Thursday, May 13, 2010

Albert Creek Update - May 6 to 11

This week Albert Creek was closed for four days due to personnel constraints. We returned into the action on Monday the May 10th.

It appears that the timing of the four day gap was perfect as there has been very little passerine movement lately. The banding totals for May 10 and 11 were 23 and 26, respectively. Yellow-rumped Warbler has been the most numerous species together with some late Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-crowned Sparrows and early Orange-crowned Warblers. Northern Waterthrush and Wilson’s Warbler were new species for the spring.

Outside the nets the most notable change has been the appearance of shorebirds. Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are now frequenting the area and small flocks of various species, including Solitary and Pectoral Sandpipers, have been seen flying over the site. A Swamp Sparrow is singing in the marsh and Tree Swallows have found the nest boxes.

Jukka Jantunen
The BIC on duty

Birds banded this week:

Boreal Chickadee 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
American Robin 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22
Northern Waterthrush 2
Wilson’s Warbler 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Lincoln’s Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 2
= 49
The photos below include a female Ruby-crowned Kinglet (top) and a hybrid male Oregon x Slate-colored Junco (middle, bottom).


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