RMBO Banding at Chico Basin Ranch, El Paso Co.

[Nancy Gobris]

After losing most of last week to rain and other weather-related challenges, we were back to work this week at the CBR banding station.   The week began on Sunday with our first Western Tanagers and Yellow-breasted Chats of the season. Monday was a productive day of banding with a total of 46 birds that included the first Red-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, and Mountain White-crowned Sparrow, along with a surprise duo of Killdeer!   The first Ovenbird and Mourning Dove were captured on Tuesday.

 

Wednesday brought in the first Plumbeous Vireo, American Goldfinch, and an uncommonly banded species, Brown-headed Cowbird.  Bullock’s and Orchard Oriole were seen but not captured on Wednesday, but the former was caught on Thursday.  A Warbling Vireo also made its way into a net on Thursday.

 

Friday was another good day with 45 banded, including the first Western Wood-Pewee and American Redstart of the season.   Also on Friday, we recaptured an Ash-throated Flycatcher that we had been banded last May.   A lovely Clay-colored Sparrow showed up in a net on Saturday.  Total for the season thus far is 468 birds of 44 species banded.

 

Nancy Gobris

Diane Luck and Lynne Miller

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory