Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-31-26

[Meredith McBurney]

We had nice weather, an interesting mix of birds, and very enthusiastic visitors for our final day of the spring 2026 season.

Among our 17 species (including all birds caught - banded today, banded in some prior year, and banded earlier this season), we got two first of season and relatively rare for us species (Plumbeous Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak). 

We also caught another old Yellow Warbler (banded as an adult male in 2021 and caught every year since).  That gives us 3 old Yellows for the season - 2 males that would have hatched in 2019 or before and a female that would have hatched in 2015 or before.

Here's the breakdown of the 17 banded today and the 5 new returns:

Downy Woodpecker 1, banded 2024

Western Wood-pewee 1
Western Flycatcher 1
Plumbeous Vireo 2
Swainson's Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 3 new, 1 banded 2023
Yellow Warbler 4 new, 1 banded 2021
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1 new, 1 banded 2024
Song Sparrow 1 new, 1 banded 2025 (these were 2 males in breeding condition, caught at the same time in the same net, and almost chasing each other along the trammel)

Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 1

Done at Chatfield for spring 2026!  Watch for info about banding at Chatfield this fall, as well as fall at Barr Lake (where we will be back at our regular site after two years in a temporary location due to dam repair).

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies