Chico Basin Ranch Bird Banding Station Report- 5/29/2025

[Chicobander]

Anyone see any Swainson's Thrush today? It was definitely a Swainson thrush day at Chico today! It was nice to see some birds around the grove. Coen K. found a female Bay-breasted Warbler near the banding area. Pretty cool bird! it was not ever low enough to be captured in the net but still a great bird! Thanks Coen for sharing where you found it with other birders. Thirteen bird species captured today including 3 flycatcher species and 2 warbler species.

72 New Banded Birds

Yellow Warbler-1

Wilson's Warbler-1

Western Wood-pewee-5

Dusky Flycatcher-1

Willow Flycatcher-2

Lincoln's Sparrow-5

Lazuli Bunting-1

Swainson's Thrush-51

Yellow-breasted Chat-1

Black-headed Grosbeak-1

Gray Catbird-1

Bullock's Oriole-2

2 Recaptures 

Yellow Warbler

Blue Grosbeak

2 Returning birds banded in previous seasons

Blue Grosbeak- Both more than 3 years old.

The banding Station will be open Friday and Saturday from sunrise until @11AM. Stop by to share your sightings. The construction will wrap up this season today I am told. So the banding area will be quiet for the rest of the birding season through June 2nd. If you want to bird the ranch, please register on Aiken Audubon website https://www.aikenaudubon.com.

Have a good day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Chico Basin Ranch Bird Bander

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies