Opening Day - Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 4-24-26

[Meredith McBurney]

Welcome to Spring Banding Season!

We had a very nice mix of birds for this crisp, cool, but sunny opening day.  We caught 15 birds, including many of the species that we expect to catch in late April, which always comes as a relief when it happens.  

Four of the birds were returns from last year, including a pair of Northern House Wrens that were banded on the same day last year (May 21), a male and female that at that time were both in breeding condition.  They were caught in the same net last year, and in the same but different net today........love is in the air?!

Here's a breakdown of our first day's 15 birds:

Bushtit 1

Northern House Wren 3 new, 2 returns (see above)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1

Hermit Thrush 1

Spotted Towhee 1 (first capture of season))

Song Sparrow 1 new, 1 banded 2025

White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 2

Red-winged Blackbird 1, banded 2025

American Goldfinch 1

We are banding Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) through May 31, weather permitting.  There are opportunities for the public to visit on weekends and early mornings most weekdays through the Denver Audubon website.  (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)