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Banding Lab Updates 2009
September/October 2009
By Mike Stake
 Elisa Weiss handles Ruby crowned kinglet |
 Ruby-crowned kinglet |
 Burial of the net |
 Winter wren |
 Yellow-rumped warbler |
While preparing to reopen the banding lab this spring, I noticed there was no net 13. There was a 12. There was a 14. But there was no 13. I wondered if the founders of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab were a little superstitious. Not superstitious, I discovered upon exploring the database – just unlucky. Net 13 was buried in a landslide in 1995 and never revived. That must have been a sight, I thought, trying to imagine the kind of damage that would permanently close a net lane. But, as if to satisfy my imagination, history repeated itself in October 2009.
The three or four inches of rain that fell on Salinas did little to convince me that our nets (closed and furled, but on poles) would be in danger at Andrew Molera State Park near Big Sur. But when I arrived after the storm, I found that a large limb had fallen across net 2, toppling the poles and burying the net in mud. Nets 21, 5, and 15 were in similar shape. The report from Loni and Elisa checking nets 9 and 10 was simply, “they’re gone”. They were there, but invisible under the massive pile of logs and muddy debris that had been funneled into the drainage. We were impressed. Days later, we were able to dig out the nets, but the lanes were not revived. The interns and I busied ourselves picking mud and redwood pieces out of the fallen nets until the banding season wrapped up at the end of October. I decided that redwood cones were my least favorite things to pull out of mist nets, eclipsing previous favorites like wasps, Ward’s weed, and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers. I think we will eventually save all of the net lanes, but not until we do some trimming and hauling when the lab opens again in April.
Banding Notes
The birds mark the changing of the seasons as well as any calendar. Wilson’s Warblers and Warbling Vireos were gone without warning in September. The Pacific-slope Flycatchers disappeared in October. But as the fall migration progressed, other species arrived to take their place. The Swainson’s Thrushes became Hermit Thrushes. Fox, Golden-crowned, and Lincoln’s Sparrows were back in September, as well as Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Townsend’s Warblers. We caught 91 Yellow-rumped Warblers in October, most of them the Myrtle type, and all of them in the last two weeks after the storm. When the Myrtle Warblers were plentiful, we were catching close to 50 birds a day, not bad considering that five of our net lanes were out of service. We finished the 2009 banding season on Halloween day hoping for an orange and black Varied Thrush but settling for more Yellow-rumped Warblers in the nets and a young Tinkerbelle trick-or-treating in the Discovery Center. Our 2009 banding totals included 58 species and 1,684 birds.
We may be finished with the banding season, but we still have a tidy stack of data to enter. Entering data can be tedious, but as I try to convince the interns, not a bad way to spend a rainy workday. Banding data can be fun to explore for some of the life stories represented by the numbers. For example, we entered data for a Black-headed Grosbeak recaptured this spring on 15 May and found that this bird had quite a local history. It was first caught as a hatch-year bird on 22 July 2000. The bander correctly determined that it was a male, not always an easy task for such a young bird. There would be several more opportunities to examine the bird in the following weeks, as he was again caught on 30 July, 1 August, and 16 August 2000. Then we lost track of him. There were no records of this bird until it was recaptured eight years later on 13 May 2008. The bander this time, one Jessica Griffiths, noted the striking plumage and long patch of white at the base of the primaries, typical of a male Black-headed Grosbeak in full adult plumage. He looked much the same this spring, when we caught him in his 10th calendar year, having just finished his 18th migration between, presumably, California and Central America. With this capture, he became our oldest known Black-headed Grosbeak. Not bad for a 40 gram songbird!
Education and Outreach
We hosted 216 visitors at the banding lab in September and October, many of them participating in a Wildlife Society conference tour on 19 September and a Monterey Bay Birding Festival tour on 27 September. These groups learned how variable birding can be during the fall migration period in the Big Sur area. One group got to see a variety of birds captured at the lab and a White-faced Ibis at the headlands. The other joined us on net run after net run without any birds being caught. Just as they were about to leave, and I had exhausted my “this is how we would band the birds if we actually caught one” and “some days are like this” speeches, a Common Yellowthroat mercifully dropped into one of the nets. That little yellowthroat got a lot of attention. Luckily, both groups managed to find California Condors after leaving the lab.
Comings and Goings
Elisa Weiss joined Karen Hotopp, Jessica Koning, Evan Shanbrom, Loni Silver, and I at the lab in September and October. Elisa only got a few weeks of banding, but gathered in our only Varied Thrush of the season. Volunteer Eric Ross joined us for a few days and proved he could be calm under pressure. While checking nets with visitors on 10 October, I sent Eric ahead to net 11. “Was it empty?” I asked moments later when he returned. “No,” he replied in an even tone, “there’s a hawk in it and another bird.” “Well, let’s get it out, shall we?” I answered. The visitors and staff were thrilled to view the Sharp-shinned Hawk up close, while I breathed a sigh of relief that the other bird, a Fox Sparrow, was fine. Karen missed out on the Sharpie but was present at net 6 the next day when a second Sharp-shinned Hawk was caught. Apparently, the hawk migration was in full swing. As the banding season closed, Karen was feeling a little unlucky, being on condor duty when all our Townsend’s Warblers were caught (as if a condor is nothing special). Her luck changed at the end when she finally got to handle a couple of these splendid warblers. As for me, I felt lucky that I had such a great group this season.
June/July/August 2009
by Mike Stake
Back when I was about 10 years old, a small yellow bird flew into my garage in Saratoga and became entangled in the spider webs covering the inside of a window. Having recently saved up for my first Golden Guide ($4.95 at the time), I easily identified this bird as a Wilson’s Warbler. I carefully extracted the bird from its trap and admired its bright plumage. I had spent many hours studying the pictures in the field guide, but having this warbler in my hand was special. It was a picture coming to life. I knew there were hundreds of species out there for me to find, enjoy, and learn about. But having this Wilson’s Warbler in my hand confirmed that and inspired me to continue studying birds in nature and not just in books. Where do Wilson’s Warblers live? I wanted to know. Are they common? Why hadn’t I seen them in my yard before? What other species can I find? I stepped out of the garage and relaxed my grip on the tiny warbler; it darted off, disappearing into our thick Monterey Pine.
Now here I am 30 years later extracting Wilson’s Warblers from mist nets. As usual, Wilson’s Warbler was our most frequent captured bird in June, July, and August. Some mornings, we would catch 10 of them. How do I look at the 10th Wilson’s Warbler of the day with the same excitement and wonder as I looked at that first one long ago? I can do that simply by looking at Wilson’s Warbler through the eyes of each visitor to the lab, particularly the weekly campers, many of whom are 10 years old and seeing such a beautiful bird up close for the first time. I’ve found that the kids are in awe no matter what comes out of the bag. A drab sparrow with its feathers molting is a precious jewel in their eyes. But they love the Wilson’s Warblers. Whenever a group comes, I always hope for a Wilson’s Warbler in the net, even if it happens to be one of the most common summer residents at the lab.
Wilson’s Warbler is a riparian obligate. This warbler may forage outside of riparian vegetation, but without quality riparian habitat, it will likely not occur in a given area. Common Yellowthroat, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat are among other riparian obligates, at least in a portion of their ranges. Because our mist nets are placed mostly in riparian habitat along the Big Sur River, our data since 1992 can provide an indication of current status for riparian birds. Determining population trends of riparian obligates and dependents will be a priority at the Ventana Wildlife Society Banding Lab.
Banding Notes
We catch a lot of kids during the summer months at the banding lab. No, not just the young campers that get their zippers, caps, and raisin boxes tangled in the mist nets during demonstrations. In June, there were many hatching-year Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Song Sparrows trying out new leg bands. In July, Wrentit numbers peaked, prompting much discussion among the staff over brownish gray versus reddish brown irises. In August, we started getting a steady stream of hatching-year Pacific-slope Flycatchers (our second most frequently captured species during that month after Wilson’s Warbler). We found ourselves measuring the extension of several primaries and calculating a formula result in an effort to explore differences between Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatcher, formerly considered the same species.
As August drew to a close, the start of fall migration was upon us. A Willow Flycatcher showed up on 22 August 2009. A week later, there were several Yellow Warblers and a Common Yellowthroat. Our location is renowned for vagrants, often eastern species that for whatever reason have taken a “wrong turn” in migration. On 27 August 2009, Jessica found a Hooded Warbler in one of the nets. A warbler of southeastern woodlands and undergrowth, the Hooded Warbler is unexpected in California, though we have banded several over the years.
We have many familiar avian neighbors around the banding lab. Steller’s Jays and American Crows try to share our food at the picnic tables. Families of California Quail scurry along the ground. Coming back from one of our net runs in August, though, one little bird on the ground stood out from the rest. Even in the low light of dawn, we could pick out green, blue, and red. A Painted Bunting! There are few records of Painted Buntings in Monterey County, and this sighting was of considerable interest. Heavy feather loss on the forehead of this bird, noted especially after it was caught, led to a general consensus among birders that this was an escaped or released cage bird. Although illegal to keep such a bird in captivity in the United States, male Painted Buntings are sometimes targeted in the pet trade because of their stunning, colorful plumage. A presumed escapee, this observation does not count as a record for that species.
Education and Outreach
We hosted 433 visitors during June, July, and August 2009, including 10 summer camp programs and 3 field trips. Our young visitors learned that each bird species is special in some way. A Song Sparrow is a talented singer. A Downy Woodpecker can climb trees with its strong legs and stiff tail. An Ash-throated Flycatcher is an agile hunter that can snap at its insect prey. A Wilson’s Warbler can navigate all the way back to the Big Sur River to nest hundreds of miles from its wintering grounds. Similarly, all these kids are special in some way, with their own unique talents.
The banding lab offers numerous opportunities for visitors to discover something new about birds, even if they are used to seeing birds every day. When we band an Orange-crowned Warbler, I sometimes ask the kids why this bird would have such a name. They look at the greenish bird for a moment and nothing comes to mind. Then I hold the bird close to them and blow ever so slightly on the crown. A flame of orange comes out of hiding. This discovery is met with a smile. These visitors can look forward to many more discoveries if they continue to get out and explore the natural world around them.
Comings and Goings
Our staff this summer consisted of Karen Hotopp, Jessica Koning, John Ludka, Evan Shanbrom, Loni Silver, and Mike Stake. Kristy Markowitz departed at the beginning of the summer, and John Ludka finished his term in August. Both did a fantastic job at the lab, and we wish them well in their future work. The remaining staff will continue through the fall, with the addition of Elisa Weiss in September. I have enjoyed watching each of them develop and become proficient at handling and processing birds.
April/May 2009
 Allen's Hummingbird |
 Anna's Hummingbird |
 Black-throated Gray Warbler |
 Cassin's Vireo |
 Interns Lyla, Kristy and John |
 Townsend's Warbler |
 Wilson's Warbler |
Banding Notes
I was content with a slow start in April; we operated 3-7 nets per day while intern staff trained. The interns puzzled over my amateur drawings of truncate and tapered rectrices, not to mention my artistic rendering of an Oak Titmouse on the lab whiteboard. But by the end of May, all the nets were up, and the interns and I were well on our way to memorizing appropriate page numbers and passages in the Pyle guide. Although strong in spirit, our staff size was usually sufficient for operating no more than 14 nets per day in May (duplex and simplex for those of you who know the old lingo).
We captured 72 birds of 26 species in April and 375 birds of 37 species in May. Much, but not all, of the difference can be attributed to a greater number of net hours in May. Wilson’s Warbler was the most frequent capture in April, and Orange-crowned Warbler took the prize in May. It wasn’t because we stopped catching Wilson’s Warbler in May. It was because we suddenly started catching Orange-crowned Warbler fledglings in big numbers around the second week in May. We didn’t start catching hatching year Wilson’s Warblers until the end of May. Chestnut-backed Chickadees were infrequent captures until mid-May when hatching year birds started to find their way into the nets.
Starting my first year at the lab, I am enjoying learning more about the migration patterns that our data reflect. When we had a run of Yellow-breasted Chats on May 15, I was preparing to see them for the rest of the summer. But, we stopped catching the chats, and their chuckling calls became infrequent as May drew to a close. The Hermit Thrushes thinned out as April turned to May, and they were replaced by large numbers of Swainson’s Thrushes. There are also subtleties that handling birds will allow you to discover. For example, I discovered for the first time how bill length tends to be different for male and female Brown Creepers. I never noticed before, nor would I unless I had one of each in hand.
Education and Outreach
We enjoyed visiting with 103 people in April and May, including groups from All Saints Day School in Carmel Valley and Aliso Niguel High School. One young man appeared like an obvious candidate for future ornithologist, with his binoculars at the ready, engaging questions, and desire to volunteer with Ventana in the fall.
Comings and Goings
The lab is run primarily by intern staff and volunteers. Intern staff in April and May included Karen Hotopp, John Ludka, Kristy Markowitz, and Loni Silver. At first, I enjoyed giving them little identification quizzes when we caught something different. Is this a Hutton’s Vireo or a Cassin’s Vireo? Is this a Song Sparrow or a Lincoln Sparrow? In just a few short weeks, those quizzes have become hardly necessary. They are getting too good! John has proven that even a big guy with big hands can handle a Wilson’s Warbler. Evan Shanbrom joined us in late May and immediately won the poison oak prize, though he has been a quick study at the nets.
Lyla Hunt volunteered with us in April on her way to a summer research project in Oregon. She got some exposure to her future study species, Orange-crowned Warbler and Swainson’s Thrush, while she was here and found time to help with our Spotted Owl surveys. In May, we were joined for a few days by Darrell Abernathy, who brought bird handling skills from the UK and an accent to match. As I donned my thick waders each morning to brave the chilly Big Sur River, he would be ready and waiting in shorts and flip-flops. We had a great time with Lyla and Darryl and appreciate the skills and help they provided.
Jessica Koning is a regular volunteer at the bird banding lab. Jessica has a talent for sharing information about condors, and we are glad to have her help us with the little birds once a week, or as her schedule allows.