Banders & Birders, During this past week, we had our greatest effort ever, with 5 days covered. The number of bird banded on these 5 days is not spectacular, but in keeping with the theme of this entire fall season, there was good diversity. In addition, there were several very interesting highlights. A total of 84 new birds of 20 species was banded over the five days, plus 8 recaptures.
The station's first Eastern Towhee was banded on Nov. 3, with another banded on Nov. 9. The first Song Sparrows of the season were banded on Nov. 3. On Nov. 6, the station's first American Woodcock of the season was banded, as was the station's second ever Red-bellied Woodpecker. A Northern Shrike and several Purple Finches were observed in the banding area for the first time ever, but neither was banded. American Goldfinches were trapped in our feeder trap again, the first since August (a pattern consistent with previous years). While the numbers on Nov. 7 were unimpressive, the highlight was a very special one for us. A White-throated Sparrow was recaptured, which had been banded by us on Nov. 3, 2002. This is the first different-year return of any migrant that we've banded at the station over the past seven years! The five birds banded on Nov. 8 offered no highlights. On Nov. 9, the Common Yellowthroat was our latest ever banded, though they've been observed in the area later. A surpise on Nov. 9 was the sighting of a Monarch butterfly, and a dragonfly (Sympetrum sp.), which was quite unusual given the below zero (Celsius) mornings of late, and the -7 start to this morning. Although not passerine banding, notable this past week was the banding at this station of more than 120 Northern Saw-whet Owls (40+ on the evening of Nov 2, 60+ the evening of Nov. 6, 19 on the evening of Nov. 8). Photo highlights of this weekend will be posted on the HBMO website (www.hbmo.org). Banding Results: Monday, November 3, 2003 6.50 hours from 07:15 - 14:45 E.S.T. (nets closed for total of 1 hour due to light rain); 78.00 Net Hours. Temperature was 10-12 Celsius. Sky was overcast with occasional light rain. Wind was NW-NE at 4-6 km/hr. 24 birds of 7 species. Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Hermit Thrush - 4 Eastern Towhee - 1 (first ever for station) Song Sparrow - 3 (first of season) White-throated Sparrow - 12 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco - 1 Banders: Bob Hall-Brooks Thursday, November 6, 2003 8.00 hours from 06:45 - 14:45 E.S.T.; 96.00 Net Hours. Temperature was 6-11 Celsius. Sky was mostly cloudy. Wind was W-NW at 1-3 km/hr. 28 birds of 12 species, plus 1 recapture. American Woodcock - 1 (first of season, 7th ever for station) Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 (second ever for station) Downy Woodpecker - 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5 Hermit Thrush - 1 Northern Cardinal - 3 (plus 1 recapture, originally banded in 2001) Fox Sparrow - 1 Swamp Sparrow - 3 White-throated Sparrow - 4 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco - 1 American Goldfinch - 5 Banders: Bob Hall-Brooks Friday, November 7, 2003 6.00 hours from 07:00 - 13:00 E.S.T.; 72.00 Net Hours. Temperature was 1-8 Celsius. Sky was partly cloudy to mostly clear. Wind was SW-W at 4-8 km/hr. 8 birds of 7 species, plus 4 recaptures. Blue Jay - 1 Carolina Wren - 1 (plus 2 recaptures) Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 (plus 1 recapture) American Tree Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recapture, originally banded Nov. 3 2002) Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco - 2 Banders: Bob Hall-Brooks Saturday, November 8, 2003 7.00 hours from 07:00 - 14:00 E.S.T.; 84.00 Net Hours. Temperature was -1 - +5 Celsius. Sky was mostly clear to clear. Wind was NW-NNE at 1-3 km/hr. 5 birds of 5 species, plus 1 recapture. Winter Wren - 1 [Northern Cardinal - 1 recapture] Fox Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 1 White-throated Sparrow - 1 American Goldfinch - 1 Banders: Carl Pascoe, Bob Hall-Brooks Assistants: Rachel Powless Sunday, November 9, 2003 8.00 hours from 06:45 - 14:45 E.S.T.; 100.00 Net Hours (a single net was again opened near the beach for 4 hours, resulting in a single Ruby-crowned Kinglet captured). Temperature was -7 - +10 Celsius. Sky was clear. Wind was N-SW at 1-3 km/hr. 19 birds of 11 species, plus 2 recaptures. Downy Woodpecker - 1 [Carolina Wren - 2 recaptures] Winter Wren - 1 (very late) Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Hermit Thrush - 2 Common Yellowthroat - 1 (record late) Eastern Towhee - 1 (second for season, and second ever for station) Fox Sparrow - 2 Song Sparrow - 2 Swamp Sparrow - 2 White-throated Sparrow - 4 Banders: Allen Chartier, Carl Pascoe Assistants: Rachel Powless, Bob Hall-Brooks Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) is an organization devoted to monitoring migration at the Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Essex Co., Ontario, administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority. In addition to a hawk-watch/passerine count that has been in operation since 1974, HBMO operates three banding stations, two for raptors (since 1987) and one for passerines and hummingbirds (since 1997). The Holiday Beach Conservation Area was designated an Important Bird Area by Conservation International in 2000. Lat: 42-01'54.1" Long: 083-02'41.6" Website: www.hbmo.org Allen Chartier [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1442 West River Park Drive Inkster, MI 48141 Website: http://www.amazilia.net Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet/index.htm "Allen Chartier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
