Today was a record slow day for the station this season, with only 13 new birds banded. Thankfully, we were able to show the fifty 1st graders who visited a few different species, including an Ovenbird!
The final tally for today:
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 Hermit Thrush
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Ovenbird
2 Wilson's Warbler
1 Spotted Towhee
1 Song Sparrow
Yesterday morning we caught a hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk as he was hunting in the net lanes, and then caught him again in the afternoon! Visiting students from Colorado College were lucky enough to get a great look at a beautiful bird. We also caught a hatch-year Curve-billed Thrasher while the students were visiting, which was a treat for all of us at the banding station. We had 40 birds overall, most of these from the last net run, when we happened to catch a few flocks of sparrows. Not a busy week, but we had some fantastic birds.
Amanda Ziegelbauer
Bander
Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies