Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Lake Banding Station 10-9 - 10/15/25

[meredith]

The number of birds caught continues at record low levels in the middle of the time period when we should be catching lots of sparrows, especially White-crowneds and Juncos.  (I had expected the seed-eaters to come through in more normal numbers, but so far that is not happening.......)  Here are the birds and numbers for the past week:

10/9 - 4 new birds:
Hermit Thrush 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 1

10/10 - 15 new birds (first day in double digits since 9/24):
Hermit Thrush 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 3
Green-tailed Towhee 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon 1
White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 3
White-crowned Sparrow, Mountain 1

10/11 - 8 new plus 1 return (banded a prior year):
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 3 new, 1 banded last year
Possible White-crowned Sparrow/White-throated Sparrow hybrid 1 (When you have a ton of time, you see things you might otherwise miss; on the other hand, you may invent things that don't exist.  We are reviewing.....)

10/12 - 5 new birds:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 2 

10/14 - 16 new birds (another double-digit day!):
Northern House Wren 1 (very late.....and we thought we heard others)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 1
White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's 8

10/15 - We thought the fog was lifting as we opened this morning, but instead it just got denser and wetter, so we closed early, after catching just 2 birds:

Rock Wren 1
Hermit Thrush 1

Our visitor hours: We have a week and a day left of banding this fall.  This weekend, as usual, we will run 3 sessions, at 8, 9, and 10 a.m.  On the remaining weekdays there are sessions from 7:30 to 8:30f.   These are small group sessions (15 or fewer visitors), and a great way to learn more about the species that move through the front range in the fall.  There is a $7 fee and registration is required - click here to register.

Meredith McBurney
Bander - Barr Lake Banding Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies