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October
23,
2009 - Students from East Rutherford High School
visited BBBS last weekend with their science teacher, bird-bander Rad
Mayfield. Unfortunately, the group arrived in cold, rainy weather and
awoke Saturday morning with their tents covered in a layer of ice. Due
to the wintry conditions, the banding station remained closed for the
weekend, and the students were forced to retreat indoors to thaw out!
Throughout the following week, bird numbers remained low, even with
warmer temperatures. Few migrant species remain, and resident winter
species, such as Slate-colored Juncos and Ruby-crowned Kinglets,
preside.
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October 12, 2009 - A
steady
flow
of
passerines
continue
to
migrate
through
Big
Bald,
with
daily
totals
of
up
to
50
per
day,
weather-permitting.
A
few
unusual
birds
for
Big
Bald
have
been
banded
in
October, including a Pine
Warbler, a White-eyed Vireo, and a Swamp Sparrow. A couple of Blackpoll
Warblers were also banded last week. Tennessee Warblers have
outnumbered Swainson Thrushes, but are still in much lower numbers than
typically seen. Western Palm Warblers were the most numerous warbler
over the past week. Of note among the raptors banded in October was a
young male American Kestrel. Six Northern Saw-whet Owls have been
trapped and banded this season. The banding station will operate
through Oct. 18, possibly a little longer. Thanks to all the volunteers
and visitors who've helped to make this season a success!
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White-eyed Vireo
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Swamp
Sparrow
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American
Kestrel
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Black-throated
Blue
Warbler
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September
20, 2009 - We had a few days with daily totals of 100+ birds
banded, however inclement weather over the weekend kept numbers down.
Two Merlins were captured and banded, in addition to Sharp-shinned and
Red-tailed Hawks. We continue to see lower numbers of Tennessee
Warblers than usual. To date this season, Swainson's Thrush is
the most common species banded. See the Songbirds
page for a table listing the top 10 species banded in September.
Of special interest last week were two recaptured birds which were
originally captured and banded in North Carolina in Fall 2008 - a Veery
and a Cape May Warbler. Both species travel great distances between
their breeding grounds in Canada and northern U.S. to their wintering
grounds in the West Indies (Cape May Warbler) and South America
(Veery). We're excited to know they survived the
trip there and back again!
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Merlin
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Cape May
Warbler
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Veery
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September
9,
2009 - Fall 2009 migration banding at
BBBS has been underway since September 1. Total daily bird captures
have so far been lower than expected for this time of year. Most common
species banded include Ovenbirds, Black-throated Blue Warblers, and
Slate-colored Juncos. Low numbers of Tennessee Warblers, which
typically represent the highest numbers banded during fall migration at
Big Bald, account for the greatest decrease in our daily totals this
season. As viewed on the table of the last ten years of passerine
species banded at BBBS (see Songbirds page), a
dramatic drop in Tennessee Warblers numbers was also observed in 2004.
Possible causes are unknown, but could include weather or decreased
food supply on breeding grounds in the boreal forest. Raptors have just
started their southward migration past Big Bald, highlighted by an
early immature Bald Eagle observed on September 2.
We’ve enjoyed the many visitors who’ve stopped by to say hello or
volunteer. Your enthusiasm is inspiring! Big Bald Banding Station
is operated entirely by volunteers, and we rely on and appreciate your
support. Please see our Funding and Volunteers
page for additional information on how you can participate or
contribute to migration monitoring at BBBS. |
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August 2009 - MAPS 2009 Results
The first season of MAPS
sampling efforts at Big Bald were conducted May through August 2009,
under the
direction of Mark Hopey and Lynn Brandon of SARR. Results are
displayed
in the table below. A total of 100
birds of 20 species were banded, and 33 birds were recaptured. The most
common
species banded was Slate-colored Junco, followed by Chestnut-sided and
Canada Warblers. Surprise species were a Traill’s Flycatcher banded on
August 8,
and a Wood Thrush banded on June 28.
2009 MAPS Banding Results,
Big
Bald Banding Station
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SPECIES
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New Birds Banded
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Recaptures
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Slate-colored Junco
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24
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22
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Canada Warbler
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11
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1
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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11
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6
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Gray Catbird
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7
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Indigo Bunting
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7
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1
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Veery
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7
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2
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American Robin
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6
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Black-throated Blue
Warbler
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5
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Eastern Towhee
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4
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Black-and-white Warbler
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2
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Cedar Waxwing
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3
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1
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Ovenbird
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3
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Least Flycatcher
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2
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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2
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Blue-headed Vireo
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1
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Carolina Wren
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1
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Downy Woodpecker
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1
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Red-breasted Nuthatch
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1
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Traill’s Flycatcher
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1
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Wood Thrush
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1
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TOTAL
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100
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33
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Traill's Flycatcher
June 6, 2009 - MAPS Station
Opens at
Big Bald
This
summer, Southern Appalachian Raptor
Research (SARR) initiated a MAPS station
at the Big Bald Banding Station site, in cooperation with the Cherokee National Forest. MAPS
(Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) is a nationwide
program coordinated
by the Institute for Bird Populations (www.birdpop.org)
to
monitor
productivity,
survivorship,
and
population
trends
of
breeding
birds
at
many
environments
and
habitat
locales
throughout
North
America.
Since
previous
banding
activities
at
Big
Bald
have
been
limited
to
fall
migration,
we're
excited
to learn more about the breeding bird
community of the area
and to
contribute to the long-term MAPS data set of North American landbirds.
MAPS sampling efforts at Big Bald will be
conducted through mid-August, under the direction of Mark Hopey and
Lynn
Brandon
of SARR. Please click on our MAPS page for
scheduling updates and results of recent sampling efforts.
Volunteers are always needed and welcome. Please contact
us if you're interested in helping.
Indian Paintbrush on Little Bald
January
31,
2009 - We are in the process of
updating our website and switching over to a new web address at www.bigbaldbanding.org.
Please bookmark our new address and check back throughout the winter to
view changes/additions to the website. If you would like to share your
pictures of BBBS with us, please email them to bigbaldbanding@earthlink.net.
We
look
forward
to
seeing
you
in
the
Fall!
November
7, 2008 - The 2008 banding season has come to an end for
songbirds and owls. However, raptors continue to pass through. On
Wednesday, Nov. 5, a Northern Goshawk, adult male, was
trapped and banded. This was the first confirmed siting and
capture of a Northern Goshawk at BBBS!
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| Northern
Goshawk, Adult Male |
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| Northern
Goshawk, November 5, 2008 |
October 15, 2008 -
Inclement
weather
at
the
end
of
last
week
brought in a few new species
of birds for the season over the weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 11,
an Orange-crowned Warbler was banded, the first at BBBS in a few
years. The first Golden-crowned Kinglets and Hermit Thrushes of
the season were banded this week. On Tuesday, Oct.
13, 24 NC teachers visited BBBS and got up-close views
of the banding operation. Species banded included Magnolia Warbler,
Bay-breasted Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, and
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the most common species of the day. Two
Cooper's Hawks and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were also banded.
October
6,
2008 - Two Peregrine Falcons were trapped and banded
on September 23, 2008. A Golden Eagle was observed on September
29 and 30. An abundance of passerines of up to 18 species per day
continued to pass through during the beginning of October.
Swainson's Thrushes and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were the most common
species banded. Four Northern Saw-whet
Owls were trapped and banded on October 4.
September
22, 2008 - During the past week, Big Bald
Banding Station had several days with 150+ passerines. A flush of
thrushes came through over the weekend, and Swainson's Thrushes began
to outnumber Tennessee Warblers as the most common species banded. A
Philadelphia Vireo, a rarity at Big Bald, was banded on both Friday and
Sunday. On Thursday, Sept. 16, more than 1,000 Broad-winged Hawks
were observed during the last hour of hawkwatch, in kettles of 400+. Over the weekend, three Red-tailed
Hawks and a Merlin were banded, along with Sharp-shinned and Cooper's
Hawks.
Philadelphia
Vireo
(Photo by Tommy Edwards)
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September
8,
2008 - Big Bald Banding Station (BBBS) opened its 30th
season on Labor Day weekend 2008. Banders
were busy with an above-average number of birds: 71 birds of 14
passerine species were banded on Aug. 31, and 102 birds were banded
Sept. 1. Two Blue-winged Warblers were
banded, one each day, a first for the species at Big Bald. A Northern Waterthrush, uncommon at Big Bald, was
also banded. The two most common species were Tennessee and Black-throated Blue
Warblers. Other species included Eastern
Towhee, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Cape May
Warbler, Slate-colored Junco, Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowthroat,
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart,
Black-and-white Warbler, and Ovenbird.
Banding continued throughout the first week with
more typical numbers. "Birds-of-the-day" included Canada Warbler,
Worm-eating Warbler, and Yellow-throated Vireo. Swainson's Thrushes
began to appear in increasing numbers daily. The raptor set
was completed Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7, and a Cooper's Hawk was
captured and banded the first hour.
BBBS is looking forward to a visit from
NC
teachers participating in a migration seminar with the NC Center for
the Advancement of Teaching in October. In addition, a group of East Rutherford High
School biology students will be visiting in
late September.
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