Well that is it for year 12 at Rock Point Bird Banding Station. We banded a bit more than 3,200 in this Fall season. My report will outline the high and lows of the birds. Our September was great but weather cut into October although we still ended up with good birds per 100 net hours. Those who follow this web page, I wish you a great winter. God willing, we will be back in April.
Friday, November 4. Jim, Kim, Roswitha, Jason, Rob. Minus 2 on starting and an early close as we took down all nets and stored things away for the winter. Nothing left in the shed. Banded: Black-capped Chickadee 2, Hermit Thrush, American Tree Sparrow 4, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco 5, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch 9, = 23 of 7 species. Recaptured 4 of 4 species and saw 28 species. Thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds and Rusty Blackbirds flying high and going over the lake. Great Horned Owl hooting in the morning and two Bald Eagles and some young seem to be around. We will keep the feeder going all winter.
Thursday, November 3. Jim, Kim. Another nice day although cloudy. Banded: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee 2, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet 11, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, American Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco 2, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch 2 = 29 of 14 species. Recaptured 15 of 7 species and saw 27 species. Tomorrow will be the last day of migration monitoring and nets will be taken down.
Wednesday, November 2. Jim, Kim, Roswitha, Jason. Beautiful day but migration is all but over. Banded: Black-capped Chickadee 3, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet 7, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Cedar Waxwing 4, Northern Cardinal, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow 3, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 5, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow = 33 of 14 species. We recaptured 12 of 7 species and saw 27 species.
Tuesday, November 1: Jim, Kim, Rick. Another nice day although a bit cool with the wind from the SW, Temperature 4 degrees to start. Variable clouds. Banded: Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet 4, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Northern Cardinal 2, American Tree Sparrow 7, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow 2, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco 9, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow = 40 of 15 species. Recaptured 14 of 6 species and saw 26 species.
