
overnight, Little Bear had another triple digit day with 112 new birds and 7
recaptures, comprised of 18 species.
Common Yellowthroats made up a majority of the catch once again but we
did see a good number Gray Catbirds and Palm Warblers at the station. We also had our first of the season Least
Flycatcher. Least Flycatchers are the
smallest of the Eastern Empidonax flycatchers and a wing chord can usually help
rule out the other Empids. Least also tends
to be grayer on their upperparts and have a distinct eye ring as well.
 |
| Least Flycatcher (hatch year, unknown) |
-Mattie
| Species | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Recaps | New | Recaps | |
"Traill's" Flycatcher
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
Least Flycatcher
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
White-eyed Vireo
|
4
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
Red-eyed Vireo
|
8
|
1
|
4
|
-
|
Carolina Chickadee
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
House Wren
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
Carolina Wren
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
Veery
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
Gray Catbird
|
6
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
Brown Thrasher
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
Ovenbird
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
Northern Waterthrush
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
Black-and-White Warbler
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
Common Yellowthroat
|
20
|
3
|
54
|
3
|
American Redstart
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
Cape May Warbler
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Northern Parula
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
Yellow Warbler
|
2
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
Palm Warbler (Western)
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
1
|
Prairie Warbler
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
Northern Cardinal
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
-
|
Painted Bunting
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
| Banding Stats | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Birds Banded |
51
|
112
|
163
|
| # of Recaptures |
12
|
7
|
19
|
| # of Species |
16
|
18
|
22
|
| Effort (net-hours) |
124.8
|
112.0
|
236.8
|
| Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours) |
50.5
|
106.3
|
76.9
|
| # of Nets |
26
|
20
|
46
|
Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS)
Mattie VandenBoom (LB)
Michael Gamble (CS)
Kristen Oliver (CS)
Brandon Connare (LB)
Paul Carroll (CS)
Hannah Conley (LB)
