We did not open up Captain Sam's today due to high winds and rain. We were hoping to get out to the site one last time but unfortunately that was not a success. Hopefully tomorrow the wind dies down and some more birds come through for Aaron.
One last farewell from the KIBS crew:
Hey there bird nerds, its your favorite Dave (other than yourself if that's your name too) with one last post. Ever since I crossed the bridge over troubled water to the actual island of Kiawah, I've had a joy discovering this part of America. The lowcountry made me feel welcomed and certainly not like I was the only living boy in New York. Although I never saw a condor (pasa), I did get the opportunity to see and band so many other birds that really provided beautiful bookends for the season.
The smol ones:
 |
| Northern Parula, Loggerhead Shrike, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Nelson's Sparrow |
 |
| Cooper's Hawk, Clapper Rail, Green Heron, Eastern Screech Owl |
I'm homeward bound tomorrow and although that means that the banding season is over for me and the winter will bring the sound of silence, but I know April come she will and so too will the birds.
Until we talk again, its been an absolute pleasure spending the fall with you.
Dave "You Can Call Me Al" Sandahl
P.S. - This one's for you: Anji
I think this season was a great and everyone learn something new and gained a lot of experiences. I had a great time with the everyone and learning a lot about each and every one of them. I think the most exciting part of this season was to see everyone's reaction to a lifer bird or a bird they finally get to hold for the first time! Little do they know, their faces light up with joy and I think that was the best thing to see! I personally, gained more experience in the bird world of banding and hopefully will gain more in the future. I would like to thank Aaron for allowing me to come back once again to KIBS and for teaching me everything I need to know. I would also like to thank each one of the crew members; Josh, Arcata, Dan, Dave and Beth. You all were extremely great to work with and I think you all gained a lot of experiences from just under 3 months! I think y'all were wonderful and I wish you good luck in the future!
--Kristin
It's hard to believe this is coming to an end! These last two and a half months have flown by in the best way. Big thanks to Aaron for giving me this opportunity and teaching us all so much; I am looking forward to using everything I learned here at KIBS in the future (and will be patiently waiting on publication of the "Given Guide"). Thanks to everyone for patiently helping me re-learn my eastern birds in the hand, and teaching me to identify even more birds in the field! I've never worked with a more passionate crew and will miss our early mornings together very much. As we all scatter across the country, I can't wait to see where we all go and what incredible work we'll do next.
--Arcata
Returning to Kiawah after 5 years of banding else-wheres was an easy decision, and with the season now in the rear-view mirror I can attest that it did not disappoint! Being able to run the Little Bear station was an amazing experience, one that I'm tremendously grateful of Aaron for entrusting me with. Although we didn't catch any so called "mega rarities" that Little Bear gets some years, we certainly had some unusual captures that don't show up in mist nets very often. The opportunity to handle and band some species of wading birds for the first time (namely, Yellow-crowned Night-heron and Green Heron) were magical encounters that I will never forget. Not to mention banding my first Yellow-throated Warbler, which was the last of the East Coast warblers for me to study in hand.
But more importantly, the birds would mean very little if it wasn't for the fantastic team we had this season. It was immediately apparent that Aaron hired a crew that already possessed a high acumen for working with birds in the hand. What separates a great field season from an average one is the crews ability to mesh with one another on a personal level, and to learn and grow as the season progresses. I feel that everyone here excelled in both learning from one another and having some terrific fun along the way. Whether it was afternoon birding around the island, dancing at Dead on the Deck, or winning free beer at Low Tide trivia, its hard to imagine anything better than the time we spent here together. So as we turn our compasses in different directions, setting out on new journeys, I want to wish the best to Kristen, Beth, Dan, Dave, and Arcata. I will miss you all, and know that great things await you in the future. And immense gratitude to Aaron for making it all possible and giving us the opportunity to have the best job in the world. Until next time...
--Josh
I think this season was a great and everyone learn something new and gained a lot of experiences. I had a great time with the everyone and learning a lot about each and every one of them. I think the most exciting part of this season was to see everyone's reaction to a lifer bird or a bird they finally get to hold for the first time! Little do they know, their faces light up with joy and I think that was the best thing to see! I personally, gained more experience in the bird world of banding and hopefully will gain more in the future. I would like to thank Aaron for allowing me to come back once again to KIBS and for teaching me everything I need to know. I would also like to thank each one of the crew members; Josh, Arcata, Dan, Dave and Beth. You all were extremely great to work with and I think you all gained a lot of experiences from just under 3 months! I think y'all were wonderful and I wish you good luck in the future!
--Kristin
It's hard to believe this is coming to an end! These last two and a half months have flown by in the best way. Big thanks to Aaron for giving me this opportunity and teaching us all so much; I am looking forward to using everything I learned here at KIBS in the future (and will be patiently waiting on publication of the "Given Guide"). Thanks to everyone for patiently helping me re-learn my eastern birds in the hand, and teaching me to identify even more birds in the field! I've never worked with a more passionate crew and will miss our early mornings together very much. As we all scatter across the country, I can't wait to see where we all go and what incredible work we'll do next.
--Arcata
Returning to Kiawah after 5 years of banding else-wheres was an easy decision, and with the season now in the rear-view mirror I can attest that it did not disappoint! Being able to run the Little Bear station was an amazing experience, one that I'm tremendously grateful of Aaron for entrusting me with. Although we didn't catch any so called "mega rarities" that Little Bear gets some years, we certainly had some unusual captures that don't show up in mist nets very often. The opportunity to handle and band some species of wading birds for the first time (namely, Yellow-crowned Night-heron and Green Heron) were magical encounters that I will never forget. Not to mention banding my first Yellow-throated Warbler, which was the last of the East Coast warblers for me to study in hand.
 |
| Me with the immature Yellow-crowned Night-heron, and the Yellow-throated Warbler |
--Josh
| 2019 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats | Captain Sam's | Little Bear | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Birds Banded |
4,036
|
2,561
|
6,597
|
| # of Recaptures |
981
|
454
|
1,440
|
| # of Species |
84
|
79
|
102
|
| Effort (net-hours) |
10,887.2
|
5,265.75
|
16,153.0
|
| Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours) |
46.1
|
57.3
|
49.8
|
| # of Days | 82 | 71 | - |
