Late Season Doldrums

 CAPTAIN SAMS

Despite having northerly winds for the last several days, bird migration up and down the east coast is very low, and as a result, we only banded 10 birds and had 11 recaptures. This is not an uncommon occurrence as we usually see a significant drop off in numbers at the end of October. I do not think this will be pattern for the rest of the season though, as we usually get a couple surges of migrants in early November.

-Aaron   

LITTLE BEAR

Alas, fair friend, our capture this day was meagre indeed, with but 8 freshly banded avines, and 9 of previous capture. Verily, the tide came in with great vigour, rising above my very knees, as though the sea itself did seek to test the mettle of a knight! Upon my oath, I endured it as duty demands, though I confess the waters were most impertinent. Never in all my years of service have I beheld the sea so swollen with wrath. Methinks the very ocean doth test our courage, as the lists test a knight's mettle. By my troth, fair reader, I am sore troubled in mine heart, for I fear that this swelling of the waters shall grant the mosquitoes free dominion to breed and multiply, and we shall once more be beset by their grievous numbers, as a castle besieged by a countless host. Forsooth, 'tis a trial sent to test our patience, and we must bear it as befits knights of honour. I do pray that the words of Sir Aaron prove true, and that more birds doth appear within the next fortnight or so. Such tidings would gladden the heart of any loyal vassal, for hope is the companion of duty, and I shall await the fulfilment of this promise as a knight awaits the tourney.

I pray thee, good travelers, keep thee safe upon thy road, and let not the high tides sweep thee away — for a true knight doth guard his fellows as he would his own honour. I charge thee: take heed, and fare well.

- Sir Aiden The Yellow

Species	Captain Sams		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	1	-	-	-
Eastern Phoebe	-	-	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	-	1	-	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	2	1	-	-
Northern House Wren	-	1	-	-
Carolina Wren	-	-	-	1
Gray Catbird	4	5	2	6
Song Sparrow	-	1	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	1	1	1	-
American Redstart	-	-	2	-
Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler	2	-	2	1
Northern Cardinal	-	1	-	1

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	10	8	18
# of Recaptures	11	9	20
# of Species	9	7	12
Effort (net-hours)	168.2	132.3	300.5
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	12.5	12.9	12.6
# of Nets	33	27	60

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	4,237	2482	6719
# of Recaptures	617	396	1013
# of Species	83	76	98
Effort (net-hours)	10,579.1	7447.4	18,026.5
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	45.9	38.6	42.9
# of Days	70	63

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)
Michael Gamble (CS)
Liz Held (LB)
Olivia DeMarchi (CS)
Jasmine Fu (LB)
Aiden Gifford (LB)

Note:  All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab.