Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Chatfield Banding Report, 5/29/22

[Meredith McBurney]

Our final day of the season included lots of human visitors and Yellow Warblers (7 banded today plus 9 that had been banded earlier this season).  We caught our only true rarity of the season, a White-eyed Vireo, which we had at the same time as a Warbling Vireo which made for a great comparison.  Here's the final 14 new birds of the season:

Downy Woodpecker 1

Western Wood-Pewee 2

Warbling Vireo 1

White-eyed Vireo 1

Yellow Warbler 7

Yellow-breasted Chat 1

Lincoln's Sparrow 1

We then took down the station during an isolated thunderstorm - a brief downpour that left us muddy and thoroughly soaked.  I cannot thank the stupendous Sunday volunteer crew enough for their energy and good humor that allowed us to successfully get the station down and everything packed away in record time in spite of the weather!

In terms of numbers for the season, our total individual birds was about 570, which is below average (660) but well above the really dismal 2021 season (435).  Another good sign is that most of our regular/common species started arriving on time (unlike last year when most species were late), suggesting that birds are more likely to get to their summer homes in time to have a successful breeding season.  More detailed info to come when I've had a chance to enter and analyze the season's data!

Meredith McBurney

Bander, Chatfield Station

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies