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The southern Appalachian
Mountains serve as an important flyway for many neotropical songbirds
as they migrate from breeding grounds in northern U.S. and Canada to
their winter habitat in Central and South America. Big Bald
Banding Station (BBBS) operates mist nets daily during September and
October to trap migrating neotropical passerine species, as well as
non-neotropical passerines that winter in the Appalachians.
Captured birds are fitted with a U.S. Bird Banding Lab metal leg band,
measured, assessed for health condition and then released
unharmed. Data collected are submitted to the USGS Patuxent
Wildlife Research Center Bird Banding Laboratory.
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| Tennessee
Warbler |
The
top 10 species captured and banded during September and October 2009
are
listed in the tables below. Of special interest
this year were two recaptured birds that returned to Big Bald
after being captured and banded in Fall 2008 - a Cape May Warbler and
a Veery. Cape May Warblers breed in the boreal forest of Canada and
winter primarily in the West Indies. The Veery winters in South America
to Brazil.
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Top 10 Passerine Species
Banded at BBBS,
September 2009
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Swainson's Thrush
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206
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Tennessee Warbler
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204
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Black-throated Blue
Warbler
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125
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Slate-colored
Junco
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59
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Ovenbird
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40
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Veery
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22
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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19
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Wood Thrush
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18
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Bay-breasted Warbler
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15
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Black-throated Green
Warbler
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15
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Top 10 Passerine Species
Banded at BBBS,
October 2009
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Western Palm Warbler
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46
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Tennessee Warbler
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39
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Slate-colored Junco
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33
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American Robin
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30
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Ruby-crowned Kinglet
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25
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Swainson's Thrush
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19
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Black-throated Blue
Warbler
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18
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Bay-breasted Warbler
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14
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Blue-headed Vireo
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13
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Blue Jay
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8
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The 10-year summary table below presents the
most commonly captured neotropical
passerine species at BBBS through the 2009 banding season.
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Top 10 Neotropical Species
Big Bald Banding Station
2000-2009
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318
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2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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Tennessee Warbler
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633
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538
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1,656
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1,240
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120
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580
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695
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788
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856
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243
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Swainson's Thrush
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73
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144
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80
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203
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120
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332
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389
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521
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353
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225
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Black-throated Blue
Warbler
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148
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131
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135
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253
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158
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190
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180
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150
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310
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143
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Ovenbird
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36
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31
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22
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23
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42
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61
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91
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157
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94
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44
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Cape May Warbler
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19
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4
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71
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117
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7
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52
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73
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74
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164
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10
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Magnolia Warbler
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48
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34
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49
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23
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15
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22
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29
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30
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51
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17
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Blue-headed Vireo
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33
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44
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18
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16
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37
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32
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58
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21
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24
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26
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Bay-breasted Warbler
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24
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23
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16
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37
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18
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81
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39
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19
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12
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29
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Wood Thrush
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2
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5
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3
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2
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8
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32
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24
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90
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16
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26
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American Redstart
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15
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23
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9
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32
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39
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9
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13
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15
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19
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2
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