Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 8/23/22

[Meredith McBurney]

Hello CoBirders!

The fall banding season at Barr Lake has begun!  Weather permitting, we will be out at Barr 6 mornings a week for the next 9 weeks, monitoring the migratory songbirds passing through our area.

We had a lovely first morning, catching a total of 68 birds - 63 new and 5 returns from prior seasons.  Mostly summer residents, including 35 Yellow Warblers and 18 House Wrens.  I think the Yellows are at their most beautiful at this time of year - most of the adults have completed their post-breeding molt and have perfect, bright new feathers - while the House Wrens are a ragtag crew - most in some stage of molt, replacing some combination of body, wing and/or tail feathers.  Here's a breakdown of today's captures:

Mourning Dove - 2

Traill's Flycatcher 1 (probably a Willow)

Dusky Flycatcher 1

House Wren 17 new, 1 banded 2020

Orange-crowned Warbler 1

Yellow Warbler 32 new, 1 banded 2021, 2 banded 2020

Common Yellowthroat 2

Brewer's Sparrow 3

Song Sparrow 4 new, 1 banded 2018 (presumably has spent its life at Barr, but this is the first time it has been recaught.....)

If you'd like to enjoy fall birds up close and personal, please come visit!  Click here to make a reservation - we are offering one-hour slots (up to 15 visitors at a time) from 7:30-8:30 most weekdays (closed Mondays), and 8-9, 9-10, and 10-11 on weekends.  There is space this week!  We look forward to seeing many of you during the season!

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Barr Lake Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies