Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report/ Bird Conservancy of the Rockies- May 24, 2024

[Chicobander]

Well, from the past two spring seasons I have been banding at Chico Basin Ranch this has been the slowest season. Looking back on today's date for the past two years, we are down in bird captures by 400 to 600 birds. We are half of what we caught last spring on May 24th.

Hoping the birds are just following the favorable southerly winds to carry them north to the breeding grounds. We are still catching Adult Swainson's Thrushes which I would think by this date most would be birds hatched last year. Maybe the birds are delayed? Why I do not know.

15 New Banded Birds

Common Yellowthroat- 1

MacGillivray's Warbler-1

Swainson's Thrush- 11

Hermit Thrush- 1

Spotted Towhee- 1

3 Recaptures

Lincoln's Sparrow

Hermit Thrush

Brown Thrasher- brood patch- breeding in the Olive grove.

Have a great Weekend! The banding station will be open tomorrow sunrise until @ 11 AM. Closed on Sunday and we will reopen Monday. Next week is the last week of banding at Chico Basin for the spring. Friday will be the last day.

If you are visiting the Ranch please stop by the Banding Station and share your sightings.

The banding station will be open tomorrow and Saturday this week from sunrise until @ 11 AM. 

***If wanting to visit Chico Basin, it is open to a limited number of people each day during this month. Please go to the Aiken Audubon Website to register for a morning to visit. There is a daily registration fee.

Julie Shieldcastle, Bander

Chico Basin Ranch

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies