Lake St. Clair Metropark - Fall 2016 Banding Summary

As with previous banding at this park, an effort was made to band two days each week during August, September, October, and the first week of November in 2016. out of a possible 26 days during that period, only 23 days were operated partly due to not getting enough volunteers to help set up the site (which must be taken down completely each day), but also due to uncooperative wether, which abbreviated efforts on an additional 4 days. The average number of days the old MBMP station (back in Point Rosa Marsh) was operated over 10 fall seasons (2004-2014) was 23.5.

With this being the first full fall season of effort at this new site (LSCMP) adjacent to the Meadow Loop trail near the Nature Center, it might not make sense to compare numbers to the old site which, although very close by, has different habitats. Some interesting differences were noted, however, that may or may not prove to be consistent over time, which may be related to habitat. More relevant is a comparison with the 14 "experimental" days of banding at this new site in fall 2015 (6 Sep - 25 Oct). Although number of net hours was 125% higher than in 2015, the total number of birds was only 63% higher, and the overall capture rate (birds per 100 net hours) was actually 21% lower.

This fall's 142 (6.34/100 Net Hours) Swainson's Thrushes was well above the 10-year average at MBMP of 34.7 (2.73/100 NH), and higher than last fall's total of 32 (3.18/100 NH) here, and even exceeded the annual record of 53 (3.00/100 NH) at MBMP set in 2009. This seems even more remarkable given that this new site covers less than half the area (3 acres) of the MBMP site (7 acres). Equally amazing was the record number of Gray-cheeked Thrushes; 48 (2.14/100 NH) this fall, compared with 16 (1.59/100 NH) last fall, and the MBMP record of 32 (3.00/100 NH) set in 2005. The number of Golden-crowned Kinglets (75; 3.35/100 NH) and Ruby-crowned Kinglets (91; 4.06/100 NH) were both above the 10-year average at MBMP (66; 5.19/100 NH, and 48; 3.80/100 NH respectively). Warbler numbers were considered low, with 178 individuals of 18 species (143 individuals of 18 species in 2015 with only partial effort). Most notable was only 29 (1.29/100 NH) Nashville Warblers this fall, after a total of 46 (4.56/100 NH) last fall. by any measure, sparrow numbers were abysmal. The 10-year average for White-throated Sparrows at MBMP is 217 (17.1/100 NH), and in the partial season last year at LSCMP a total of 61 (6.07/100 NH) was banded. Only 29 (1.29/100 NH) were banded this fall. Song and Swamp Sparrows were much less numerous than at MBMP, but this is expected due to the drier habitats at LSCMP. The total number banded at LSCMP in fall 2016 (1065) was far below the 10-year average for MBMP (1714), but the number of species captured (72) was above the 10-year average (70.3).

Captures that were considered unusual included Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech-Owl, two Northern Saw-whet Owls (a first for either site!), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Thrasher, and Purple Finch. Given that this site is fairly new, there were no interesting recaptures this fall.

Totals banded for each species are listed below. A more complete report for both spring and fall will be finished sometime in February or March. A virtual tour of the banding area, with photos of all the net lanes, is planned to be posted sooner.

Banding could not have been done this fall without the help of the following volunteers: Jenifer Benke, John Bieganowski, Terri Chapdelaine, Jacob Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Carol Goodman, Jean Gramlich, Jim Greer, Stevie Kuroda, Gary Ladowski, Robin Ladowski, Dave Lancaster, Ava Lau, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Tessa Lau, Kim Patrick, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke, Christian Zammit, Julian Zammit, Pia Zammit. 

Species Banded - No. Banded (No. per 100 net hours)

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (0.04)
Black-billed Cuckoo - 1 (0.04)
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 (0.04)
Northern Saw-whet Owl - 2 (0.09)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 59 (2.50)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 (0.04)
Downy Woodpecker - 6 (0.27)
Hairy Woodpecker - 1 (0.04)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 4 (0.18)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 9 (0.40)
Alder Flycatcher - 2 (0.09)
Willow Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 4 (0.18)
Least Flycatcher - 9 (0.40)
Eastern Phoebe - 6 (0.27)
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 (0.04)
Warbling Vireo - 9 (0.40)
Philadelphia Vireo - 3 (0.13)
Red-eyed Vireo - 3 (0.13)
Blue Jay - 2 (0.09)
Black-capped Chickadee - 18 (0.80)
Tufted Titmouse - 3 (0.13)
Brown Creeper - 9 (0.40)
Carolina Wren - 1 (0.04)
House Wren - 16 (0.71)
Winter Wren - 11 (0.49)
Marsh Wren - 3 (0.13)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 75 (3.35)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 91 (4.06)
Veery - 7 (0.31)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 48 (2.14)
Swainson's Thrush - 142 (6.34)
Hermit Thrush - 69 (3.08)
Wood Thrush - 2 (0.09)
American Robin - 44 (1.96)
Gray Catbird - 21 (0.94)
Brown Thrasher - 1 (0.04)
European Starling - 1 (0.04)
Tennessee Warbler - 4 (0.18)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 8 (0.36)
Nashville Warbler - 29 (1.29)
Yellow Warbler - 2 (0.09)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Magnolia Warbler - 28 (1.25)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 12 (0.54)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8 (0.36)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Palm Warbler - 8 (0.36)
Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 (0.09)
Blackpoll Warbler - 11 (0.49)
Black-and-white Warbler - 5 (0.22)
American Redstart - 14 (0.62)
Ovenbird - 15 (0.67)
Northern Waterthrush - 3 (0.13)
Common Yellowthroat - 17 (0.76)
Wilson's Warbler - 10 (0.45)
Northern Cardinal - 17 (0.76)
Eastern Towhee - 1 (0.04)
American Tree Sparrow - 26 (1.16)
Field Sparrow - 1 (0.04)
Fox Sparrow - 8 (0.36)
Song Sparrow - 26 (1.16)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 (0.04)
Swamp Sparrow - 10 (0.45)
White-throated Sparrow - 29 (1.29)
White-crowned Sparrow - 4 (0.18)
Dark-eyed Junco - 13 (0.58)
Red-winged Blackbird - 17 (0.76)
Purple Finch - 1 (0.04)
American Goldfinch - 42 (1.87)
House Sparrow - 3 (0.13)