HBRC - Winter Avian Ecology Study

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS OF OUR FAVORITE UNUSUAL WINTER BIRDS SEEN AND/OR BANDED!

Winter Avian Ecology Study

Nov 15 - through March 15. This study will monitor diversity of species, timelines of winter birds and migratory birds wintering over, how the winter bird population and diversity changes from winter to winter. We will also monitor how snowfall, temperature and weather conditions affects the changes, and do the weights of birds change from winter to winter related to weather data.

Banding will occur between the dates of November 15 to March 15. Extra attempts will be made to band on days with snow accumulation. Point counts will be conducted each morning to monitor all species encountered at the feeder area. Thistle seed, black oil sunflower seeds, bird seed mix and suet cakes will be used.

Combined totals of two study areas 2007/2008

Total no. birds netted = 648

Total no. species banded= 26

Total no. species seen at feeders = 32

Total no. birds banded = 477

Total no. bird recaptured = 171

2007-2008

(year one - test year)

Hubble Farm site results

Bander: Tim Tolford

Helpers: Dave Russell, Josh Estoye, Chris Izard

Seven-mile OH site results

Bander: Eric Burgess

11 sessions - 38.5 hours

(77 net hours, 49 volunteer hours)

3 sessions -

(88.5 net hours, 32 volunteer hours)

Temperatures ranged from 8 - 34 degrees Fahrenheit.

Snow/ice covered the ground each day.

Total no. birds netted = 506

Total no. species banded= 22

Total no. species seen at feeders = 32

Total no. birds banded = 361

Total no. bird recaptured = 145

Total # Of Each Species Banded

American Goldfinch - 183

American Tree Sparrow - 22

Blue Jay - 2

Carolina Chickadee - 20

Carolina Wren - 1

Downy Woodpecker - 17

Eastern Tufted Titmouse - 16

Hairy Woodpecker - 3

House Finch - 9

Mourning Dove - 5

Northern Cardinal - 91

Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Pine Siskin – 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5

Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1

Rusty Blackbird - 1

Slate-colored Junco - 39

Song Sparrow - 10

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1

White-breasted Nuthatch - 11

White-crowned Sparrow - 19

White-throated Sparrow – 17

Total no. birds netted = 142

Total no. species banded= 14

Total no. species seen at feeders = 25

Total no. birds banded = 116

Total no. bird recaptured = 26

Total # Of Each Species Banded

American Goldfinch - 68

American Robin - 1

Brown Creeper - 1

Carolina Chickadee - 8

Downy Woodpecker - 3

Eastern Tufted Titmouse - 6

European Starling - 5

House Finch - 5

House Sparrow - 11

Northern Cardinal - 1

Slate-colored Junco - 6

White-breasted Nuthatch - 1

Blue Jay (1 recapture)

Carolina Wren (1 recapture)

Other birds seen feeding on or around the feeders but not captured/banded:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Purple Finch

Common Grackle

Red-winged Blackbird

European Starling

House Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Eastern Bluebird

Rufous-sided Towhee

American Robin

A Field Sparrow was identified near our barn. Unfortunately, it was never seen near the feeders. That would have been a nice one to band in January!

Dozens of Sandhill Cranes could be heard/seen flying around over our heads during most of the sessions. What a treat!

Other birds seen feeding on or around the feeders but not captured/banded:

Cooper's Hawk

White-throated Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-shafted Flicker

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Common Crackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

fourth week of February welcomed the return of the male Red-winged Blackbirds and male Grackles.



Red-tailed Hawk - White Morph	Red-tailed Hawk - White Morph

Female Sharp-shinned Hawk	Female Sharp-shinned Hawk

Rusty Blackbird banded 2/22/08	Rusty Blackbird banded 2/22/08

Rusty Blackbird - 2/19/2008 12:20	Rusty Blackbird - 2/19/2008 12:20

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker still with Juvenal Plumage? 2/6/2008 8:00 am & 2/17/2008 12:19 pm	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker still with Juvenal Plumage? 2/6/2008 8:00 am & 2/17/2008 12:19 pm

Pine Siskin 12/7/2007	Pine Siskin 12/7/2007

Red-breasted Nuthatch (has been around all winter)	White-breasted Nuthatch (male & female) 12/7/2007

Blue Jay	Male Hairy Woodpecker

An acrobatic Pileated Woodpecker! 11/26/2007 - 8:22 a.m.

I was recently told that Pileated Woodpeckers would never eat suet from a suet cake. "If I you want Pileated Woodpeckers at your feeders, you need to put out real suet from a butcher."

This rule is "generally" true. I guess if they have a way to reach one, they'll eat pre-made cakes just like the rest of the peckers...

Birds have made liars out of me many times. This time it's on someone else :-)