This is the final banding report of the 2007 fall season! The banding marathon that started September first is over. And although we had good numbers of birds today, it is time to end the season. The occasional snow pellets that fell throughout the morning, and fingers numbed by the cold NW wind while extracting birds are signs that it’s time to call it quits.

Large flocks of ….you guessed it….Goldfinches were lined up for the last chance to be banded this season. They stole the show again today, making up 75% of the total banded birds.

2 Northern Shrikes were banded today. Both were trapped in the ground traps, at the expense of one Junco. It was sad to lose the Junco, but I guess that’s what Shrikes do.
(Fran Hicks promises to send pictures of the Shrike, the final bird of the season to be banded)

Banded 59:
2 Northern Shrikes
1 Black-capped Chickadee
8 American Tree Sparrows
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
44 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 31:
1 Downy Woodpecker
4 Black-capped Chickadees
1 White-breasted Nuthatches
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 American Tree Sparrows
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
8 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Purple Finch
11 American Goldfinches

The total birds banded this fall is: 3,530

The year-to-date banding total is: 6,151

Thank you to everyone who helped us achieve a very successful fall!

Loretta