Banding in the beginning
part
of December seemed more like an extension of the fall migration than
early winter. This was due to a larger number of
unbanded birds caught, 119, vs. recaptures (103). Our maximum
December total is 447 in 2005 (helped largely by a very protracted
movement of fall migrants that year), followed by 312 in 1985 (helped
by the banding 130 Evening
Grosbeaks!). So, with more banding days to go, this December's
total
already is the third highest in the history of the program.
Dark-eyed
Juncos (70 banded) top the list for the current period, and many seemed
to still be actively migrating almost to the end of the period--22 were
banded on 12/19. American Goldfinches (69 banded) were the second
most numerous of nineteen species banded during the period. With
the exception of House Sparrow (12 banded), other species all were
banded in single digits. With just 200 net- and 15 trap-hours of
effort, the overall capture rate of 86 new birds per 100 net-trap hours
for the period was unusually high.
Several unexpected captures
added to the mid-December diversity, including late migrating Fox
Sparrows banded on 12/5 and 12/9; two late or wintering Yellow-rumped
Warblers on 12/9, one of these being an adult female ascribable to the
Alaskan subspecies, Dendroica
coronata hooveri; a late or wintering Swamp Sparrow banded
on 12/9; two Eastern Bluebirds banded on 12/22; and four Pine Siskins
(one on 12/15 and three on 12/22).
Our most unusual December
capture, however, was a Northern Mockingbird (HY-U) on
12/6. Only twelve NOMOs have ever been banded at Powdermill, and
this is just the second December capture (the other one was banded on
12/5 in 1978). Unfortunately, the pictures were inadvertently
deleted, but trust us, this bird left quite an impression on
Powdermill's Bander-in-Charge (it
was bright purple!). Apparently, not long before its capture, the
mockingbird had been feasting at a patch
of remaining, overripe pokeberries still hanging on their wilted
stalks outside the banding lab!
Another unusual December
capture was a hatching year Hermit Thrush on 12/19 (note the
particularly obvious buffy "tear drops" on its retained juvenal greater
coverts and scapular feather).
Although not caught and
banded, we enjoyed a brief visit to the feeding table outside the
banding lab by a few Evening Grosbeaks on 12/6. Unfortunately,
none has been seen, heard, or banded since.
