Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- Bird Conservancy of the Rockies-5/7/2025

[Chicobander]

Banding station was closed yesterday due to the torrential rains. It was smart for Linda Hodges to close Birding on the ranch today. It was not easy getting to the banding station from HQ or back this afternoon. If you do not have a 4-wheel drive or AWD vehicle, I would recommend not coming out to Chico until Friday at the earliest. It is extremely sloppy/slippery ( and your vehicle will have a coat of mud on it). 

Birds picked up a little when the sun peaked out from the clouds mid-morning. Three new species for the season: Returning Brown Thrasher banded as an adult in Fall of 2023, Swainson's Thrush, and an Ovenbird. 

The White-eyed Vireo was singing when I put up the nets and after I finished closing today. Do you think it was saying Good Morning and Have a good day?!

A ruby-crowned Kinglet was observed around the banding station mid-morning as well.

18 New Banded Birds

Orange-crowned Warbler-1

Hybrid (Audubon's X Myrtle) Warbler- 2

Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) Warbler- 8

Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warbler-3

Ovenbird-1

Swainson's Thrush-1

Gray Catbird-1

Spotted Towhee-1

Returning Brown Thrasher banded as and adult in Fall 2023- which makes this bird at least 5 years old.

The banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from Sunrise until @ 11AM.

Stop by if you are in the area to share your sightings. Construction will be ongoing tomorrow on the educational pavilion near the banding station. Best to bird the olive grove before 8:30AM.

Have a good day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Chico Basin Ranch Bird Bander

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies