[cobirds] RMBO Banding at Chico Basin Ranch, El Paso Co.

RMBO fall migration bird banding at Chico Basin Ranch commenced on Thursday, September 5^th.  In three days, we captured and banded 361 birds of 22 species.  Daily species and numbers follow.

 

Surprisingly, we have had an unprecedented number of Brewer's Sparrows this season.   Normally we catch 0-3 per season; over the 12-year history of the banding station, we have banded a total of 21.  In the past 3 days we have banded 97 Brewer's Sparrows, nearly all hatching-year birds – apparently it was a good recruitment year for them!  Same goes for Chipping Sparrows, with 126 banded in 3 days, also mostly young-of-the-year.   2011 was a banner year for this species at both our Colorado and western Nebraska banding stations, and 2013 may be another.

 

It's the usual cast of characters otherwise – no unusual species yet, but we'll see what the season brings.  

 

Thursday 9/ 5: Total 115

Western Wood-Pewee – 4

Willow Flycatcher – 1

Warbling Vireo -1

House Wren – 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1

American Robin – 1

Swainson's Thrush – 1

Gray Catbird – 1

Brown Thrasher – 1

Orange-crowned Warbler – 2

Yellow Warbler – 5

MacGillivray's Warbler – 1

Wilson's Warbler – 20

Yellow-breasted Chat – 1

Brewer's Sparrow – 24

Chipping Sparrow – 49

 

Friday,  9/6 – Total:  146

Western Wood-Pewee – 5

Willow Flycatcher – 1

Cassin's Vireo – 1

White-breasted Nuthatch – 1

Gray Catbird – 2

Brown Thrasher – 1

Orange-crowned Warbler – 9

House Wren – 4

Virginia's Warbler – 1

Yellow Warbler – 2

Wilson's Warbler – 21

Western Tanager – 4

Lazuli Bunting – 4

Green-tailed Towhee – 1

Brewer's Sparrow – 42

Clay-colored Sparrow – 6

Chipping Sparrow – 39

Lincoln's Sparrow – 2

 

 

Saturday,  9/5 – Total:  100

Western Wood-Pewee – 3

House Wren – 2

American Robin – 2

Swainson's Thrush – 2

Gray Catbird – 2

Orange-crowned Warbler – 1

Yellow-breasted Chat – 1

Western Tanager – 2

Black-headed Grosbeak – 1

Lazuli Bunting – 2

Brewer's Sparrow – 31

Clay-colored Sparrow – 2

Chipping Sparrow – 38

Lincoln's Sparrow – 1

Wilson's Warbler – 10

 

Nancy Gobris, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

Steve Brown, Banding Assistant