Re: [cobirds] RMBO Barr Banding Station Report, 9/2

Thanks for a great morning, Meredith!  And for those of you who have not visited, Meredith's banding efforts are not only fun to watch, but a great learning opportunity.  Meredith is very generous with her time in demonstrating how some of these difficult birds are differentiated.  Considering the difficulty of separating them in the hand, it is not hard to understand what a challenge they are in the field!  It is very interesting to observe how the length differential between (primaries) P6 and P9 can contribute to an ID, and other such esoterica.  It is a chance to observe the mandible color, bill width and length, and other minutiae of identification.  And it also reveals how some of our top birders/banders (Tony) acquired their extensive knowledge of plumage detail, molts and feather tracts.

 

If you have not spent a few hours at the banding station, I recommend that you take advantage of a terrific opportunity.  And many thanks to Meredith for the efforts of her and her team.  And thanks, Bill, for your informed observations of the PacSlope/Cordilleran problem.  Tony's points about the fall migration of far western nesters were nicely illustrated by the capture of Townsend's warbler and Cassin's vireo. 

 

Norm Lewis

Lakewood

-----Original Message-----
From: Meredith meredithmcburney@msn.com
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Sep 2, 2012 8:55 pm
Subject: [cobirds] RMBO Barr Banding Station Report, 9/2

A quieter bird day, with a different assortment of species.  Paul Slingsby's DFO group visited early and saw a variety of Warblers.  Then had a great time with the Bill and Jim Schmoker and Norm Lewis (and families), debating the characteristics of Hammonds (2) and Dusky (3) Flycatchers.  Finished off the day with a Blue Jay and a Hairy Woodpecker.  Here's the breakdown:

 

Hairy Woodpecker          1

Western Wood-pewee 1

Hammond's Flycatcher  2

Dusky Flycatcher              3

Cassin's Vireo    1

Blue Jay                1

House Wren       1

Yellow Warbler 3

Townsend's Warbler      2

MacGillivray's Warbler   2

Wilson's Warbler              11

 

We will be open tomorrow, Labor Day.  Again, come early; we will likely start closing by 10 a.m.  Time for a relief from this heat!

 

Closed Tuesday, 9/4.  Next week, closed Wed, 9/12.  Otherwise open every day, weather permitting.

 

Meredith

 

Meredith McBurney

Biologist/Bander

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

303-329-8091

 

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