Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Chico Banding Station-May 13, 2023

[Chicobander]

As expected with northerly winds that we would capture birds we had banded yesterday and earlier in the week. Birds will not fly north against a wind if they do not have to. As one would expect it would expend a lot of energy to fly into prevailing winds. Twenty-one species of birds captured including two new species for the season (Magnolia Warbler and Blue Jay). Birds were once again foraging lower to the ground today. Three Magnolia Warblers were observed around the banding station. I find that unusual but maybe they all flew in on the same winds. Interestingly enough, we have banded seven Ovenbirds and seven Northern Waterthrushes this spring so far. Who knows what the rest of the spring will bring?

49 New Birds

Yellow Warbler-1

Magnolia Warbler- 1

Wilson's Warbler- 1

Northern Waterthrush- 1

Ovenbird- 1

House Wren- 3

Dusky Flycatcher- 2

American Goldfinch- 2

Lincoln's Sparrow- 6

Green-tailed Towhee- 4

White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's subspecies)- 1

White-crowned Sparrow (Mountain subspecies)- 1

Spotted Towhee- 2

Swainson's Thrush- 16

Gray Catbird- 5

Blue Jay- 1

Brown Thrasher- 1

17 Recaptures 

Northern Waterthrush- 1

Ovenbird- 1

Lincoln's Sparrow-3

Green-tailed Towhee-1

Swainson's Thrush- 5

MacGillivray's Warbler- 2

Yellow-breasted Chat- 1

Common Yellowthroat- 3

1 Return 

Female Bullock's Oriole

The banding station will be closed tomorrow. I imagine the birds will not move north with a NNE wind tonight. Have a good weekend! See you Monday morning! Stop by if you are in the area.

Julie Shieldcastle

Chico Basin Bird Bander

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies