Metro Beach Spring 2011 Banding Summary

By most measures, coverage this spring was down. The 15 days was the lowest since 2004 (target is 18), the 99.5 hours was the second lowest, and the 1022.9 net hours was the third lowest. The number of days with rain this spring was certainly a factor, as well as a low turnout of volunteers which may have been related to the weather. Yet, the 728 birds banded was the third highest since 2004 and the capture rate of 100.4 per 100 net hours was the highest (on a par with the 1989-1999 average). Among the 60 species banded (about average) were some highlights including Black-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird. Species totals are shown below, with the number, or species, in parentheses being the number of banded individuals returning from previous years. A full report providing context and comparisons will be posted online later this summer (go to: www.amazilia.net/MetroBeachBanding/)

Black-billed Cuckoo - 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 6 (1)
Downy Woodpecker - 9 (4)
(Hairy Woodpecker - 1)
Northern Flicker - 2
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 2 (2)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 3
Blue Jay - 3
Tree Swallow - 3
Black-capped Chickadee - 4 (2)
Tufted Titmouse - 2
(White-breasted Nuthatch - 1)
Brown Creeper - 21
House Wren - 5 (1)
Winter Wren - 3
Marsh Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Veery - 7
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 3
Wwainson's Thrush - 10
Hermit Thrush - 13
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 28 (3)
Gray Catbird - 7 (2)
European Starling - 4
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 30 (14)
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 11
Palm Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 7
Northern Waterthrush - 17
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 24 (11)
Wilson's Warbler - 5
Canada Warbler - 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Northern Cardinal - 4 (1)
Eastern Towhee - 2
American Tree Sparrow - 23 (1)
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 8
Song Sparrow - 16 (10)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 17
Swamp Sparrow - 72 (3)
White-throated Sparrow - 66 (1)
White-crowned Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 96 (20)
Rusty Blackbird - 1
Common Grackle - 33
Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 (2)
Baltimore Oriole - 13 (8)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 89 (33)