A slightly busier day - out of the teens and into the 20's!
Our most interesting captures today were American Redstarts. We have a small but hardy population that breed very close to the banding station. We caught the likely oldest female (banded 2019) on the 13th. Today we caught what I think of as the patriarch (banded 2017). He is in breeding condition (expanded cloaca) and was caught with an unbanded adult female. The third one caught today was a young female, caught in the same run in a nearby net. Glad to see these guys apparently doing well!
Here's the breakdown of today's 27 new birds:
Warbling Vireo 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
Hermit Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 8
Yellow Warbler 5 new, 1 banded 2021
American Redstart 2 new, 1 banded 2017
Common Yellowthroat 1
Spotted Towhee 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 3
American Goldfinch 2
We are open 6 mornings per week, closed on Mondays. Registration is required to visit on the weekends - there are three 1 hour sessions, starting at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30. Go
here to register. There are school groups every week day, arriving about 9:30. Individuals may drop by early mornings during the week although there are groups visiting early on some days.
Meredith McBurney
Bander, Chatfield Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies