CSR, El Paso Co., 2024 Banding Summary

[Steven Brown]

Hey COBirders,

Happy Halloween!

I recently completed banding for the fall season at Clear Spring Ranch, and am sharing some of the significant numbers for the season.

I had an especially productive season, between the mostly favorable weather, and the planting of a new kind of sorghum across the road from my nets, that provided an incredible quantity of seed heads, and deep cover - up to 5’ deep - at least until it was harvested mid-October. (Most of the fall there were about 1000 RW Blackbirds in there daily, along with 150 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Com Grackles, and lotsa sparrows - and raptors cruising overhead!)

3700 birds netted and released (1/2 Chipping Sparrows) 2350 birds banded of 61 species, and 46 recaptures from previous seasons.
(Including a Black-chinned Hummingbird male banded by Claire Ramos’ team down the road, from last year).

Some highlights:
3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2 HY, 1 Ad)
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Indigo x Lazuli Bunitng hybrid - 2

Record numbers banded (since 2012):
Downy Woodpecker - 9
Yellow Warbler - 184
Northern Waterthrush - 19
Com Yellowthroat - 65
Lazuli Bunting - 178
Canyon Towhee - Spotted Towhee - 41
Dickcissel - 2

Near Record numbers:
Chipping Sparrow - 540 (banded, 1800 netted!)
Clay-colored Sparrow - 67
Brewer’s Sparrow - 35
Lincoln’s Sparrow - 200
Song Sparrow - 89
Savannah Sparrow - 83
Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow - 201
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Western Kingbird - 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 5

About Average Numbers:
Orange-crowned Warbler - 40
Wilson’s Warbler - 164
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 22
Assorted Empid flycatchers - 8
Assorted Vireos - 11
Assorted Juncos - 24
House Wren - 70
Indigo Bunting - 2

Then some surprisingly LOW numbers for :
Lark Sparrow - 20
Vesper Sparrow - 2
Black-headed Grosbeak - 2
Green-tailed Towhee - 3
American Tree Sparrow - 0

It was busy and really fun, as always. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Steve Brown
Colo Spgs