The End

CAPTAIN SAMS

Today was the last day of the 2019 fall migration banding season.  We ended up banding 15 new birds and had 23 recaptures of 10 different species.  The most exciting birds of the day included 3 Field Sparrows (2 new, 1 recap) and a Carolina Wren.  A Carolina Wren?  Why would that be exciting?  Okay maybe not so much exciting but kind of interesting because it was NOT banded. Carolina Wrens are non-migratory and are most likely year-round residents out on the spit.  In August and early September we catch a good number of Carolina Wrens which are almost always young birds that were hatched locally on site, and we recapture those birds often.  We haven't banded a Carolina Wren since September 15th so today's bird has either been evading our nets all fall or ventured into the banding station from another area. I would bet on the latter. 

Another interesting bird that was captured but not banded was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (special permits are required to band hummingbirds which I do not have). We occasionally get hummingbirds in our nets (3-5 each fall) but never this late in the season.    We do have a some Ruby-throats that overwinter in South Carolina but those birds are usually found in areas where people have feeders.  With a lack a nectar producing plants on site, I guess this bird was just passing through or taking advantage of some flying insects that it may have found out there.   

I will post a summary of the 2019 fall season in a few days after I had a chance to do a quick proof of the last few weeks of data.  

-Aaron        

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Carolina Wren	1	-	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	-	1	-	-
Hermit Thrush	1	4	-	-
Gray Catbird	-	1	-	-
Eastern Towhee	-	1	-	-
Field Sparrow	2	1	-	-
Song Sparrow	2	3	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	1	2	-	-
Palm Warbler (Western)	1	-	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	7	10	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	15	-	15
# of Recaptures	23	-	23
# of Species	38	-	38
Effort (net-hours)	179.9	-	179.9
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	21.1	-	21.1
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,586	2,560	7,146
# of Recaptures	1,207	463	1,670
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	13,103.7	5,462.4	18,566.1
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	44.2	55.3	47.5
# of Days	97	75	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 
Katie Rainwater (CS)

One More Day To Go...

CAPTAIN SAMS

Bird activity continues to be slow out on the Spit with only 9 new birds and 11 recaptures today.  I thought for sure that today would have been busier based on what looked like good bird movement on the radar and the north winds.  

Tomorrow is the last day of the 2019 fall migration banding season. It has been a long season and I am looking forward to getting back to a more normal schedule - like not getting up a 3:45 am or working 7 days per week.  


-Aaron

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Carolina Chickadee	-	1	-	-
American Robin	1	-	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	1	-	-	-
Gray Catbird	-	2	-	-
Eastern Towhee	-	2	-	-
Song Sparrow	1	-	-	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	1	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	5	4	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	-	1

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	9	-	9
# of Recaptures	11	-	11
# of Species	10	-	9
Effort (net-hours)	141.7	-	141.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	14.1	-	14.1
# of Nets	27	-	27

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,572	2,561	7,133
# of Recaptures	1,179	454	1,633
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	12,771.5	5,265.75	18,037.25
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.0	57.3	48.6
# of Days	94	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 
Amy Given (CS)
Aidan Given (CS)

Happy WITU Day!

CAPTAIN SAMS
It was very slow this morning despite what seemed like favorable conditions for migration last night.  Most of the bird movement was well to our west and not along the coast.  We did recapture the Yellow-breasted Chat that we banded a week or so ago for the second time.  Hopefully the bird will stick around for the winter and I can stake it out for the Sea Islands Christmas Bird Count on 3 January 2020.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Aaron

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	-	2	-	-
Hermit Thrush	-	1	-	-
Gray Catbird	2	1	-	-
Yellow-breasted Chat	-	1	-	-
Song Sparrow	-	1	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	14	1	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	16	-	16
# of Recaptures	7	-	7
# of Species	6	-	6
Effort (net-hours)	112.0	-	112.0
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	20.5	-	20.5
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,563	2,561	7,124
# of Recaptures	1,168	454	1,622
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	12,629.8	5,265.75	17,895.6
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.4	57.3	48.9
# of Days	93	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 

Old Birds (and Some New Ones Too)

CAPTAIN SAMS

It was a slow one out there today.  Only 10 new birds were banded but we did have 24 recaptures including several "returns."  Returns are birds that were banded on site but in a previous year/season.  Returns are important as they can help us learn about longevity and survivorship.  Here ares some of the returns that we had today:

1.  Yellow-rumped Warbler:  11/24/2017 as an AHY (after-hatch year)
2.  Hermit Thrush:  11/29/2014 as a HY (hatch-year)
3.  Gray Catbird:  10/16/2011 as a HY.
4.  Yellow-rumped Warbler:  11/25/2018 as a HY.
5.  Yellow-rumped Warbler:  11/07/2013 as a HY.
6.  Yellow-rumped Warbler:  11/4/2015 as a HY.
7.  Yellow-rumped Warbler:  11/25/2018 as an AHY.
8.  White-throated Sparrow:  11/8/2017 as an AHY.

-Aaron  

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	1	-	-
Carolina Wren	-	1	-	-
House Wren	-	1	-	-
Hermit Thrush	1	4	-	-
Gray Catbird	1	4	-	-
Eastern Towhee	1	-	-	-
Song Sparrow	1	1	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	2	1	-	-
White-throated Sparrow	-	1	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	2	10	-	-
Palm Warbler (Western)	1	-	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	10	-	10
# of Recaptures	24	-	24
# of Species	11	-	11
Effort (net-hours)	165.2	-	165.2
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	20.6	-	20.6
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,547	2,561	7,108
# of Recaptures	1,161	454	1,615
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	12,517.8	5,265.75	17,783.6
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.6	57.3	49.1
# of Days	92	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 
Matt Johnson (CS)

Walk Me Out in the Mournin' Dew Today

CAPTAIN SAMS

The dew point has been in the low 40's lately.  That coupled with a relatively high humidity and an air temperatures in the low 40's results in a very wet morning.  The grasses and shrubs are soaked, the nets are soaked, and I am soaked by the time I get done opening all the nets.  Today was especially wet and it took me an hour and ten minutes to open all 28 nets.  When the nets are dry, this process usually takes me about 40 minutes.  

Bird activity slowed down from yesterday but I still banded 47 new birds and had 17 recaptures of 11 species.  Over the past few days, male Yellow-rumped Warblers have significantly outnumbered females.  This is not uncommon as it seems that males and females tend to stick together.  If we catch a small flock (or a big flock) of Yellow-rumps in a net, the flock is significantly skewed to one sex.  

-Aaron    

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	-	1	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	3	1	-	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	1	-	-
Hermit Thrush	1	1	-	-
Gray Catbird	1	2	-	-
Song Sparrow	1	1	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	1	1	-	-
White-throated Sparrow	-	1	-	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	2	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	38	6	-	-
Palm Warbler (Western)	1	-	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	47	-	47
# of Recaptures	17	-	17
# of Species	11	-	11
Effort (net-hours)	158.7	-	158.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	40.3	-	40.3
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,537	2,561	7,098
# of Recaptures	1,137	454	1,591
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	12,352.6	5,265.75	17,618.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.9	57.3	49.3
# of Days	91	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 

Big flocks of Yellow-rumps!

CAPTAIN SAMS

I knew today was going to be busier but did not expect this!  We banded 129 new birds and had 23 recaptures of 17 different species.  As usually for this time of year Yellow-rumped Warblers made up 90% of all the new birds banded today.  However, the large flocks of yellow-rumps that we are seeing now normally show up in the beginning to middle part of November.  They are running late this year along with a several of other of our "winter" species.  

Thanks to the KICA Lakes crew for coming out on quick notice to help me manage all those birds.

-Aaron

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	1	-	-	-
Eastern Phoebe	1	-	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	1	-	-
House Wren	-	1	-	-
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	-	1	-	-
Hermit Thrush	1	5	-	-
American Robin	2	-	-	-
Gray Catbird	-	2	-	-
Yellow-breasted Chat	-	1	-	-
Eastern Towhee	1	-	-	-
Song Sparrow	2	2	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	1	1	-	-
White-throated Sparrow	2	-	-	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	1	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	116	7	-	-
Northern Cardinal	-	1	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	129	-	129
# of Recaptures	23	-	24
# of Species	17	-	17
Effort (net-hours)	202.4	-	202.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	75.1	-	75.6
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,490	2,561	7,051
# of Recaptures	1,119	454	1,573
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	12,193.9	5,265.75	17,459.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	46.0	57.3	49.4
# of Days	90	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 
Ryan Donnelly (CS)
James Wilson (CS)
Roy Robertson (CS)

How Many Seas Must a White Dove Sail

CAPTAIN SAMS

It was super slow today with only 2 new birds and 5 recaptures.  The strong west winds kept several nets closed and the ones that I did open were "Blowin' in the Wind".  

-Aaron

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	1	-	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	-	1	-	-
Hermit Thrush	-	1	-	-
Gray Catbird	-	1	-	-
Orange-crowned Kinglet	-	1	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	1	1	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	2	-	2
# of Recaptures	5	-	5
# of Species	6	-	6
Effort (net-hours)	57.9	-	57.9
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	12.1	-	12.1
# of Nets	20	-	20

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,361	2,561	6,922
# of Recaptures	1,096	454	1,550
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	11,991.5	5,265.75	17,257.25
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.5	57.3	49.1
# of Days	89	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 

23 November 2019

CAPTAIN SAMS

I had expected another slow day today but numbers actually picked up a bit with 35 new birds and 19 recaptures of 10 species.  I had heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher yesterday in the trees by the banding table but it never found its way into a net until this morning.  This the first one that we have banded since the end of August.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are uncommon winter residents therefore it is possible this individual is here to stay.    

It gonna get windy tonight as a front moves through.  We will even get some overnight rain which will block any migration form happening along the east coast.  The strong winds will continue into tomorrow morning so I am not expecting too much for tomorrow.  The west northwest winds that will follow the front will continue through Monday.  I anticipate that Monday morning might be busy with birds. 

-Aaron 

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	1	-	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	1	-	-
House Wren	1	-	-	-
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	1	-	-	-
Hermit Thrush	-	2	-	-
Gray Catbird	2	2	-	-
Song Sparrow	-	1	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	1	3	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	29	8	-	-
Northern Cardinal	-	1	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	35	-	35
# of Recaptures	19	-	19
# of Species	10	-	10
Effort (net-hours)	161.0	-	161.0
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	33.5	-	33.5
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,359	2,561	6,920
# of Recaptures	1,091	454	1,545
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	11,933.6	5,265.75	17,199.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.7	57.3	49.2
# of Days	88	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS) 

22 November 2019

CAPTAIN SAMS

After enjoying a few busy days of banding this week, it all came to a screeching halt today with only 23 new birds and 7 recaptures of 10 species.  I didn't capture a bird after the 9:00 am net run.  Tomorrow doesn't look much better but there might be a little hope for Sunday and Monday when we get a little cooler temperatures.  

-Aaron

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Eastern Phoebe	1	-	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	2	-	-	-
House Wren	1	-	-	-
Hermit Thrush	-	3	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	-	1	-	-
Eastern Towhee	-	1	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	1	-	-	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	1	-	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)	15	2	-	-
Palm Warbler (Western)	2	-	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	23	-	23
# of Recaptures	7	-	7
# of Species	10	-	10
Effort (net-hours)	158.2	-	158.2
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	19.0	-	19.0
# of Nets	28	-	28

2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,324	2,561	6,885
# of Recaptures	1,072	454	1,526
# of Species	86	79	104
Effort (net-hours)	11,772.6	5,265.75	17,038.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.8	57.3	49.4
# of Days	87	71	-

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS)