Cool, wind, rain threatening.......we opened about half the station and banded at a relaxed but constant pace all morning. 35 new birds, and a whopping 25 recaptures - lots of young Wilson's that have not put on enough fat yet to continue their migration. Breakdown for the day of the new birds:
Dusky Flycatcher 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
House Wren 2
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 1 (FOS)
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 1
Wilson's Warbler 22
Song Sparrow 1
American Goldfinch 2 (These were the 2nd and 3rd juveniles, probably from the same brood. All caught within feet of each other. Wing and tail feathers still growing in. Cute.)
We are open 6 days each week, weather permitting, through October 16. We are closed every Monday in September, then October 4 and 12. We are opening nets at about 6:30 a.m. and we start closing between 11 a.m. and 12 noon. We will open later and/or close earlier if it is very hot, very cold, wet, windy, etc. There are school groups most weekday mornings, usually arriving around 9:30. Best times to visit, if you like lots of birds and fewer humans, are early mornings during the week and Sundays.
Come visit!
Meredith McBurney
Bander/Biologist
Barr Lake Banding Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies