tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9121701566622844432024-03-12T23:28:06.548-06:00Bird Banding in SaskatchewanThis blog is designed to raise awareness of bird banding that occurs within Saskatchewan, in hopes of helping people better understand these amazing creatures that are all around us.Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-54799443819268183852021-05-25T21:23:00.004-06:002021-05-25T21:23:52.642-06:00Common Grackles with Yellow Bands! <p>I got a request to post a new update to the old blog, so here we are. I'm excited to share a new and old project with you here - banding Common Grackles!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_oqsik00KlAERSCpsk0Q-sluJYNF0u_pzm6DORLIKG82EiaGYUTthWEhECdeYicEYhozE-hMAXKqNTghs2Ip7_50bgy1TX5sSWei98sA9iRxV4kc-J8N5zCVAPU_KMQPXuXMB0WdoRqn/s1280/IMG_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_oqsik00KlAERSCpsk0Q-sluJYNF0u_pzm6DORLIKG82EiaGYUTthWEhECdeYicEYhozE-hMAXKqNTghs2Ip7_50bgy1TX5sSWei98sA9iRxV4kc-J8N5zCVAPU_KMQPXuXMB0WdoRqn/s320/IMG_0054.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In 2015, I started a banding project on Common Grackles in my yard because, well, we had a ton of them here! Each spring I had noticed upwards of 120 birds amassing in our well-treed shelterbelt and going about pairing off, building nests and raising young. I thought this presented a great opportunity to study a common species. Years later, I have come to realize how little research has been conducted on this common 'pest' species. <p></p><p>From 2015-2020 I banded 319 grackles here at the farm, catching on average 53 new grackles each year and recapturing 18 banded grackles from previous years. Just this winter, using these data my friend Dr Ryan Fisher and I were able to calculate the annual survival rate of grackles at my farm. Our paper has been accepted for publication in the North American Bird Bander, so stay tuned for more about that. </p><p>But from these results more questions arose. Looking at our data, some birds are recaptured many years following their initial banding, while others are caught initially and then not recaptured for years! The longest time interval was a female grackle banded in May of 2012 and then not recaptured again until 2020! That bird was 9 years old when she was recaptured! Where was she from 2013 to 2019? Was she here in the yard, but just didn't get caught or was she nesting in another farmyard somewhere nearby? </p><p>So I decided coded colour bands are going to help answer some of these questions! And that's what I have been up to this spring. These highly visible bands will allow me to resight the grackles in our yard, even if they know how to avoid my trap. So far this spring, I have placed 51 colour bands onto both previously unbanded and recaptured grackles. </p><p>From 2015 to 2020 the birds were banded with a standard metal band. There are 9 numbers that wrap around the band and are difficult to read unless the bird is in your hand, hence the the need to actually recapture them. The colour bands on the other hand are all yellow with black coding and very easy to read with binoculars or a spotting scope. They have 2 letters that are large and repeated around the band. AB was the first band used (I accidently broke AA... haha) and continue through to AZ, then BA to BZ, etc. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdT_KKO9nB6b4zeUTYjZPzTrEqaxFD5Dsd0ogYbN282hLrTuq928JPZIGkTUQJZsGQNr0saZQldud59wX7jMIhgbsOhZD0WKLCoGFc0AT_VXivOOQ-Mmge96BHAV7kIIV7rEg0WTxZo6HR/s1449/IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdT_KKO9nB6b4zeUTYjZPzTrEqaxFD5Dsd0ogYbN282hLrTuq928JPZIGkTUQJZsGQNr0saZQldud59wX7jMIhgbsOhZD0WKLCoGFc0AT_VXivOOQ-Mmge96BHAV7kIIV7rEg0WTxZo6HR/s320/IMG_0990.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>With these coded bands, I am also locating nests in my yard and trying to determine specific nesting locations of individuals to see where they nest in the yard from year to year. I'm also hoping to see if some of these banded birds are observed in nearby farmyards or towns, perhaps even during migration. And I am also really hoping some of these bands will be read on their wintering grounds in the eastern United States to give us some exact locations for where Saskatchewan grackles spend their winter. However, there are an estimated 61 million Common Grackles in North America, so my 50-80 colour banded birds may be easily missed. I'm not getting my hopes up too high.</p><p>So if you have found this blog post because you have seen a yellow banded common grackle, please send me an email! clarkejared@hotmail.com.</p><p>What I love about this whole project, is getting to know the birds who nest in our yard. For example, 1573-01581 is a male grackle that I banded on April 21, 2017 and have recaptured each year following here in our yard (2018, 2019, 2020, and even 2021!). This male has come back to our yard for 5 years in a row. He now also wears a yellow band with code BF. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0v7gcVxb1lfNusgaHrRWtLT49HsWMmp6oIkBE20Qz0kOFlk8vP2qc7vrWTcgIVk9SZ9nDbGWtxi2HFwYHyAu2K6l7zBbsb9SUESEnBYGNQJuRONWA3yHq2kmaJdGBD8yxVEV4vmVb5tK/s2016/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0v7gcVxb1lfNusgaHrRWtLT49HsWMmp6oIkBE20Qz0kOFlk8vP2qc7vrWTcgIVk9SZ9nDbGWtxi2HFwYHyAu2K6l7zBbsb9SUESEnBYGNQJuRONWA3yHq2kmaJdGBD8yxVEV4vmVb5tK/s320/IMG_1141.jpg" /></a></div><p>A female, 1352-42767, was banded on May 7, 2015, and has been recaptured in our yard in 2017, 2019, 2020 and again in 2021. She is at least 7 years old now (but could be older). She is now wearing band CB. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD75AYxR3HwIafYp6mSPdnY91c1pTU-fscHXZnzqNdxGZclKIScsZaxvVn-u4M1Srq2v5SJjKzw3uR4BLAmEjBqHI9vln4tlNvNMeKd64ptgPyMRrDHXppbQ_NADbQQZyJdCUtv-sDFmDF/s2016/IMG_1816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD75AYxR3HwIafYp6mSPdnY91c1pTU-fscHXZnzqNdxGZclKIScsZaxvVn-u4M1Srq2v5SJjKzw3uR4BLAmEjBqHI9vln4tlNvNMeKd64ptgPyMRrDHXppbQ_NADbQQZyJdCUtv-sDFmDF/s320/IMG_1816.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTchi0LgmujeuIhFtGSNk-qhcuFfNOltFUI2Twap-JIHL7VrsvNHtnZI4Zz3bkuiLJJ03wrupucikhZnfyUtyNpSLTPfoRY5Iy0Y4ZSRfPFBZx-sSJpn9srR-DUWGRxMx6WwQeMac3zLSQ/s1460/IMG_1299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTchi0LgmujeuIhFtGSNk-qhcuFfNOltFUI2Twap-JIHL7VrsvNHtnZI4Zz3bkuiLJJ03wrupucikhZnfyUtyNpSLTPfoRY5Iy0Y4ZSRfPFBZx-sSJpn9srR-DUWGRxMx6WwQeMac3zLSQ/s320/IMG_1299.jpg" /></a></div></div>This picture isn't great, but BB is showing off, so I had to include it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Birds are captured and banded with proper provincial and federal banding permits. </span></div>Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-15453708568815364132017-02-13T21:34:00.000-07:002017-02-13T21:34:18.272-07:00Banding Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Saskatchewan 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think I start most of my posts on here by commenting how long it has been since I have lasted posted... I need to post more regularly. </div>
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My Canada Goose banding project in Wascana Park is now over and I have decided to close up the Wascana MAPS station this year, so I have a bit of spare time now to work on a different project. I am excited to share that that new project will involve Ruby-throated Hummingbirds!</div>
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<br />At the end of July, 2016 I traveled down to southern Illinois to get the required training to catch and band hummingbirds. I spent three days with Cathie Hutcheson, an amazing bander. We traveled around Illinois to her various banding locations where she has been banding hummingbirds for the last 9 years. Under Cathie's watchful eyes, I got to band 167 Ruby-throats in the three days I was there! What an experience!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4JfUWytbx-TIINWLxYgiLQ3AXnvw3dddakELjPgaV98sl02tLrv0c0IcM6IdM0FSqxeoLzK6BA6QWDPlmznlZ6W7zlPPZ6eCd3NBn3UaS8wGrdkW7r58ZdnBvtoSnmpiOhNBggQitarO/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4JfUWytbx-TIINWLxYgiLQ3AXnvw3dddakELjPgaV98sl02tLrv0c0IcM6IdM0FSqxeoLzK6BA6QWDPlmznlZ6W7zlPPZ6eCd3NBn3UaS8wGrdkW7r58ZdnBvtoSnmpiOhNBggQitarO/s400/IMG_2166.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i>One of the banding locations in southern Illinois I visited in 2016. There are a lot of hummingbirds in this area! At one of the sites, the homeowner puts out 5 gallons of sugar water each day!!!!!!!</i> </div>
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<br />I now have authorization on my banding permit to be banding hummingbirds here in Saskatchewan starting in 2017. The project goal is to begin to get an idea of movements and numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds around the Edenwold-Balgonie-Fort Qu'Appelle area. I plan to visit a number of sites in this area a couple times each summer and catch and band the hummingbirds that frequent the feeders. Over time, I will get a better understanding of the population of hummingbirds in the area, as well as how the birds move around on the landscape. </div>
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Part of the reason I started getting interested in banding these hummingbirds is that at my MAPS station at our farm and on the adjacent Ducks Unlimited quarter, I usually catch 5-7 hummingbirds in our mist nets over the course of the season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWhH9LbOnpB6HiapBVk3bF0eVLadesAabWE-YFuLYtSXs6CU1GjmaP0BdYbExNKM1lZAXmIGIAka6aXEKPAiyZXlcJr-3EPDATZ-gIw0leNXGcchjYgQEgAXwKKHzpyDzJxOxsdDjORI9/s1600/IMG_2136.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWhH9LbOnpB6HiapBVk3bF0eVLadesAabWE-YFuLYtSXs6CU1GjmaP0BdYbExNKM1lZAXmIGIAka6aXEKPAiyZXlcJr-3EPDATZ-gIw0leNXGcchjYgQEgAXwKKHzpyDzJxOxsdDjORI9/s320/IMG_2136.png" width="240" /> </a></div>
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<i>A beautiful male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Males weigh only 3.5-4.5 grams.</i></div>
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I have started to reach out to folks in the area who feed hummingbirds each year in their yards. If you have hummingbirds visiting a feeder you maintain around Craven, Edenwold, Balgonie or Fort Qu'Appelle, please contact me to see if we can add your site to my banding locations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaXTsU90rndf-S13I4TfsK-an6liE2mJlCiKqQC8E9b82W3KgENvRf1YNCVwo0sd_GZbW2zkfwkrn8J4j70XNuXiEr6D9nkFqumYIu4BPqvNHOZM78SMb88-ALvq7oF9CXkkCOB5va5_6/s1600/IMG_2125.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaXTsU90rndf-S13I4TfsK-an6liE2mJlCiKqQC8E9b82W3KgENvRf1YNCVwo0sd_GZbW2zkfwkrn8J4j70XNuXiEr6D9nkFqumYIu4BPqvNHOZM78SMb88-ALvq7oF9CXkkCOB5va5_6/s320/IMG_2125.png" width="240" /> </a></div>
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<i>Hummingbird bands come as a sheet of metal and have to be cut out and formed by the bander. Bands for Ruby-throats are 6.0 and 5.6 mm in length! </i> </div>
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This project is pretty exciting as only 1 other bander bands hummingbirds in Saskatchewan, Ron Jensen in Saskatoon. Last year Ron captured 244 Ruby-throats! So now just like every other bird, if you find a dead hummingbird, please check it for a band! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxgOtb9Od0vGHfCkg8ivfuWdqDa0V90QFR2mRM-CYfJUP0RyUJUvjKB-1F_bWD6PJXPd5Spxp2Q3_wBvPIoohXf2zQrBvouksorjWGHyYqXXhp8qfdQ-Nqf5s-OWdaGrP8inTYR5vLVpv/s1600/IMG_2185.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxgOtb9Od0vGHfCkg8ivfuWdqDa0V90QFR2mRM-CYfJUP0RyUJUvjKB-1F_bWD6PJXPd5Spxp2Q3_wBvPIoohXf2zQrBvouksorjWGHyYqXXhp8qfdQ-Nqf5s-OWdaGrP8inTYR5vLVpv/s320/IMG_2185.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The last hummingbird I banded in Illinois in July, 2016. See the single red feather on his throat? This is a young male! Next year, when he returns he will have a pure red throat!</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-30051243059318864822016-06-19T23:14:00.002-06:002016-06-19T23:17:12.912-06:00The start of the MAPS season in Saskatchewan!<br />
Well the first 10 day period of the MAPS season is over now! We have to operate 1 banding day during those ten days for each MAPS stations. 2016 marks the first year I am operating 3 MAPS stations, so there is lots to report already! This is the 7th summer for the Wascana MAPS station (in the Habitat Conservation Area of Wascana Park), the 4th summer for the Saw-whet MAPS station (at our farm and adjacent Ducks Unlimited Canada property), and the 1st summer for the Edenwold West MAPS station (west of Edenwold, on a Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation property). I am only able to operate these stations thanks to the numerous volunteers who help! A special thanks to them!<br />
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<b>Wascana MAPS - June 18, 2016</b><br />
A total of 56 birds of 12 species were captured during the 6 hours of banding using 10 nets. We placed new bands on 49 of those birds and 6 were recaptures. This is the lowest number of birds captured on the first session of the 7 summers, but was the same as in 2012. <br />
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This year there are at least 10 Marsh Wrens vocalizing in the marsh which is exciting, as they have not been present since 2013. We did catch one. What we did not hear on Friday or Saturday, was Song Sparrows calling. Last year, we had our best Song Sparrow capture rate, with 26 birds banded. So it is very strange to not hear them calling...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRJvGBKptEoOCLZxhMYDUak4bB7bH55W2K9-qqjPqBtW8MCOHGxRvcae4iudHxJ1zrFec5VJbKbIPFu8sRavzG7WnsrQO1TVj-YdfCkHe69CpLeQNh40yj8ss5MTxL-HsAa8LvCUvbRO/s1600/Marsh+Wren.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRJvGBKptEoOCLZxhMYDUak4bB7bH55W2K9-qqjPqBtW8MCOHGxRvcae4iudHxJ1zrFec5VJbKbIPFu8sRavzG7WnsrQO1TVj-YdfCkHe69CpLeQNh40yj8ss5MTxL-HsAa8LvCUvbRO/s320/Marsh+Wren.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Marsh Wren</i></div>
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One of the most interesting recaptures was the only Gray Catbird we caught (which was strange). This bird was banded in 2010 as young of the year! Which makes this bird 6 years old. But what was most interesting was that we have not seen this bird since banded him back in 2010. Where has he been for all those summers in between, but very neat to see him back in the Habitat Conservation Area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRFGDKYx4uwYOcu30OmtxlaNXWuBs25SPKTuxe0hjqA8iVdULupLljP5HRFyS6iSDNV9f5nEOuzgXPnKup5r-nMdaS7Bk5BpT6cZLhxi9-N02PdccIhQE8PwrOMQhSb1yhLcnoDd7xypg/s1600/Gray+Catbird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRFGDKYx4uwYOcu30OmtxlaNXWuBs25SPKTuxe0hjqA8iVdULupLljP5HRFyS6iSDNV9f5nEOuzgXPnKup5r-nMdaS7Bk5BpT6cZLhxi9-N02PdccIhQE8PwrOMQhSb1yhLcnoDd7xypg/s320/Gray+Catbird.png" width="269" /></a></div>
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<i>The recaptured Gray Catbird from 2010. </i></div>
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Another recapture of significance was a male Tree Swallow which we banded back in 2012 as an adult which we caught on Saturday again! He was an adult when banded in 2012, so that makes him at least 5 years old. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA2J4Nqd4ZN71dKF_ftm1bGjEXkWnGOBGVQv-gbR9usdE4iEw6fes8gS7eDir_RSErJkb6P610KypLblRQ2CQVbLbmQEs-9oDvnZQESi31hsyLIa1TTZ-yaoJV-x4K4yAibs0alDItgeR/s1600/Tree+Swallow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA2J4Nqd4ZN71dKF_ftm1bGjEXkWnGOBGVQv-gbR9usdE4iEw6fes8gS7eDir_RSErJkb6P610KypLblRQ2CQVbLbmQEs-9oDvnZQESi31hsyLIa1TTZ-yaoJV-x4K4yAibs0alDItgeR/s320/Tree+Swallow.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Tree Swallow from 2012.</i></div>
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Here is a list of all of the birds captured and recaptured from Wascana MAPS.<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 278px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6034; mso-width-source: userset; width: 124pt;" width="165"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2048; mso-width-source: userset; width: 42pt;" width="56"></col>
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<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 124pt;" width="165"><b><br /></b></td><td class="xl69" colspan="2" style="width: 85pt;" width="113"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
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<td class="xl68" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Species</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Banded</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Recap</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Red-winged Blackbird</td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top-style: none; text-align: left;">13</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Yellow Warbler</td>
<td class="xl65">11</td>
<td class="xl66">4</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">American Robin</td>
<td class="xl65">8</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Cedar Waxwing</td>
<td class="xl65">6</td>
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</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Least Flycatcher</td>
<td class="xl65">3</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Warbling Vireo</td>
<td class="xl65">2</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Common Grackle</td>
<td class="xl65">2</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Brown-headed Cowbird</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Marsh Wren</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Red-eyed Vireo</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Tree Swallow</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Gray Catbird</td>
<td class="xl65"></td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPNuK3OqGRlIpha5SuJmt5h_2oOGdnzar9fyw8D4vzY8VtpxIlfoppxyLokiL5lCkKnWD_v1D61TA8hok7TV4qZeCLrv9m9sRGWtdqHEAaTAlYiZUr64AXVRo1d5qbrX4r-5t2pVdwUmd/s1600/Warbling+Vireo+-+good+beak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPNuK3OqGRlIpha5SuJmt5h_2oOGdnzar9fyw8D4vzY8VtpxIlfoppxyLokiL5lCkKnWD_v1D61TA8hok7TV4qZeCLrv9m9sRGWtdqHEAaTAlYiZUr64AXVRo1d5qbrX4r-5t2pVdwUmd/s320/Warbling+Vireo+-+good+beak.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Warbling Vireo</i></div>
<br />
<b>Saw-whet MAPS - June 13, 2016</b><br />
Saw-whet MAPS had the highest capture rate of the three sites in the first period, with 58 new birds banded and 12 recaptures, for a total of 70 birds captured of 15 species. 7 mist nets are operated at this location. A high number of Cedar Waxwings and Red-winged Blackbirds boosted our numbers. But we also caught quite a few House Wrens. We also captured three female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds but I do not have hummingbirds on my banding permit (nor the correct bands) so released them unbanded.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fFuiqS_Pe73KKzOhWAAzz6dRyWGB7qfIP8o8tJVsExK8YGEMCFpG5jqX7EF8xVldXiO7aKgYk_6L24R_f_BD8I0dCP_91MBWKWxREWXvCmCa6ledYlJnB54FFELm-naJuK3w3w13_ss5/s1600/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fFuiqS_Pe73KKzOhWAAzz6dRyWGB7qfIP8o8tJVsExK8YGEMCFpG5jqX7EF8xVldXiO7aKgYk_6L24R_f_BD8I0dCP_91MBWKWxREWXvCmCa6ledYlJnB54FFELm-naJuK3w3w13_ss5/s320/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird</i></div>
<br />
We caught 3 female Brown-headed Cowbirds and all three were already banded. One was banded in 2013 and two from 2015. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlahDqsPFJAZvPSbBd8vRu5LpeMiKePty_pLpnHhgV5LjY9dUpDwy9vg5zQYxgt4hc0y49oJQL2f92VUM8S3Vq4RMSoYrC3hvjOLu8FC1jrCZCDLUa9dK9FSBGOQtIWl5uIkKwh7Wl7rZM/s1600/Brown-headed+Cowbird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlahDqsPFJAZvPSbBd8vRu5LpeMiKePty_pLpnHhgV5LjY9dUpDwy9vg5zQYxgt4hc0y49oJQL2f92VUM8S3Vq4RMSoYrC3hvjOLu8FC1jrCZCDLUa9dK9FSBGOQtIWl5uIkKwh7Wl7rZM/s320/Brown-headed+Cowbird.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>One of three Brown-headed Cowbirds captured.</i></div>
<br />
Three male Yellow Warblers returned to our farm this year who were originally banded in 2013!<br />
<br />
I think the most interesting recapture from this location, was a Song Sparrow that we banded as a young bird last year, has now returned and found his own territory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHhXKlWYTBRA4RvGrI2zcZ6R5orXtLIh5soZP_rWJVHFBdv0JMEqje70K_BFKWxbWJl4AzpabkGh3wITzway7jwrmNBTjRqobYOlCyDoPKwIEGLs0mnTj8F5K0W0NnUMfW8o2zB4ntPzB/s1600/Song+Sparrow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHhXKlWYTBRA4RvGrI2zcZ6R5orXtLIh5soZP_rWJVHFBdv0JMEqje70K_BFKWxbWJl4AzpabkGh3wITzway7jwrmNBTjRqobYOlCyDoPKwIEGLs0mnTj8F5K0W0NnUMfW8o2zB4ntPzB/s320/Song+Sparrow.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Song Sparrow banded in 2015.</i></div>
<br />
The list of the birds captured at Saw-whet MAPS.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5997; mso-width-source: userset; width: 123pt;" width="164"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 1536; mso-width-source: userset; width: 32pt;" width="42"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 123pt;" width="164"><b>Species </b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 32pt;" width="42"><b>Banded</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 32pt;" width="42"><b> Recap</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Cedar Waxwing</td>
<td class="xl64">11</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Red-winged Blackbird</td>
<td class="xl64">10</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">House Wren</td>
<td class="xl64">7</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Least Flycatcher</td>
<td class="xl64">5</td>
<td class="xl63">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Yellow Warbler</td>
<td class="xl64">5</td>
<td class="xl63">5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gray Catbird</td>
<td class="xl64">4</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Baltimore Oriole</td>
<td class="xl64">4</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">American Robin</td>
<td class="xl64">3</td>
<td class="xl63">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Clay-colored Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl64">3</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Warbling Vireo</td>
<td class="xl64">2</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">American Goldfinch</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Song Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Common Grackle</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Downy Woodpecker</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Brown-headed Cowbird</td>
<td class="xl64"></td>
<td class="xl63">3</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RJcLC_okiPxmRR2chlWsN8ek_ZPk92cBZGaQJXcdgkdfxPclg0NbmdwJUxX2kJnCCuZL4QDVUr1oJg9eLV3Lhie6_kg_BNtnDETfDECw_D3PlYPMHqOmswVyqjuK2GZ_kmgsT0wKRU9r/s1600/House+Wren.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RJcLC_okiPxmRR2chlWsN8ek_ZPk92cBZGaQJXcdgkdfxPclg0NbmdwJUxX2kJnCCuZL4QDVUr1oJg9eLV3Lhie6_kg_BNtnDETfDECw_D3PlYPMHqOmswVyqjuK2GZ_kmgsT0wKRU9r/s320/House+Wren.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>House Wren</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNDWCzijdGp5DX6W86-6TdgOey_HmqhsGQ5f4mfLCXdmSAAcPUiRGE_o6737Q-ZGYk0Wk4nRZAEvkmdLYoOub0lImUHKQGbwdGU7QJHwydLnSbWQGaJTXL79HdEo9MmMegQO3kYgZ-0ir/s1600/American+Goldfinch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNDWCzijdGp5DX6W86-6TdgOey_HmqhsGQ5f4mfLCXdmSAAcPUiRGE_o6737Q-ZGYk0Wk4nRZAEvkmdLYoOub0lImUHKQGbwdGU7QJHwydLnSbWQGaJTXL79HdEo9MmMegQO3kYgZ-0ir/s320/American+Goldfinch.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Male American Goldfinch</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<b>Edenwold West MAPS - June 15, 2016</b></div>
<div>
I was very excited to start this site this year. I had never heard of any birding reports from this piece of land and so wasn't really sure what to expect. It is a half section that is predominately a solid block of trembling aspen. There are some adjoining large blocks of aspen to the south east and west but essentially this is an island of forest in a sea of cropland. What would we find? I had hoped for Veery's, Red-eyed Vireos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and maybe Ovenbirds. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well most of my hunch came to be, as we captured a single Veery and Red-eyed Vireo on the 15th! We heard at least 3 Veery's calling, as well a couple of Red-eyed Vireo's and one Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We didn't hear any other warblers besides Yellow. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeyN7Klne3BP7eZHCZFBW6pUM7iAxYWuajc-_icT2gpynCtzgQHgBIfvwqH1cPexheLIYyiofrvpxP3HnZ-fkHHHYkmD7_Me6GLs-GII0qV-NQ_CePnxc9aJDtyIq7RQsYwYSyB-JJ7uH/s1600/Red-eyed+Vireo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeyN7Klne3BP7eZHCZFBW6pUM7iAxYWuajc-_icT2gpynCtzgQHgBIfvwqH1cPexheLIYyiofrvpxP3HnZ-fkHHHYkmD7_Me6GLs-GII0qV-NQ_CePnxc9aJDtyIq7RQsYwYSyB-JJ7uH/s320/Red-eyed+Vireo.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Red-eyed Vireo</i></div>
<div>
<br />
We did catch 43 birds of 16 species all together, so it was a productive morning! No recaptures, but not surprising as we have never banded here before. However, we are only 6 miles away from the Saw-whet MAPS site, so we are hopeful we might get some dispersal between these two sites. We operate 9 mist nets at this site. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We also captured 3 female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at this site, that were released unbanded<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrWiPwWQvSEgiacV-Tb_HlEV-w2lIz_DgZvDjpdA2fY3ymNFIwb8JPBx8rsqMKSqwF2lDSh8yBRwZFwnbE2DWka2r0tX3-nlTOUoO_x8LKBHCiASXXOaommVGR2dc5_3xOfQvZHpmsflZ/s1600/Kristen+extracting+a+bird+from+a+mist+net.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrWiPwWQvSEgiacV-Tb_HlEV-w2lIz_DgZvDjpdA2fY3ymNFIwb8JPBx8rsqMKSqwF2lDSh8yBRwZFwnbE2DWka2r0tX3-nlTOUoO_x8LKBHCiASXXOaommVGR2dc5_3xOfQvZHpmsflZ/s320/Kristen+extracting+a+bird+from+a+mist+net.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Kristen extracting a bird from the mist net.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cuSFlYO7o8Fva-e60zfBdx_dhh9mHjVthX_oFUvds2o0je5Tv4mBCWkaLYD59XnXg_Q5JObEpUYCPb9Cb3NKuYQCRlIIX2pnsErO8yF-6hSTcagBAVdU2xIFgwR5HJ7b9bplNlJVBCHP/s1600/Veery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cuSFlYO7o8Fva-e60zfBdx_dhh9mHjVthX_oFUvds2o0je5Tv4mBCWkaLYD59XnXg_Q5JObEpUYCPb9Cb3NKuYQCRlIIX2pnsErO8yF-6hSTcagBAVdU2xIFgwR5HJ7b9bplNlJVBCHP/s320/Veery.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Veery</i></div>
<br />
A list of the birds captured at Edenwold West.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5997; mso-width-source: userset; width: 123pt;" width="164"></col>
<col span="2" style="mso-width-alt: 1536; mso-width-source: userset; width: 32pt;" width="42"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 123pt;" width="164"><b>Species </b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 32pt;" width="42"><b>Banded</b></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 32pt;" width="42"><b> Recap</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Least Flycatcher</td>
<td class="xl64">6</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Clay-colored Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl64">6</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Yellow Warbler</td>
<td class="xl64">5</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gray Catbird</td>
<td class="xl64">4</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">House Wren</td>
<td class="xl64">4</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Yellow-bellied Sapsucker</td>
<td class="xl64">4</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">American Goldfinch</td>
<td class="xl64">2</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Cedar Waxwing</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">American Robin</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Warbling Vireo</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Baltimore Oriole</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Brown-headed Cowbird</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Downy Woodpecker</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Red-winged Blackbird</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Veery</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Red-eyed Vireo</td>
<td class="xl64">1</td>
<td class="xl63"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8ZLzU73qU_qZfjOrPS4yWk6yzvpNnx-4NbexRwCztVY5nLpziz43AdsckZbFKVhmyCuPZjTTTU3KpMykGX3uRVYv_LQyalJDa4cjv9dMd6zJAcdAalIJIorKNoNSPI4QxFLjmSMweHt8/s1600/Yellow-bellied+Sapsucker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8ZLzU73qU_qZfjOrPS4yWk6yzvpNnx-4NbexRwCztVY5nLpziz43AdsckZbFKVhmyCuPZjTTTU3KpMykGX3uRVYv_LQyalJDa4cjv9dMd6zJAcdAalIJIorKNoNSPI4QxFLjmSMweHt8/s320/Yellow-bellied+Sapsucker.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Male Yellow-bellied </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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In total we captured 169 birds this first period. The second period starts tomorrow... Here we go again!</div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-44038852521125613732015-12-27T20:36:00.001-07:002015-12-29T17:03:58.570-07:00One little bird's 2500 km journey!!I could barely believe what I was reading a few weeks ago when I got an email from Robert Benson, from Texas. Robert emailed me with details on an American Kestrel his PhD student Carter Crouch had captured in south Texas.<br />
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On June 30, 2015 at a bird house in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, my family and I banded a family of nestling kestrels. There were 5 young kestrels in the box, 3 males and 2 females. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdd6v7rYxXXFbicgB1Y34J3lVlTd1-oz8jDWGBn8H82X36enK32h3Lai4hMlSX8i0tF-62uXpkiEyNefruUjKWrwwEhqlGIxVWzFPvXB0C6uzZ8Qbc5CsltmUMkyHwzpj4_GTzlsYVdvl/s1600/IMG_8908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdd6v7rYxXXFbicgB1Y34J3lVlTd1-oz8jDWGBn8H82X36enK32h3Lai4hMlSX8i0tF-62uXpkiEyNefruUjKWrwwEhqlGIxVWzFPvXB0C6uzZ8Qbc5CsltmUMkyHwzpj4_GTzlsYVdvl/s320/IMG_8908.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Two of the young kestrels from the Moose Jaw nest box banded on June 30, 2015.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-VUsYTWnANfIvAJbPtBkthID9P7FdQuiVlAvH0qfpEXU_2Bnvc4Sm7R2zJf3PjVGvm2KiRK2FiZb8SqYmrMTHPAkTzumEO-RCggO196za4i-wkLa-cBYvqxhmGU544VTYzjbzJGJd8yw/s1600/Rowan+%2526+little+kestrel.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-VUsYTWnANfIvAJbPtBkthID9P7FdQuiVlAvH0qfpEXU_2Bnvc4Sm7R2zJf3PjVGvm2KiRK2FiZb8SqYmrMTHPAkTzumEO-RCggO196za4i-wkLa-cBYvqxhmGU544VTYzjbzJGJd8yw/s320/Rowan+%2526+little+kestrel.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>My son Rowan, holding possibly 1623-44426!</i></div>
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Robert's email outlined that on November 29, 2015, Carter had caught a young female kestrel that I had banded in Moose Jaw. She carried band #1623-44426! Amazing! The distance between her nest box and her winter territory is 2,553 km!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybLgUcmBdOIM1Xlv95oLrGf64v7VlNivtY79qIitjITYqVIy7_abWQ6yRS3JDeyRjMVBL8TqAMGfEILes_WlWoHXcUAGIzCn8Yi_2TTiLIOXhgWrhyNI762UNOOvwljomT9radCxRNx2e/s1600/Distance+of+recap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybLgUcmBdOIM1Xlv95oLrGf64v7VlNivtY79qIitjITYqVIy7_abWQ6yRS3JDeyRjMVBL8TqAMGfEILes_WlWoHXcUAGIzCn8Yi_2TTiLIOXhgWrhyNI762UNOOvwljomT9radCxRNx2e/s400/Distance+of+recap.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>A screenshot from Google Maps showing the distance between the banding location and the recapture location, 2,553 km. </i><br />
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Carter is doing his PhD on wintering home range (how much area kestrels use to hunt, etc. in south Texas?), survival and site fidelity (do the birds come back to the same spot each winter?). During the winter of 2014, he captured 34 kestrels and colour banded the birds so they could be easily identified using a spotting scope. He then observed the birds on a regular basis to see how far they moved during the winter months. This winter (2015), over 50% of the birds have returned back to their same territories as in 2014! <br />
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He added 3 colour bands to our kestrel so she could be part of his study. In addition, he added some non-toxic dye to her breast feathers to also help identify her from a distance. As of early December, Carter had observed her 10 times along the same 500 m stretch of road and she is typically within 100-200 m of where he caught her! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWXAD7Onn_A8b8L6wPa42GJ07VQtMN3a7RI-fSJayjxyhIqIgGELS42D9J_EtAIGr64l4wHttZpMtfgitHyg-EoG7VphjeMNlPQalh8Nz8QQ5RI4xmtsXhCJ-1ZJDQVwSrAUcdtvIwUGT/s1600/1623-44426+from+S+Texas+-+Carter+Crouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWXAD7Onn_A8b8L6wPa42GJ07VQtMN3a7RI-fSJayjxyhIqIgGELS42D9J_EtAIGr64l4wHttZpMtfgitHyg-EoG7VphjeMNlPQalh8Nz8QQ5RI4xmtsXhCJ-1ZJDQVwSrAUcdtvIwUGT/s320/1623-44426+from+S+Texas+-+Carter+Crouch.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>1623-44426 with her new colour bands back at hunting for prey! Photo credit Carter Crouch.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1NOCi1S_8qOHXNP-O4NnJ7WphqP5R7XCm47E2ZqV9fcQWVA0eoITzKBpQg-pzwJUnS4NsuY9a0y82XtHpffgpADZmpomCsc04Lz1bf_QdJIqt7tq1YgexAjXE2HqXzeLRJoCsTLLHaBQ/s1600/1623-44426+from+S+Texas+-+Carter+Crouch+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1NOCi1S_8qOHXNP-O4NnJ7WphqP5R7XCm47E2ZqV9fcQWVA0eoITzKBpQg-pzwJUnS4NsuY9a0y82XtHpffgpADZmpomCsc04Lz1bf_QdJIqt7tq1YgexAjXE2HqXzeLRJoCsTLLHaBQ/s320/1623-44426+from+S+Texas+-+Carter+Crouch+1.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Carter's volunteer field assistant Matthew Garrick holding 1623-44426 just prior to release. Photo credit Carter Crouch.</i></div>
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This recapture is so exciting because, despite the large number of kestrels that have been banded over the years, very few direct recoveries from a nest box to the known winter ground exist. This is a very rare find. But one that draws a direct line between Saskatchewan and Texas!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yk8F-k5hUYbMz_put36rqN5sIUT3tW6ulkMq7NE-YbPHRFSNTgl3zTDgro_YDDhJpIYj_ocTJL0soc42gSgbYYEPPXYgKCf1Nq29XGEShuWtwBqqmmgimpbSX9lTQ-zgnjOl3uJa0tcp/s1600/Street+view+of+S+Texas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yk8F-k5hUYbMz_put36rqN5sIUT3tW6ulkMq7NE-YbPHRFSNTgl3zTDgro_YDDhJpIYj_ocTJL0soc42gSgbYYEPPXYgKCf1Nq29XGEShuWtwBqqmmgimpbSX9lTQ-zgnjOl3uJa0tcp/s400/Street+view+of+S+Texas.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-align: center;">A google street view of the exact coordinates of where Carter captured 1623-44426 in south Texas.</i><br />
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From this interesting recapture comes more questions! </div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Where will she go to raise her first family in 2016? Will she return to Saskatchewan? Will she somehow find her way into one of the 80 nest boxes we have set up? </span>Will she return to Carter's study site in for winter 2016?<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">All I can say for sure, is Carter will be watching for her return next winter. And my team of banders and I here in Saskatchewan will be eagerly opening our nests boxes come spring hoping to find that little kestrel with three colour bands on her legs and one metal band sitting on her first clutch of eggs. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">To read more about this kestrel check out <a href="http://www.reflectionstexas.com/nature-column-archive/nb-12112015-a-little-lady-travels-a-long-way-from-home/" target="_blank">Robert and Karen Benson's blog post</a></span><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">You can also read more about our <a href="http://www.bandinginsask.blogspot.ca/2015/12/american-kestrels-populations-declining.html" target="_blank">American Kestrel nest box study</a>. </span><br />
<br />Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-22598129950729009602015-12-24T20:28:00.000-07:002015-12-24T20:28:23.740-07:00American Kestrels populations declining in SaskatchewanMany people from around Saskatchewan are familiar with a small falcon that commonly nests in urban centres, high up in spruce trees, and gives an ear piercing <i>keekeekeekeekeekee </i>call. This bird is called a Merlin. <br />
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However, this blog post is not about Merlins. This blog post is about its smaller cousin the American Kestrel. Most people are not familiar with this brilliant coloured falcon as it doesn't often chose to nest close to people and is often overlooked, as it is roughly the size of a Mourning Dove. Yet, once a person has actually had a chance to see how vibrant these little birds are, its difficult to forget about them. That's been the case for me, anyways. Males and females look different, a phenomena I have mentioned before with Yellow-headed Blackbirds, sexual dimorphism. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOpeFpCj2WCbs1Ze65RIpExvz7ZYkuYaiLUeUJlRA2xNmeMYGR_4XK27VJVCMC0onxC9j3FHKeDmaFpjpITO9nJ1SrUgtgavShjeu_7vgmXhrL7Y3290hZZQTmfLdbmntNP0o4ltmU0HI/s1600/IMG_8118+-+Copy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOpeFpCj2WCbs1Ze65RIpExvz7ZYkuYaiLUeUJlRA2xNmeMYGR_4XK27VJVCMC0onxC9j3FHKeDmaFpjpITO9nJ1SrUgtgavShjeu_7vgmXhrL7Y3290hZZQTmfLdbmntNP0o4ltmU0HI/s320/IMG_8118+-+Copy.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Male American Kestrel</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFk8wX0vjHBxN-gkpFCb5PaZRqNhwjJG04ReDrsvt18ZCorcBa0Q8p7KBJBSkP7_PYuutX7b4c1SEn2g6UikQ4XmXOmKfOfioU4gsjGk0S4q31gzuFhmK6wE35dhhBJ-OYM7HIi07H247/s1600/IMG_5210+-+Copy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFk8wX0vjHBxN-gkpFCb5PaZRqNhwjJG04ReDrsvt18ZCorcBa0Q8p7KBJBSkP7_PYuutX7b4c1SEn2g6UikQ4XmXOmKfOfioU4gsjGk0S4q31gzuFhmK6wE35dhhBJ-OYM7HIi07H247/s320/IMG_5210+-+Copy.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Female American Kestrel</i></div>
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In Saskatchewan and across all of Canada, the American Kestrel's population has been declining for at least 40 years now. According to <a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/ron-bbs/P005/A001/?lang=e&m=s&r=AMKE&p=L&t=14036" target="_blank">Breeding Bird Survey Results from southern Saskatchewan</a>, each year their population declines by 2.19% on average. That means in the last 40 years, there are less than half as many kestrels in Saskatchewan compared to 1970. <br />
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It seems we are regularly reminded by news stories about how there are far fewer animals today than 40 years ago. Our default tends to be thinking about elephants, lions and rhinos across the world in peril, and we forget about wildlife right here in Saskatchewan which are hurting just the same. The American Kestrel is one such species that is hurting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIjACdABbTzb8VWvz9LxP7epWyRDVCTkyH0ZQu-T5L3SPvsZ3klq22sDKIcEIpbi7QGwZw0wCiJR7QAT2KkalmQBHydyYfHS8eTprcXtEKrcHbA7UGTNwBYMsH67NSlhOTyexKKX5IHgj/s1600/IMG_8121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIjACdABbTzb8VWvz9LxP7epWyRDVCTkyH0ZQu-T5L3SPvsZ3klq22sDKIcEIpbi7QGwZw0wCiJR7QAT2KkalmQBHydyYfHS8eTprcXtEKrcHbA7UGTNwBYMsH67NSlhOTyexKKX5IHgj/s320/IMG_8121.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Back and tail of a male American Kestrel</i></div>
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Kestrels are cavity nesting birds, meaning they rely on naturally forming cavities or old woodpecker holes to lay their eggs in and raise their young. Because they only nest in cavities, if they can't find nesting sites they won't nest in that area, even if the habitat is acceptable in other ways. Thankfully though, kestrels also regularly use nest boxes, so we can provide nesting cavities if they have been lost.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmsjADCJNSLEKznBxrxAblW-HD0bRRDWABnYYhMsSbV2BylGnnbeTdSPPuwbFfIqjzLGWRCOHL_SPEjRACoP8vXYSzqdva6AfJkM8hmm3tcudwq1fphyGpFNVnrk-5uIgJsVbD7-1WvzP/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmsjADCJNSLEKznBxrxAblW-HD0bRRDWABnYYhMsSbV2BylGnnbeTdSPPuwbFfIqjzLGWRCOHL_SPEjRACoP8vXYSzqdva6AfJkM8hmm3tcudwq1fphyGpFNVnrk-5uIgJsVbD7-1WvzP/s320/IMG_8124.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Back of the head of a male kestrel</i></div>
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To learn more about American Kestrels in Saskatchewan, myself and a team of banders (Joe Kotlar, Randy McCulloch, Adam Crosby and Matt Tokaruk) have set up a nest box project. Besides the Breeding Bird Survey, no other systematic population survey occurs in southern Saskatchewan on kestrels. Therefore, this project has two objectives, 1) to provide nest boxes for kestrels in suitable sites in southern Saskatchewan to help increase their population given their declines and 2) to regularly monitor the nest boxes to determine kestrel-specific population fluctuations. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Es2U67ZZ_buwzjd5Yr_9FiFUD8vJpaDymkw-RxJYAqudfU-dcZkJnvY2zOWOxRhZwDLS9UCfzNjjpnmO8F_nIMUuhaK2DXgzmIdKJg2M2vLEnPIyYLsREkMO0CYY2FrSI906QCWSXMCg/s1600/IMG_5215+-+Copy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Es2U67ZZ_buwzjd5Yr_9FiFUD8vJpaDymkw-RxJYAqudfU-dcZkJnvY2zOWOxRhZwDLS9UCfzNjjpnmO8F_nIMUuhaK2DXgzmIdKJg2M2vLEnPIyYLsREkMO0CYY2FrSI906QCWSXMCg/s320/IMG_5215+-+Copy.gif" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Nestling American Kestrels in a nest box</i></div>
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We started this project in 2015. Using the <a href="http://mn.audubon.org/sites/default/files/documents/american_kestrelnest_planaudubon.pdf" target="_blank">National Audubon Society American Kestrel Nestbox </a>plan we made all of the boxes the same so that comparisons could be made between locations. This first year, we set up 5 different locations, close to where each bander is located. These areas are near Edenwold, Herbert, Nokomis, Prince Albert and Saskatoon. Each location has a cluster of 10 nest boxes, that are at least 2.4 km apart. They are set up on trees, poles, and buildings. In total, 50 nest boxes were available for kestrels.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33KiRprIY9Cvv9PQr5XFRbstPmhJWBTXOfhtB-LYJE3rzG1RFheIz5z_25JwZFU3rzyBjXP859XH3cTGUJC4U4CRNQ80AhptPb-39Ge10qgRvUcQlG5csLEElturzSRRoW3cjUKnwc9Pf/s1600/IMG_7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33KiRprIY9Cvv9PQr5XFRbstPmhJWBTXOfhtB-LYJE3rzG1RFheIz5z_25JwZFU3rzyBjXP859XH3cTGUJC4U4CRNQ80AhptPb-39Ge10qgRvUcQlG5csLEElturzSRRoW3cjUKnwc9Pf/s320/IMG_7526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our occupancy rates during 2015 where much lower at each location than expected as can be seen in the table below. Only 3 nest boxes (6%) were occupied in total and only 2 nests successfully fledged young. This was much lower than expected.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-JE_cXrv603B0tYX5en_1fgUCfC6HJ4cOnJuE03Ct_wkuTQnP3KBNmGP3HVYvlZnO7vlvtnH6G_L6lhYOHc8h1flEIIYzqAcF259OHtovjS1_G58fBoGDQhyphenhyphenuKyEU5uOY-xVTtf9J2oK/s1600/AMKE+results+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-JE_cXrv603B0tYX5en_1fgUCfC6HJ4cOnJuE03Ct_wkuTQnP3KBNmGP3HVYvlZnO7vlvtnH6G_L6lhYOHc8h1flEIIYzqAcF259OHtovjS1_G58fBoGDQhyphenhyphenuKyEU5uOY-xVTtf9J2oK/s640/AMKE+results+2015.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></div>
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<i>A nest box is active if eggs or young are found in the nest. Adults may be observed around the box, but if no eggs or young are observed, the nest box is not deemed active. </i></div>
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My hunch for why our occupancy rate was so low may be that male kestrels scout next years territory in the fall prior to or during migration. Four of the 5 locations did not get the boxes up until a month before kestrels returned to Saskatchewan in spring 2015. If males scout in the fall, perhaps our boxes were not set up in time. We shall see if we have better occupancy in 2016... It would be interesting to set up cameras at nest boxes in the fall and see if any kestrels stop in and investigate the boxes then. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPQft4Nm_ywGwgvHL8vPTHOnhUEX9TsvRwX9DLkVhwqr4UiJpjBdyKAdTe_Av6bp9WqTlZJTZM60lCTopnDn0GJ_CKaDwofhVvGuTZKTXTZgwDn2UO8qlqUdaW8uGuZb4gt3u4tHjKkB6/s1600/IMG_8123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPQft4Nm_ywGwgvHL8vPTHOnhUEX9TsvRwX9DLkVhwqr4UiJpjBdyKAdTe_Av6bp9WqTlZJTZM60lCTopnDn0GJ_CKaDwofhVvGuTZKTXTZgwDn2UO8qlqUdaW8uGuZb4gt3u4tHjKkB6/s320/IMG_8123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-55004867866523248612015-11-18T20:12:00.002-07:002015-11-18T20:12:45.212-07:00Resighting another green tagged Turkey VultureEarlier this summer, my friend Fran Kerbs emailed me a photo of one of the Turkey Vultures I had tagged back in 2012. Except the photo was from 11 km away and 2 years after I had tagged it. <br />
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Fran spotted C37 on June 6, 2014 along route #99 near Craven Saskatchewan. I tagged this bird on August 6th, 2012 near the town of Earl Grey in Saskatchewan. This is a remarkably close resighting of a young Turkey Vulture 2 years after fledging, based on the 153 km average of other resighted young TUVU. It is also amazing, considering this bird likely had migrated south possibly to Venezuela twice already in its lifetime! It is believed, based on the tagging research we have been doing, that Turkey Vultures do not breed until 6 years of age. One year later, I wonder where C37 is now? Mexico? Venezuela? <br />
<br />Thanks for helping to track these neat birds Fran! And thanks for letting me share your sighting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WAD-dSqw2QvIzvFr2D2izsFQbR9uyzdeVZ1aWmPyivnQgDs60zfKdHnEegN01xIR4om7IQYLyH87G0_yXUboBzw27OIL5Mrqdu-lL5BVAVtXT52E1iAVVOdhSg9tURejbJowkJgwsSuJ/s1600/IMG_5329+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WAD-dSqw2QvIzvFr2D2izsFQbR9uyzdeVZ1aWmPyivnQgDs60zfKdHnEegN01xIR4om7IQYLyH87G0_yXUboBzw27OIL5Mrqdu-lL5BVAVtXT52E1iAVVOdhSg9tURejbJowkJgwsSuJ/s320/IMG_5329+-+Copy.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i> Here is C37, still downy white after being tagged on August 6, 2012.</i></div>
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<i>C37 and C38 back in their man-made cave where Turkey Vultures nest in Saskatchewan.</i></div>
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<i>C37 on June 6, 2014, along Route #99 in the Qu'Appelle Valley with an untagged vulture. Photo by Fran Kerbs.</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-52641905431563876072015-11-17T21:39:00.000-07:002015-11-17T21:39:39.335-07:00Opposed to the Wind Farm At Chaplin Lake<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have never really deviated from my bird banding posts here on this blog, but today I would like to share with you my letter that I have sent to the Environmental Assessment Unit at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After spending a long time banding <a href="http://www.bandinginsask.blogspot.ca/2008/09/installing-feha-nesting-platforms.html" target="_blank">Ferruginous Hawks </a>around Chaplin Lake and t<a href="http://www.bandinginsask.blogspot.ca/2015/06/banding-sanderlings.html" target="_blank">his spring banding Sanderlings</a> along the dykes of Chaplin Lake, I feel a deep connection to this place and have an understanding of what this place means to birds in general. I feel to not voice my concern about the proposed wind farm that is to go just north of this important bird area, would be a disservice to the organisms I have held in my hand. </span><br />
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<i>Two Sandlerings ready to be released this spring, 2015. </i></div>
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<i>Sunrise over Chaplin Lake. </i> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Environmental Assessment Unit,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to send this email to express my concern for the location of the proposed wind farm at Chaplin lake. There are two major issues I have with the proposal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">First, Chaplin Lake is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area. Millions of shorebirds use it as an important refueling station during their migration north to the Arctic. To place a wind farm directly north of this area seems incredibly ill planned. According to <span style="background-color: white;">The </span><span style="background-color: white;">State of Canada's Birds (2012)</span>, shorebirds as a group have seen dramatic population declines in Canada over the last 40 years, with population losses close to 50%! Additionally, research by Stewart et al (2007) found that shorebirds experienced the second highest collision rate with wind turbines as a group. So we know that a huge number of shorebirds use this area, we know that shorebirds are highly susceptible to mortality due to collisions with turbines, AND we know that shorebirds as a group are declining in Canada. So I am having a hard time understanding why this placement of wind turbines in this recognized Important Bird Area is a good idea... or why this proposal has even made it to this stage frankly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My second major concern is the placement of a large portion of the turbines in native grasslands. Saskatchewan only has approximately 20% of native prairie remaining in the province. Species at risk, such as Sprague's Pipits, Ferruginous Hawks, and Bobolinks, along with other birds such as Baird's Sparrows, Western Meadowlarks, and Upland Sandpipers readily use these remaining patches of native prairie. In fact, I have banded many Ferruginous Hawks nestlings in this area, data for which the Conservation Data Centre has on file. The State of Canada's Birds (2012) also undeniably shows that grassland songbirds as a group have experienced dramatic declines in Canada over the last 40 years. In addition, research by Leddy et al. (1999) showed that turbines negatively influenced nest densities of grassland songbirds due to human presence at turbines, noise of the turbines and the motion of the turbines as possible causes. The authors recommended that turbines should be placed in cropland so that grassland songbirds are not negatively impacted by wind turbines. So again, we know that native prairie is becoming an increasingly rare ecosystem in Saskatchewan, we know that many species, including species at risk use this grassland around Chaplin, we know that grassland songbirds as entire group have seen major declines in Canada, AND we know that turbines decrease the nesting density of grassland songbirds. So as with my first point above, I am still perplexed why this site is even being considered for a wind farm!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s the solution? I am all for wind power generation! We need to dramatically alter our energy production in this province from coal to a low carbon emission alternative such as wind, to help fight climate change. However, we do not need to sacrifice wildlife by placing these turbines in the wrong places. We have 80% of southern Saskatchewan covered in cropland, where grassland songbirds do not nest. Move the wind farm away from Chaplin lake and put it in cropland. Compensate landowners appropriately for accommodating the turbine on their land. The benefits of wind energy for climate change are very important. As long as we are intelligent about where we place these turbines, they can have low impact on wildlife as well. </span></div>
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Thank you for taking the time to consider my opinion on this proposed wind farm and I hope common sense will prevail and the birds of Chaplin Lake and the surrounding prairie will not be impacted by an ill-conceived plan. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared Clarke</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18pt;">Leddy, K.L., Higgins, K.F., & Naugle, D.E. (1999) Effects of wind turbines on upland nesting birds in conservation reserve program grasslands. </span><i style="line-height: 18pt;">Wilson Bulletin</i><span style="line-height: 18pt;">, </span><b style="line-height: 18pt;">111</b><span style="line-height: 18pt;">, 100-104.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">State of Canada's Birds. http://www.stateofcanadasbirds.org/</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stewart, G.B., Pullin, A.S., and C.F. Coles. 2007. Poor evidence-base for assessment of windfarm impact on birds. <i>Environmental Conservation</i>, <b>34</b>, 1-11.</span></span></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-19335246555680134562015-11-16T21:10:00.000-07:002015-11-16T21:10:08.085-07:00Will these Yellow-headed Blackbirds come back?<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This summer, I started a project on two sloughs around our farm near Edenwold, SK. Yellow-headed Blackbirds are beautiful birds when you actually have a close look at them and get over the fact they are 'blackbirds'. </div>
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Two year old breeding males have striking yellow heads and throats, a black mask and bill, with a jet black bodies, and white primary coverts. First year males, lack the bright yellow, instead have a dull yellow head, and a brownish body. Generally, these young males do not hold their own territory. The females on the other hand, have a brownish body plumage, with some yellow on their head and throat. Males are bold and flashy to attract their mates and females are more cryptic to hide while incubating. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6YVmtbcYgyFDI5vJwN4-CRPBYs_lYZR7QoHr_ZMfsWjDO9jH2JD_cR6u0n7H4u8s7_0z1TrjHJTLzc6ciyAc-i5gbvl0gwVzBhp5Yw_IIFrz8BxLDzlGzz9jhRnxNp4uAnocbYCdy7PA/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6YVmtbcYgyFDI5vJwN4-CRPBYs_lYZR7QoHr_ZMfsWjDO9jH2JD_cR6u0n7H4u8s7_0z1TrjHJTLzc6ciyAc-i5gbvl0gwVzBhp5Yw_IIFrz8BxLDzlGzz9jhRnxNp4uAnocbYCdy7PA/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Male Yellow-headed Blackbird</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgBD6MYomvt2TF3f18zIOIkM00e63EKFdXjfzs_InZyirW9nAWsDbPo0_5x1vicBWyONfQAuK22Kx8oLPqkgsScUgp59GS2qQiyOX1T0fh_spqrfp4WBivaND0XJhQ3dPapTLbhpuAeU1/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgBD6MYomvt2TF3f18zIOIkM00e63EKFdXjfzs_InZyirW9nAWsDbPo0_5x1vicBWyONfQAuK22Kx8oLPqkgsScUgp59GS2qQiyOX1T0fh_spqrfp4WBivaND0XJhQ3dPapTLbhpuAeU1/s320/IMG_0974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Female Yellow-headed Blackbird</i></div>
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There are a number of interesting things about Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Males hold territories and may attract multiple females into their territory to nest. This mating strategy is polygamy. The male will sometimes help the first female who nests in his territory to feed her offspring, but the rest of the females must care for their brood entirely on their own. This summer, I believe one male had 4 females in his territory, but they can apparently have up to 8 females. Males defend their territory from predators and other rival males. Female yellow-heads weave a basket nest, amongst the cattails that hangs over top of the water. Prime nesting territory seems to be where the water is deeper, but the cattails are still tall. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0ST5Ue0vE7lJ1AI9wQvC152yo7e_cms7w-JWb30chWYZf8efdyjiVXZlVD8117rIozLNk9XIAN_bGpSneNwuc8dzUjbi4vhaAKv9LYrdLRBG3_McpdFSBi3XSgeW1U6Wo1nMVV0bdxdH/s1600/IMG_8510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0ST5Ue0vE7lJ1AI9wQvC152yo7e_cms7w-JWb30chWYZf8efdyjiVXZlVD8117rIozLNk9XIAN_bGpSneNwuc8dzUjbi4vhaAKv9LYrdLRBG3_McpdFSBi3XSgeW1U6Wo1nMVV0bdxdH/s320/IMG_8510.jpg" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>A Yellow-headed Blackbird nest with 4 eggs. </i></div>
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We have a high density of Yellow-headed Blackbirds nesting all around us as the water level has been high around here for the last 5 years. On our slough maybe 30 meters from our house we had at least 20 yellow-head active nests, over the course of the summer. This abundant local population provides a great opportunity to study this species, while keeping my carbon footprint associated with the project low. </div>
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The question I am interested in is nest site fidelity of female yellow-heads. In other words, how often do females return to the same slough year after year to build their nest. So to study this, I began marking the birds with small plastic colour bands so that individuals can be identified with a camera, binoculars or a spotting scope. On the two pictures below you can see the colour bands clearly on their legs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRzn6RGNT5GSFrzFi9uoM_knnGx7AsxkwoGBcfClri_8xLo7EgtORx8Hi_KITqiNeAYWBzTvbSiQZgUkFFsyCAa6xANhN9kAvB1HXI13zp0MB8UjqASGqU-JoB8Zz_UL6kQ9dRJOef8iy/s1600/IMG_8496+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRzn6RGNT5GSFrzFi9uoM_knnGx7AsxkwoGBcfClri_8xLo7EgtORx8Hi_KITqiNeAYWBzTvbSiQZgUkFFsyCAa6xANhN9kAvB1HXI13zp0MB8UjqASGqU-JoB8Zz_UL6kQ9dRJOef8iy/s320/IMG_8496+-+Copy.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The colour band sequence on this female is left leg, red over metal, right leg, yellow over red. </i></div>
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<i>The colour band sequence on this male is left leg, </i><i>yellow over red, </i><i>right leg, </i><i>red over metal. The opposite of the above female. </i></div>
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This summer (2015), I captured and colour banded 17 adult yellow-heads on two sloughs. Now we wait to see who comes back. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcAqOa5iagDnvGlVW5MNbOMiACG6vrSLpf6evmKxBPsDo0tdPfgmkHI3NHqw1Yt4UheCm3J4AtmAFNzwoHwtRhMK_O0QZOqzv8tCmwF_CbDbDI0rUsDZdTlCIlbfifnMOMLl1fx4GeNCX/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcAqOa5iagDnvGlVW5MNbOMiACG6vrSLpf6evmKxBPsDo0tdPfgmkHI3NHqw1Yt4UheCm3J4AtmAFNzwoHwtRhMK_O0QZOqzv8tCmwF_CbDbDI0rUsDZdTlCIlbfifnMOMLl1fx4GeNCX/s320/IMG_1099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Can you see the band on this females leg? </i></div>
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<i> During the winter, Yellow-headed Blackbirds form large flocks. This one was down the road from our place in September and even includes a male red-winged blackbird. I wonder where this flock is now.</i></div>
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<br />Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-22835624532883594362015-09-04T21:31:00.001-06:002015-09-04T21:31:52.970-06:00Turkey Vulture tagging in southeastern SaskatchewanThis year I was again able to assist Dr. Stuart Houston's crew with their Turkey Vulture tagging project in Saskatchewan! It was great to be part of the small group of dedicated researchers who study this species in North America! Such a unique bird and a smelly one...<br />
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<i>An adult Turkey Vulture.</i></div>
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Imagine if you will, a dead, rotting, nasty skunk on the side of the road. A delicious meal for a Turkey Vulture. After consuming as much as it can carry the adult vulture will return to its nest (possibly 80 kms away!) and regurgitate its semi-digested meal out for its babies to eat. The young gobble up this fantastic meal. Unfortunately for us taggers, when you go up and try to catch the young vultures they then throw up their semi-digested dead skunk meal to try to make us think twice about grabbing them... fantastic... <br />
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The goal of tagging these young birds is to determine at what age turkey vultures begin to breed at. Amazingly, prior to this study only 1 known aged breeding bird was known to science - an 11 year old bird in Wisconsin. Because turkey vultures defecate down their legs to cool themselves, no one is allowed to band this species with a metal band. So this is one of the reasons for the lack of prior knowledge but also why we use wing tags. <br />
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So far 7 tagged nestlings have been found breeding in Saskatchewan 4-10 years after being tagged. But we need more of these records! 7 records isn't that many considering the over 1217 nestlings that have now been tagged in SK! Despite the low number of birds being found again as breeding birds, over 400 sightings have been made of nestling turkey vultures once they have left the nest and up to 10 years after being tagged. It is estimated that turkey vultures can live to be 40 years old!<br />
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So if you see a green tagged turkey vulture in Saskatchewan sitting on an abandoned building in the spring PLEASE contact me! This sighting could reveal previously unknown information on this species!!<br />
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Here are some of the birds I tagged this year.<br />
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<i> Alisha shows the wing length on this young vulture.</i></div>
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<i>My cousin Hunter and my son Rowan with 03A.</i></div>
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<i>Ralph Goff holds 04A a young vulture tagged in an old house on his land. </i></div>
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<i>Diane and Hunter with 05A.</i></div>
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<i>05A back in the old barn it was raised in. It will be less than a week before it can fly.</i></div>
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<i>New tagging recruits, my sons Rowan & Teal & cousin Hunter with 06A.</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-80884476038141739472015-08-31T22:22:00.001-06:002015-08-31T22:22:24.842-06:00Photo Gallery: Nests around the Saw-whet MAPS stationAs part of the MAPS protocol, we record all of the birds observed during the MAPS sessions and determine the breeding status of these birds around the station. If the bird is carrying food for example, it suggests that it is feeding young and therefore is breeding in the MAPS area. <br />
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Another way to confirm breeding status, is to actually notice their nests. This is one of my favourite parts of the MAPS program! We travel the trail to check nets every 20-30 minutes during the morning and make over 10 trips along the same route! So you start to notice things as you go. <br />
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I run a second MAPS station in my yard and on an adjacent Ducks Unlimited property, near Edenwold. 2015 was the 3rd year running this station. Almost all of the birds that nested here this summer have now departed south and so I thought it was a good time to look back at some of the nests we found within the station in 2015. <br />
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<i>Baby Tree Swallows in a nestbox. There were 8 chicks in this nest!</i></div>
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<i>Here they are a couple weeks later.</i></div>
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<i>This was one of my favourite nests to watch this summer! A Ruby-throated Hummingbird! The first time I had ever found one. Can you see the nest sitting on the horizontal branch in the middle of the photo?</i></div>
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<i>Two little beaks poking out, on the left and one just at the back on the right. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuBEtTQNdU3J9-t7M2P8_BW13IIQtZADqwx6VHHC8Sic1mJuBA5Mkm1VFB7i5frSgGl6X9Pgqt9W5m13V3Z9cTo4q6T4yeKwZBjFIPIiLNvSgAJmI_R9PDli3_kFOMnU2eTzcY5KK1_h9/s1600/RTHU+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuBEtTQNdU3J9-t7M2P8_BW13IIQtZADqwx6VHHC8Sic1mJuBA5Mkm1VFB7i5frSgGl6X9Pgqt9W5m13V3Z9cTo4q6T4yeKwZBjFIPIiLNvSgAJmI_R9PDli3_kFOMnU2eTzcY5KK1_h9/s320/RTHU+3.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Getting a little big for that nest!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz7drpaNvqLQlbRaAOkJI51qdMpjKYG4R5hByjY4YVhmXa0y-JdVjbZGxDG_w13XNkz79aofg9u4lCYP3l-nf67DcB9gD3h2yW-LPmeb1xY_P84vWiFXvCiHN1Rb8zR4qsfvgFwP5jdPG/s1600/BARS+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz7drpaNvqLQlbRaAOkJI51qdMpjKYG4R5hByjY4YVhmXa0y-JdVjbZGxDG_w13XNkz79aofg9u4lCYP3l-nf67DcB9gD3h2yW-LPmeb1xY_P84vWiFXvCiHN1Rb8zR4qsfvgFwP5jdPG/s320/BARS+2015.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Baby Barn Swallows.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTXXuBVtKBUONrYrPyCBggdRCJeAx6ez3ChkHFa21jOz_U5uU9BQexOXA5X3io6bctf0HZilr3PPERK4jp7z7Mq0L7ItUPpw-oA-tu6w2h7ePRMSV93PNOrtBXygVPk3Y1QhE48m38vr8/s1600/LEFL+2015+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTXXuBVtKBUONrYrPyCBggdRCJeAx6ez3ChkHFa21jOz_U5uU9BQexOXA5X3io6bctf0HZilr3PPERK4jp7z7Mq0L7ItUPpw-oA-tu6w2h7ePRMSV93PNOrtBXygVPk3Y1QhE48m38vr8/s320/LEFL+2015+-+Copy.png" width="239" /></i></a></div>
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<i>I was walking along looking at my feet as I walked, when I looked up and a few feet from my face was this female Least Flycatcher staring right back at me!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeIcIpwvIMt80Xl9PoJWMI4yvPLX8IxbW7jg4x8Q2UuedSSqqCNwRCXXPVf8cLdyUluN3UFU6TFBWpE0lOO0kjQO-ekm1w6BB9_ro4b27mvUtZGG9bcOG1DHAFYrAykH0Hu-h3iu5wsho/s1600/Least+Flycatcher+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeIcIpwvIMt80Xl9PoJWMI4yvPLX8IxbW7jg4x8Q2UuedSSqqCNwRCXXPVf8cLdyUluN3UFU6TFBWpE0lOO0kjQO-ekm1w6BB9_ro4b27mvUtZGG9bcOG1DHAFYrAykH0Hu-h3iu5wsho/s320/Least+Flycatcher+2.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i> This is the same nest once the eggs had hatched. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiI15UcvCFlXZnsYQpbJCAHnI1jSdw7FEwSMBuzOk1EwyIOIoGlOrHixmTjj5C01BOjjvecxdUvil2lC5nFhWl2q-amRZpTGJN-1_ujmPvkaaYLPN9EjXTK0fmLyP8wpwNZdMbqj66mKy/s1600/Least+Flycatcher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiI15UcvCFlXZnsYQpbJCAHnI1jSdw7FEwSMBuzOk1EwyIOIoGlOrHixmTjj5C01BOjjvecxdUvil2lC5nFhWl2q-amRZpTGJN-1_ujmPvkaaYLPN9EjXTK0fmLyP8wpwNZdMbqj66mKy/s320/Least+Flycatcher.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>The same nest, with an adult tending to the young. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MvuGcbyYBan56FuHv8t2xvE0r5x911USaGvG0TFJ9o7cFi6znuH1LRFKLcjHdAJ5OSX9G_oIA2dv8iW2bWWA5zukd48L7N0-OVX0DlrOzXZKngOn4lkiROIJPPxdByhqsMi2QUig2nZU/s1600/LEFL+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MvuGcbyYBan56FuHv8t2xvE0r5x911USaGvG0TFJ9o7cFi6znuH1LRFKLcjHdAJ5OSX9G_oIA2dv8iW2bWWA5zukd48L7N0-OVX0DlrOzXZKngOn4lkiROIJPPxdByhqsMi2QUig2nZU/s320/LEFL+4.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Here there are a day before they fledged. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaBwrXpH7u8S2FGlOwA_DqPjptOtQ8fOHE8Ce-38BuDYwCPU_n6M2iyvZgXCDT_0xSyhsR2wZNYCWO3kcdCBE6bDLiW3wLi_egi6OcuPRRcmb1O5A53oOyhHThLMXB5S_3lDjqtVetZCX/s1600/EAPH+2015+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaBwrXpH7u8S2FGlOwA_DqPjptOtQ8fOHE8Ce-38BuDYwCPU_n6M2iyvZgXCDT_0xSyhsR2wZNYCWO3kcdCBE6bDLiW3wLi_egi6OcuPRRcmb1O5A53oOyhHThLMXB5S_3lDjqtVetZCX/s320/EAPH+2015+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Eastern Phoebes nest in our yard in an old shed but this year their second nest was a reused old nest from the year prior right above our bedroom window. They refurbished it and raised a second brood! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1t9_MXD9Bj5ifnG5FJHGNLMsD6VCkO3VbktZOueW-3ldcVds2SLiCt08t7RQDdzD0ty2c437O_HsY9Dnd7CTEt2x4LowiAUqe9AcWgdQvN85eoWhLMrmucCBLGu2e_Y191OXu61CLD5h/s1600/EAPH+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1t9_MXD9Bj5ifnG5FJHGNLMsD6VCkO3VbktZOueW-3ldcVds2SLiCt08t7RQDdzD0ty2c437O_HsY9Dnd7CTEt2x4LowiAUqe9AcWgdQvN85eoWhLMrmucCBLGu2e_Y191OXu61CLD5h/s320/EAPH+2015.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Here are the chicks in their lovely soft nest!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGTNDP_AR59Nglbqjhp846VFuyYz6K9MbJzlOuBzVpSS0S7zEK0X9X7OG59MFb9VQKmhkmNx5H_9QfA97YeCQfvxXuvqNPe044AJ9wLpsTo_dzMG00UBDj4L4qGtP7c-Dk2CoqCjtwzhz/s1600/EAPH+2015+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGTNDP_AR59Nglbqjhp846VFuyYz6K9MbJzlOuBzVpSS0S7zEK0X9X7OG59MFb9VQKmhkmNx5H_9QfA97YeCQfvxXuvqNPe044AJ9wLpsTo_dzMG00UBDj4L4qGtP7c-Dk2CoqCjtwzhz/s320/EAPH+2015+3.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Here they are just before they fledged. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TbE-Azr0Ja44Ur6bdeCqtje9mI99BGwruGSHXh3XEdQMv_e6qfd3qyZM8nhYNeM8eVCdq8Ga5wSnaJ0FU8SG_5ooVVHqqNsueH9d7eU0Fuefg444NXFW0AH_whvfAyj0Eb46hyphenhyphenVETcIh/s1600/CEDW+2015+B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TbE-Azr0Ja44Ur6bdeCqtje9mI99BGwruGSHXh3XEdQMv_e6qfd3qyZM8nhYNeM8eVCdq8Ga5wSnaJ0FU8SG_5ooVVHqqNsueH9d7eU0Fuefg444NXFW0AH_whvfAyj0Eb46hyphenhyphenVETcIh/s320/CEDW+2015+B.JPG" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>This is a Cedar Waxwing nest. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpDv4QmDI_e2NH4cvfhpoQoM44iVTSgyMW5DP1BlLxG5SluEZMqCzgO9whjquEdbS59u9hyIxVvvsbTVysLDm3pS3-DtHeRksVbbKDYqWtbBqRyL7GvK84DY3Grj0UBP2eqxKo3joy8qY/s1600/PUMA+2015+A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpDv4QmDI_e2NH4cvfhpoQoM44iVTSgyMW5DP1BlLxG5SluEZMqCzgO9whjquEdbS59u9hyIxVvvsbTVysLDm3pS3-DtHeRksVbbKDYqWtbBqRyL7GvK84DY3Grj0UBP2eqxKo3joy8qY/s320/PUMA+2015+A.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>One of 6 Purple Martin nests in our two Purple Martin houses.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MyIyFD8Vp6xxzKDlCKInrW4-IOITud93OFgg3mJl9W-Ypwxjjghkz4A9P74zbZYBXA1sThRCvgyIfiNEESnj7KQcQE3AMQIS9OwdyEogfsNpABXTMz7pPNlyMGt6kSqsuDh9EkeYBz0J/s1600/CEDW+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MyIyFD8Vp6xxzKDlCKInrW4-IOITud93OFgg3mJl9W-Ypwxjjghkz4A9P74zbZYBXA1sThRCvgyIfiNEESnj7KQcQE3AMQIS9OwdyEogfsNpABXTMz7pPNlyMGt6kSqsuDh9EkeYBz0J/s320/CEDW+2015.JPG" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Here is the perfect nest of a Yellow Warbler.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41W19tTuVTBZEgKbbxvOAswAAQUn7x29hOoPmqsuBmR6NzWUMnP_7jhAT8bNAx2NuZJ3NMSkKXdd0SXJZiF4RyBG1d1t6Cd0-CT1Zto7v1LfujN01bCLGw4wjqRDObAaaV9MgZVJtLdD0/s1600/GRCA+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41W19tTuVTBZEgKbbxvOAswAAQUn7x29hOoPmqsuBmR6NzWUMnP_7jhAT8bNAx2NuZJ3NMSkKXdd0SXJZiF4RyBG1d1t6Cd0-CT1Zto7v1LfujN01bCLGw4wjqRDObAaaV9MgZVJtLdD0/s320/GRCA+2015.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>This Gray Catbird nest was right in the hedge row beside the boys swing set. She would not move off that nest while we worked around the yard. They fledged at least 3 chicks.</i></div>
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I guess we have to wait another 9 months before we will see any of these again... I am looking forward to it!</div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-48161099114655862812015-07-21T13:15:00.001-06:002015-07-21T23:59:19.747-06:00Our oldest known bird recaptured at Wascana MAPS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are now 2/3's of the way done the 6th season of Wascana MAPS! Does the summer fly by or what!? </div>
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Some of the most interesting stories I think we have learned at Wascana MAPS over the years is from returning birds. Session 4 added a few new recaptures of birds who we hadn't seen yet this summer. <br />
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Our most exciting find was recapturing our oldest known bird to date at Wascana MAPS. This female American Robin who we first banded on June 26, 2010 proved she was still alive by getting caught in one of our nets! When I first banded this bird in 2010, she was an ASY bird, meaning she was hatched in 2008 or earlier! So she is 7 years old now or older! Wow! This is the 4th time in 6 years we have seen her, first in 2010, again in 2012, 2014 and now 2015.<br />
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This bird demonstrates why banding birds with unique identifiers is so important to understanding population dynamics. When I have a bird in my hand, I can typically tell whether that bird hatched this year, last year or sometime before that (for many songbird species). But if that bird is 7 years old like this robin, without a band on her leg, I could only say she is 2 years old or maybe more... <br />
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Truly amazing when you consider an ADULT robin only has about a 50% chance of surviving each year (based on MAPS results for our region). So in 2009 if we band 100 robins (the year she would be considered an adult), by 2010, only 50 will be alive. By 2011, 25 are left, 2012, 12 are left, by 2013, 6 are left, and by 2014 maybe 3 are left. By 2015, in theory only 1 or maybe 2 of those robins banded 7 years ago should be alive... I'll say it again. WOW! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocKOCeAAZzcWcNdHcvWvDdu-6IjP8Y6jLbaoYCXtCsIbsngwhRJ3q7p_HZW0EK8ysFO5Zn4EAf9_iS0gp1SLLtrKRncC6rJ2nc4TYZWiaZTpp8BtEisUkfqURd-3BfNt5rkIn32IgN2Qm/s1600/AMRO+Female+recap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocKOCeAAZzcWcNdHcvWvDdu-6IjP8Y6jLbaoYCXtCsIbsngwhRJ3q7p_HZW0EK8ysFO5Zn4EAf9_iS0gp1SLLtrKRncC6rJ2nc4TYZWiaZTpp8BtEisUkfqURd-3BfNt5rkIn32IgN2Qm/s320/AMRO+Female+recap.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Female American Robin (#922-79913) first banded in 2010.</i></div>
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We also recaptured a Brown-headed Cowbird (2013), a Gray Catbird (2011), a Common Yellowthroat (2012) and a Song Sparrow (2013), who have been recaptured EVERY year since they were first banded (in brackets). These birds are demonstrating how important Wascana Marsh is for their survival and how strong their fidelity is to this location. These birds travel thousands of kilometers away each fall and back in the spring, to come back specifically to this area in Wascana Park! Truly amazing stuff and truly speaks to why protecting this area for these animals is so important. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJLaQvgeCWYaUwna6Q5iOt7eAlFWa9Fq1h6VjUO7TARKeVkTtjaydiwJysCsZHXd2UxTIvTNLabX3Ju_2RZkuYNPYdhoc1cScjVs4_lro3atctApBYMaeiQvPbbrvYJtHgbjQ3_zLItAv/s1600/BHCO+female+recap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJLaQvgeCWYaUwna6Q5iOt7eAlFWa9Fq1h6VjUO7TARKeVkTtjaydiwJysCsZHXd2UxTIvTNLabX3Ju_2RZkuYNPYdhoc1cScjVs4_lro3atctApBYMaeiQvPbbrvYJtHgbjQ3_zLItAv/s320/BHCO+female+recap.png" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Female Brown-headed Cowbird (# 2571-03960) first banded in 2013 and recaptured at Wascana MAPS each year since. </i></div>
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We have now completed what is termed the Adult superperiod in MAPS jargon. Sessions 1-4 are dominated by breeding adults and few young (although we have seen a lot of young American Robins and Song Sparrows in the last 2 sessions). For the last two session of the summer we enter the Young superperiod! This is when we see a lot of the young that were produced during the summer start to really disperse (as they are heading out on their own) and start to arrive in our nets. Last year (2014) because of a number of factors we saw a pretty significant decrease in the number of young produced compared to the previous 3 years. </div>
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What will this summer bring? Was the warm, dry conditions good for nestlings? Or did this cause a decrease in food sources for some birds to feed their chicks with? In the next two weeks we will find out.<br />
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So far this year we have seen the highest number of young Song Sparrows every banded at Wascana MAPS, which is 15 birds! Prior to this, the highest number we have captured in a summer is 3! This is great to see, as last year only 1 young Song Sparrow was captured. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqstT9q-7lz9Aff56iD3v1CSKuIw5c47RRbYr057tBXSTDNdVMWnY74K8cN5_jBV3Ty4SOuqqoFN3lHbRy9906AUHtd_e66vFKNWwtDq0MFGbZq9zXRbiZqiCSib-_fBs5DMVOOiJdpljb/s1600/Young+Song+Sparrow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqstT9q-7lz9Aff56iD3v1CSKuIw5c47RRbYr057tBXSTDNdVMWnY74K8cN5_jBV3Ty4SOuqqoFN3lHbRy9906AUHtd_e66vFKNWwtDq0MFGbZq9zXRbiZqiCSib-_fBs5DMVOOiJdpljb/s320/Young+Song+Sparrow.png" width="240" /></i></a></div>
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<i>One of the 15 juvenile Song Sparrows we have captured this year at Wascana MAPS.</i></div>
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Here are our total results so far for 2015. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl_MBtXC7Qt0C_W-20U1SBtji6Xm_zeYfjIAoVQQ6Kde-Jb8ITphLvu131WHdUSod0pQIx5DmNaKEBPWV1EWqAZmAtz5rrZ9Bk2_WyaoblVjx2Pl8GrVlTZiQSI9PjcHLRBdeoXjUK0Ea/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+Banding+totals+2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl_MBtXC7Qt0C_W-20U1SBtji6Xm_zeYfjIAoVQQ6Kde-Jb8ITphLvu131WHdUSod0pQIx5DmNaKEBPWV1EWqAZmAtz5rrZ9Bk2_WyaoblVjx2Pl8GrVlTZiQSI9PjcHLRBdeoXjUK0Ea/s640/Wascana+MAPS+Banding+totals+2015.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In addition, here is a comparison graph of the total number of birds captured during each session at Wascana MAPS from 2010 to 2015. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ag-NSZuGc3whjNPB2yU5ccW5htKVOkk4XZ5hdzD9V3O9XehwHxXdvOeaxvOOlXmh9Msil1CrTYoJXX2bPWU6MORApCYKhVe7bfgimVQgRyrV_SJupb3T7utPxtVHF_zCKf5bYVBuPWll/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+2010-2015+Session+Captures.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ag-NSZuGc3whjNPB2yU5ccW5htKVOkk4XZ5hdzD9V3O9XehwHxXdvOeaxvOOlXmh9Msil1CrTYoJXX2bPWU6MORApCYKhVe7bfgimVQgRyrV_SJupb3T7utPxtVHF_zCKf5bYVBuPWll/s400/Wascana+MAPS+2010-2015+Session+Captures.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-10446874280140487412015-06-24T23:04:00.000-06:002015-06-24T23:07:50.894-06:00Spotting a green tagged Turkey VultureIt seems like in the last month or so there has been a flurry of sightings of Turkey Vultures (TUVU) with green tags on their wings! According to Dr. Stuart Houston of Saskatoon the lead of the Turkey Vulture tagging program in Saskatchewan, 1225 Turkey Vultures have now been tagged in the province over the last 11 years! <br />
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Despite having been involved in this project for about 4 of those years, at the beginning of this summer I still had never seen a tagged Turkey Vulture flying around! However, that all changed on Sunday this week, as we drove home from Big Sandy Lake.<br />
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We were just two miles north of Melfort when Kristen spotted a TUVU circling in the air beside the road. I was going to pull over to have a look at the bird, when a second bird flew out of the ditch, just as we passed it and landed on a nearby fence post. As the bird flew out of the ditch I caught a glimpse of a green wing tag!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu55mbyOw6B1xfPR6NioLgzjkC0MCWunGeYvTAcUYedLJQx_bKLivxXiKqPnMx9kLTWEeSAN6k0aGokvnWqKSMJN-XOOc4qX2rjORa-IPjA40pMWc-IpjM6t-qDiRCyrpsscwZ6fDr1cY/s1600/IMG_1629+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlu55mbyOw6B1xfPR6NioLgzjkC0MCWunGeYvTAcUYedLJQx_bKLivxXiKqPnMx9kLTWEeSAN6k0aGokvnWqKSMJN-XOOc4qX2rjORa-IPjA40pMWc-IpjM6t-qDiRCyrpsscwZ6fDr1cY/s320/IMG_1629+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A88 just taking off.</i></div>
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Sure enough, upon turning around. There sat a Turkey Vulture with A88 on its patagial tag. Bird banders are not able to band TUVU with a standard aluminum band, because of their habit of defecating down their legs as a way to cool themselves. Over time their crap can build up on an aluminum band and cause damage to the birds leg. So instead some banders put patagial tags on the TUVU wings. <br />
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We were just able to get a glimpse of the tag's digits when the bird flew away. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_PV0XeoiNjanOByq19UpOwq4_x1H5_hjCMR91688M_tnzkPhkMDYjBZCMcEnpr3LWcaLfczQF3IjeGZqxHnd3JiUPGUZqkFwwMrq8xyYGvTPgBOXwW2jUDYCi_sV0OuvdY4J5WSixRUe/s1600/IMG_1639+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_PV0XeoiNjanOByq19UpOwq4_x1H5_hjCMR91688M_tnzkPhkMDYjBZCMcEnpr3LWcaLfczQF3IjeGZqxHnd3JiUPGUZqkFwwMrq8xyYGvTPgBOXwW2jUDYCi_sV0OuvdY4J5WSixRUe/s320/IMG_1639+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i> A88 in flight.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pioqNACRZLhdfCy3XQ6BRF5fCKCMnA0Qw_ssSk28NL3tnGXUi9wg0yXncCONEcqCVuwN1TG-EstLTOgkqWzaA5Smnqj1uffLjkILkt_1_t1ahQRD8smrHQwRhbxcTBrhRT8IJ4_E0dSa/s1600/IMG_1641+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pioqNACRZLhdfCy3XQ6BRF5fCKCMnA0Qw_ssSk28NL3tnGXUi9wg0yXncCONEcqCVuwN1TG-EstLTOgkqWzaA5Smnqj1uffLjkILkt_1_t1ahQRD8smrHQwRhbxcTBrhRT8IJ4_E0dSa/s320/IMG_1641+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A88 in flight.</i></div>
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Back at home, I contacted the Dr. Stuart Houston and informed him of our sighting. It turns out this bird is 6 years old! It was tagged on August 30, 2009 near Hagen, SK as a nestling. Therefore, 6 years later, this bird is only 70 km away from where it hatched! Pretty amazing when you consider that these birds winter in Costa Rica or South America! And it has gone south 5 times now during its life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7lItf6gWIOH_kgU6m2kkMRUZiKSSoo3CZE1tMnDMmeUpTITGolFmrFvH4TZgWAQBYncS7mJSONJI0nuzZZuXhx3V7pprXrcTuEAiWAZW6ifoO7SXxiqfWqYwOaCtnC0sb3fWEMrSvz4y/s1600/TUVU+Certificate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7lItf6gWIOH_kgU6m2kkMRUZiKSSoo3CZE1tMnDMmeUpTITGolFmrFvH4TZgWAQBYncS7mJSONJI0nuzZZuXhx3V7pprXrcTuEAiWAZW6ifoO7SXxiqfWqYwOaCtnC0sb3fWEMrSvz4y/s320/TUVU+Certificate.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CbDfIfuRtFoEC6bi9MBwRE5SRMQPIz_JnVcXKqtBs5WMF-HlpFz5YQxMd0dRIyKSasx3NSe8Y7h0Ej9MqIk5LQ5RUVpZ4Ut2G2tl9G0TKimFqwjg3oYw9rFYCTJnl1a1Red_fEfSK5xg/s1600/TUVU+Certificate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></div>
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<i>My certificate of appreciation for the tag sighting.</i></div>
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What adds to this story, is that this is not the first time A88 has been seen! In October, 2009, on its first migration south, A88 was observed near Trossachs, SK. And then again in August 2012, this bird was sighted in Saskatchewan! <br />
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If you are so lucky as to observe a tagged Turkey Vulture, make sure you record the date, location (gps location is optimal), the tag number, colour of tag (different colours mean different projects) and what the bird was up to. You can contact me at my email address on this blog and I can put you in touch with Dr. Houston. Its important to get the 'air number' from Dr. Houston, prior to submitting your observation through the www.reportband.gov website, as this will help speed up the process. <br />
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Dayne Wilkinson, just contacted me a few days ago (June 22) for just that reason after his dad snapped this photo of E81 just west of Prince Albert, SK. This bird was tagged in 2012, making it 3 years old now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rPCZqQwjH4BQUkDhyNfvLA7-ibH4sBxnSB996oqNUZyDvRfFoJI9cV8NFM9OZa_NT_a-X3GbZY7Ws-V3Z5ILd_87UprBehC-yhwSUtQM3wTPT6gYp3P7YMAQdwfy5YgYEm6PZsEayYCe/s1600/E81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rPCZqQwjH4BQUkDhyNfvLA7-ibH4sBxnSB996oqNUZyDvRfFoJI9cV8NFM9OZa_NT_a-X3GbZY7Ws-V3Z5ILd_87UprBehC-yhwSUtQM3wTPT6gYp3P7YMAQdwfy5YgYEm6PZsEayYCe/s320/E81.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Turkey Vulture E81 - Thanks Mr. Wilkinson for letting me post your photo!</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-1006897562046021592015-06-23T22:59:00.000-06:002015-06-23T22:59:32.000-06:00Wascana MAPS session 2We completed the 2nd session of the Wascana MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) station this morning. It was an average morning in terms of total captures. We banded 36 new birds and recaptured 16 previously banded birds. Seven of the 16 recaps were those we banded in the first session 12 days ago, and the other 9 were from previous years (2 of which we captured last session as well). We also captured the first young of the year today - 1 young Robin and 1 Song Sparrow.<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 280px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6034; mso-width-source: userset; width: 124pt;" width="165"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 1974; mso-width-source: userset; width: 41pt;" width="54"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2230; mso-width-source: userset; width: 46pt;" width="61"></col>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 124pt;" width="165"></td>
<td class="xl69" colspan="2" style="width: 87pt;" width="115"><b>Session #2</b></td>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td>
<td class="xl67" colspan="2"><b>June 23/2015</b></td>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Species</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Banded</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Recap</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Red-winged Blackbird</td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">12</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border-top: none;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">American Robin</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">4</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">American Goldfinch</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Yellow Warbler</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">3</td>
<td class="xl66">5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Cedar Waxwing</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">5</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Gray Catbird</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">1</td>
<td class="xl66">2</td>
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<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Clay-colored Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Brown Thrasher</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">3</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Brown-headed Cowbird</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">2</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Common Yellowthroat</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Baltimore Oriole</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">1</td>
<td class="xl66">2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Song Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">2</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Warbling Vireo</td><td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;">1</td><td class="xl66"><br /></td></tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;"><td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;"><br /></td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;"><br /></td><td class="xl65" style="border-left: none;"><br /></td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvVI86X3Nr03Neno-_U4pRo9hIGZo2_RgTekopCGQVlIxxLRg6XCvdOtQGPpcR6sKIPSWLDRcPkxYr2nh2zpkkVm4cLY9LGqFmmuKKirWRZbSZ-YuswCwY2wY_EL84ZtJJXWSRVf4u70y/s1600/BHCO+male.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvVI86X3Nr03Neno-_U4pRo9hIGZo2_RgTekopCGQVlIxxLRg6XCvdOtQGPpcR6sKIPSWLDRcPkxYr2nh2zpkkVm4cLY9LGqFmmuKKirWRZbSZ-YuswCwY2wY_EL84ZtJJXWSRVf4u70y/s320/BHCO+male.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Brown-headed Cowbird male</i></div>
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Interestingly, we have been catching a lot of Red-winged Blackbirds (RWBL). So far in the two sessions, we have banded 30 birds and recapped 3 birds from previous years. RWBL have been our fifth most common species captured over the last five years (a total of 145 have been banded) and on average 29 birds each summer. So we have already surpassed that this year in only 2 sessions. Surprisingly, one year old males (SY males) are making up the vast majority of the birds we are capturing. I am not sure what this means exactly, in terms of why they are so abundant here this year. These birds typically do not hold territory at this age, as they lack the impressive black and red plumage to impress the females and compete with older males. So they are just hanging around and learning it seems. </div>
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The water level is amazingly low this year in Wascana Marsh, compared to all other years we have been banding. This seems to have impacted a few of the marsh species. For example, we have not heard any Marsh Wrens this year, and very few Sora's are present - today we only heard one call once.</div>
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The 7 new recaptured birds we caught today were originally banded in:</div>
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2012 - 1 Baltimore Oriole</div>
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2013 - 1 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Gray Catbird</div>
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2014 - 1 Brown Thrasher, 2 Yellow Warbler, 1 American Goldfinch</div>
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The recaptured Baltimore Oriole from 2012 was a first for our station! We have never recaptured a Baltimore Oriole before, let alone one from 4 summers ago! This female must have had success raising young in the HCA to be returning. She was aged as an adult bird when originally captured meaning she is at least 4 years old now. </div>
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<i style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvGZ50wj9R1alFvz6swDq1Ip5nhYTvmp-GDDp9oBbFZUflknK0EuXlrKj9Aj4MX1fH1u5UOz0kC5kcjMEaHWwFF6giAOs46VTebUrZDFkOg9KstET5cB8X8P-zbTFzHVKAEBpEwOT_zGp/s1600/Female+BAOR.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvGZ50wj9R1alFvz6swDq1Ip5nhYTvmp-GDDp9oBbFZUflknK0EuXlrKj9Aj4MX1fH1u5UOz0kC5kcjMEaHWwFF6giAOs46VTebUrZDFkOg9KstET5cB8X8P-zbTFzHVKAEBpEwOT_zGp/s320/Female+BAOR.gif" width="240" /></a></i></div>
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<i>Female Baltimore Oriole #8051-82697</i></div>
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<i>A newly banded male Baltimore Oriole</i></div>
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The Red-winged Blackbird banded in 2013, has returned for her third summer now. We have captured her in 2013, 2014 and now 2015.</div>
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During each MAPS session we record all species of birds observed as well as noting their particular behaviour to suggest whether they are breeding in the area or not. For example, birds only carry food in their bill if they are returning to feed chicks, so if we see a Gray Catbird carrying food, this suggests they are nesting somewhere in the area.</div>
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To date we have observed 94 species in the Habitat Conservation Area, during the MAPS program (from June 10 to August 9) from 2010-2015. We were excited to add the 95 species documented - a Green Heron. This is a rare visitor to Wascana Marsh and it was the keen eye of Kim Mann who picked that one out! Here are some long shot photos to confirm its identity!</div>
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<i>Adult male Song Sparrow & a recently fledged Song Sparrow chick </i></div>
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<i> 1st young Robin we captured this summer</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-45607578771829644482015-06-17T22:56:00.002-06:002015-06-17T22:56:51.733-06:00First Wascana MAPS session in the bag!Last week we had a success first session at the Wascana MAPS banding station! This is our 6th summer of banding songbirds in Wascana Marsh! The Wascana MAPS station is located mainly in the Habitat Conservation Area in Wascana Park. I now operate the station in a volunteer capacity (first 4 years were as the Park Naturalist of Wascana Centre). In Saskatchewan, there are now 5 stations in operation - Wascana, Saw-whet (near Edenwold), Craven, Beaver Creek (near Saskatoon) and Love. In North America, we are 5 of the 500 or so stations that operate each year! To learn more about the MAPS program visit the Institute of Bird Population's <a href="http://www.birdpop.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. <br />
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Thursday, June 11 was the day! We started opening our ten mist nets at dawn, which on June 11 is at 4:47 am. We keep them open for 6 hours and so begin closing them at 10:47.<br />
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<i>A lot of volunteers out for our 1st session of the summer! Thanks everyone!</i></div>
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We had a pretty productive morning with 46 birds being banded and 17 birds being captured that already had bands on their legs! Below is a detailed break down of what we captured. In total 13 species were captured during the course of the morning which is a little low, 14-17 was the range for the last 5 years. The total number of birds captured was right in the middle of what we would expect for the first session (range 53-88 over the last 5 years).<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 278px;">
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<col style="mso-width-alt: 2048; mso-width-source: userset; width: 42pt;" width="56"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2084; mso-width-source: userset; width: 43pt;" width="57"></col>
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<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 124pt;" width="165"></td>
<td class="xl69" colspan="2" style="width: 85pt;" width="113"><b>Session #1</b></td>
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<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td>
<td class="xl67" colspan="2"><b>June 11/2015</b></td>
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<td class="xl68" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><b>Species</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Banded</b></td>
<td class="xl67"><b>Recap</b></td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Red-winged Blackbird</td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none;">18</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border-top: none;">2</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">American Robin</td>
<td class="xl65">6</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">American Goldfinch</td>
<td class="xl65">6</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Yellow Warbler</td>
<td class="xl65">3</td>
<td class="xl66">9</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Gray Catbird</td>
<td class="xl65">3</td>
<td class="xl66">3</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Clay-colored Sparrow</td>
<td class="xl65">3</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Cedar Waxwing</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Least Flycatcher</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Common Yellowthroat</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66">1</td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">House Wren</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Brown-headed Cowbird</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
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<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Baltimore Oriole</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="18" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;">
<td height="18" style="height: 13.5pt;">Brown Thrasher</td>
<td class="xl65">1</td>
<td class="xl66"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i>Net 9 with a robin waiting to be removed.</i></div>
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What I always find interesting are the recaptures - these are birds that we have already captured and banded previously. Because this is the first banding session of the year, all of the 17 birds recaptured are from previous years.</div>
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Of special note was one of the Red-winged Blackbirds. This bird (#922-79909) was first banded in 2010 as a Second Year bird, meaning he hatched in 2009. This makes him 6 years old now! Interestingly, this is the first time we have recaptured this individual since originally banding him in 2010. Where has he been all this time?</div>
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<i>922-79909 telling me how much he likes me...</i></div>
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Two of the Yellow Warbler recaps were from 2011, making this their 5th summer in the HCA! Amazing to think these little birds who weigh 9-10 grams can fly back and forth from Regina to Central or South America each year for 5 years now! One of the warblers hatched in 2010 and the other in 2011, making these birds 5 and 4 years old, respectively. </div>
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The last interesting thing about the recaps that I will mention, was 3 Yellow Warblers were captured in the same net on the last run of the morning (in net 9). All three had been banded on May 26, 2013 in the HCA! What are the chances we would catch those three birds together like that again. Only 1 of these birds had we recaptured in other years. </div>
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In total our recaps were broken down like this. </div>
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Originally banded in:</div>
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2014 - 3 Yellow Warbler, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Gray Catbird, </div>
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2013 - 1 Gray Catbird, 1 American Goldfinch, 1 American Robin, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 3 Yellow Warblers</div>
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2012 - 1 Yellow Warbler, </div>
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2011 - 2 Yellow Warblers, 1 Gray Catbird</div>
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2010 - 1 Red-winged Blackbird</div>
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<i> A second year Baltimore Oriole male - a striking molt limit!</i></div>
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<i>Releasing a female American Goldfinch. Just got her in the frame, lol, look at James' elbow.</i></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-84493027551061297522015-06-07T11:50:00.001-06:002015-06-07T11:50:52.752-06:00A new season! Wascana MAPSWe are just a few days away from starting our 6th season of banding at the Wascana MAPS station and our 3rd season at the Saw-whet MAPS station near Edenwold, Saskatchewan! I am pumped to get started as it is so interesting to see who has survived to come back to each station for another year.<br />
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Will we see the Yellow Warbler (#2180-49826) who was the first Yellow Warbler we banded our first day of MAPS in 2010? We have captured him in 2011, 2013, and 2014, making him at least 6 years old in 2014!<br />
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Will we see the American Robin (#922-79913) who we also banded in 2010, and recapped in 2012 and 2014. Pretty amazing when you consider, based on MAPS results, adult American Robins have about a 50% probability of surviving 1 year! She was also at least 6 years old in 2014.<br />
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Perhaps we will see some of the young Gray Catbirds or Yellow Warblers that have been raised in the park and are returning to breed in the area!<br />
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Who knows! But what I do know is there are some birds carrying bands on their legs this summer in the Habitat Conservation Area. We were in the area between May 28 and June 2, while our goats were grazing the caragana in the area and I was able to snap some photos of some of the birds around. Of the 50 some species I saw in the HCA, 7 species had bands on their legs! Here are those photos. Who are they? What are their stories?<br />
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We continue to learn about these amazing creatures this week! <br />
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<i>American Robin</i></div>
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<i>Red-winged Black Bird male </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsAsigkVC6bEZ8J1y-u-x1GaYv8ZMpkEPHUUUJX65IQgC0NVnN2mYv550gtBcK54KHDcCgY4JtpK7RNuQRMw5pucIbBXXrtkKwxMNAY1TvUwiVZkbmCAyCsfF9ZQf4jN2E4YBlrKl4jmd/s1600/AMGO2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsAsigkVC6bEZ8J1y-u-x1GaYv8ZMpkEPHUUUJX65IQgC0NVnN2mYv550gtBcK54KHDcCgY4JtpK7RNuQRMw5pucIbBXXrtkKwxMNAY1TvUwiVZkbmCAyCsfF9ZQf4jN2E4YBlrKl4jmd/s320/AMGO2.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>American Goldfinch male (band just visible on the right leg)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBEL2H-DQ_65FWidnJxfQXytNM8ssuk4qwM_qkc7o3UhlgxSO7DzqsIHWTmZcra7GMn7DSLzSwY9HKaUZNEFCbrc3AsdBadvSzWJhsNo7SRvebNKind3wI5nzLjTEAX8V8WaBMIE0dUoI/s1600/TRES.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBEL2H-DQ_65FWidnJxfQXytNM8ssuk4qwM_qkc7o3UhlgxSO7DzqsIHWTmZcra7GMn7DSLzSwY9HKaUZNEFCbrc3AsdBadvSzWJhsNo7SRvebNKind3wI5nzLjTEAX8V8WaBMIE0dUoI/s320/TRES.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>This was a surprise to see this Tree Swallow with a band! We have only banded 7 TRES in 2012 & 2013!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQZW39HsSnr6GRHV77S-wMdElkMtez8oiztSs-5PdWsIjTNFuovdN-d3HJUUP6XY9dPdW5ZW5P9NQbv074YAFEG6C4cyrhLPvcD4nIo2mYtn8a03KYiEZW9XJ8EDq3glknB6FzuPBo9G_/s1600/AMGO1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQZW39HsSnr6GRHV77S-wMdElkMtez8oiztSs-5PdWsIjTNFuovdN-d3HJUUP6XY9dPdW5ZW5P9NQbv074YAFEG6C4cyrhLPvcD4nIo2mYtn8a03KYiEZW9XJ8EDq3glknB6FzuPBo9G_/s320/AMGO1.JPG" width="249" /></a></div>
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<i>Another American Goldfinch male with a band.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmwgLcsRxNYqcKo4rMO-bwmcLVT3rOYHnG0iqIinjUdlKjFF-U1XwTe4ixt6-7kiMFVavj-xyvHS7w8weqnWs6pHGFqSZfOWDj8x0L9UhtZMsuiobKARP6POIwvPrK7eKdZUG3uDSzG00/s1600/COYE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmwgLcsRxNYqcKo4rMO-bwmcLVT3rOYHnG0iqIinjUdlKjFF-U1XwTe4ixt6-7kiMFVavj-xyvHS7w8weqnWs6pHGFqSZfOWDj8x0L9UhtZMsuiobKARP6POIwvPrK7eKdZUG3uDSzG00/s320/COYE.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>Common Yellowthroat male </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhQvqm5vaanQ-_lgXuEWTR5mix-C0aSCvjY7uS0JgNtB24XfMTOscTaVD4QPxrUeNjyIG4MbKk5XzFX-SNyczIJHS2gHIqjJw99fPcBvuIZ1jXNMPEz7iw_ODbvY-TuJvGS1ip1Uiu7TX/s1600/GRCA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhQvqm5vaanQ-_lgXuEWTR5mix-C0aSCvjY7uS0JgNtB24XfMTOscTaVD4QPxrUeNjyIG4MbKk5XzFX-SNyczIJHS2gHIqjJw99fPcBvuIZ1jXNMPEz7iw_ODbvY-TuJvGS1ip1Uiu7TX/s320/GRCA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Gray Catbird</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZGOu27E9VINxjV2ROG2EGNNkemUZj9qqnJ2Vr7TvoRfsTUqi_JjyFnECc-vVFMe7URPa0LBOWJST62s66ai4Nog7lR2n1Y9_0dPP1UOfCvTnjjwDS8qQ3hlVQ0JnyqQ9mcQE-KTN3Aqf/s1600/RWBL+F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZGOu27E9VINxjV2ROG2EGNNkemUZj9qqnJ2Vr7TvoRfsTUqi_JjyFnECc-vVFMe7URPa0LBOWJST62s66ai4Nog7lR2n1Y9_0dPP1UOfCvTnjjwDS8qQ3hlVQ0JnyqQ9mcQE-KTN3Aqf/s320/RWBL+F.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Red-winged Blackbird female (this bird was already feeding young in her nest). </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmCFWKG-IQU75w_kizoc1TJ1DXLBsuSxntHdCgYYwVGTpQHjsL-vBJheM-ZX-oo6grOGv9-h4dh4uzsfqNAkp5FG4KUMoN_f7-aRoQAEgCV8LNCXzYO9Xum-w3mwPfcESNARt2S_L1o2c/s1600/RWBL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmCFWKG-IQU75w_kizoc1TJ1DXLBsuSxntHdCgYYwVGTpQHjsL-vBJheM-ZX-oo6grOGv9-h4dh4uzsfqNAkp5FG4KUMoN_f7-aRoQAEgCV8LNCXzYO9Xum-w3mwPfcESNARt2S_L1o2c/s320/RWBL.JPG" width="309" /></a></div>
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<i>Red-winged Blackbird male</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgoqpetjdyajKLA0CAAL56yZE8PV8Vn7I42Uqc11P5JCJ3XkaEYNx5rZze4zXYaegCQ52YW6-8Fly1XsN9slHhg5dXx5urc1rzVFJntc6NZIHgalrnjTHWwXMezzaoh5YTZSaEQq7E4O_/s1600/YEWA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgoqpetjdyajKLA0CAAL56yZE8PV8Vn7I42Uqc11P5JCJ3XkaEYNx5rZze4zXYaegCQ52YW6-8Fly1XsN9slHhg5dXx5urc1rzVFJntc6NZIHgalrnjTHWwXMezzaoh5YTZSaEQq7E4O_/s320/YEWA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yellow Warbler male (is this 2180-49826??!!??!!)</i></div>
<br />Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-22332108531725933262015-06-03T22:45:00.002-06:002015-06-03T23:11:13.519-06:00Banding SanderlingsTwo weeks ago now, I had the chance to join Dr. Christy Morrissey, a toxicologists from the University of Saskatchewan (of Songbird SOS fame!) and her grad student, Kristin and assistant Christina at their study site at Chaplin Lake, near Chaplin, SK. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Here the team catches Sanderlings, Red Knots and Semi-palmated Sandpipers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPylhyWGn7WCeznURDi5WzeLQpH0jPblN_ylrtIHisuJZlCBGbxPkwGTRUK52dFXcJvOOuujqJoJfC7_-rhCJmixLeGDCxEVN7jQiBh30jG1shD_yrykuBHnhsNBSXyhpHTEGS0iC2ADB/s1600/IMG_9520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPylhyWGn7WCeznURDi5WzeLQpH0jPblN_ylrtIHisuJZlCBGbxPkwGTRUK52dFXcJvOOuujqJoJfC7_-rhCJmixLeGDCxEVN7jQiBh30jG1shD_yrykuBHnhsNBSXyhpHTEGS0iC2ADB/s320/IMG_9520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A view at dusk of the mist nets along the dyke.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
Kristin is studying how heavy industrial pollutants affect how shorebirds are able to build up fat reserves which they need to make their long flights from South America to the Arctic. Shorebirds across the world are experiencing pretty alarming populations declines and one idea is that they are not able to put on enough fat to 1) make the journey at all or 2) reach the breeding ground in such poor body condition that their reproductive success is significantly impacted.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Banding Sanderlings is not for the faint of heart or I should say not for those who like their sleep... This is because Sanderlings have fantastic eyesight and can see the mist nets that are used to capture them during the day, therefore banding occurs at night! So out we went at dusk to the dykes on Chaplin Lake where the team had their nets set up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hhfuqd8ZvC5DwNjFXRuaVNOMNEXzeziO9AzgDafnQHsoRCJXi1r8OPGc05cKVJqZqaZfYKP5CKoFEdrja8AaqB1leaV8RE7hr0Q_ax7KoX4M7hvSH-47P2VQ3LQzm8WS7OvTkSIAi_lI/s1600/IMG_9566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hhfuqd8ZvC5DwNjFXRuaVNOMNEXzeziO9AzgDafnQHsoRCJXi1r8OPGc05cKVJqZqaZfYKP5CKoFEdrja8AaqB1leaV8RE7hr0Q_ax7KoX4M7hvSH-47P2VQ3LQzm8WS7OvTkSIAi_lI/s320/IMG_9566.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i>A Sanderling with white flag, P28, with orange band on lower left leg. I learned shorebirds can easily get leg cramps, so while handling the birds you try to let the legs dangle instead of holding them against your hand.</i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Our first night we captured 8 Sanderlings and 1 Semi-palmated Sandpiper. The second night we caught 18 Sanderling, with 12 being caught between 3 and 4:30 am. Once out of the net the birds are banded with an aluminum band on their upper left left leg. Then an orange color band goes on their lower left leg. Lastly, a small plastic flag, goes on the birds upper right leg. The flag the team uses is white with black coding.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcRPG0A-WWnvHZMaMHqciFtbI7AmJ5OGRmcDFQUr2W-PL9Lh8ogFjsp2go3SfHSlpUnTP3xR7oECsTeRhTqJFtVSWpnrz9eOqJQt4F-afDErmZmJ_LawYxMHn0hyphenhyphenCMleLjs5MF92rjRuQ/s1600/IMG_9554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcRPG0A-WWnvHZMaMHqciFtbI7AmJ5OGRmcDFQUr2W-PL9Lh8ogFjsp2go3SfHSlpUnTP3xR7oECsTeRhTqJFtVSWpnrz9eOqJQt4F-afDErmZmJ_LawYxMHn0hyphenhyphenCMleLjs5MF92rjRuQ/s320/IMG_9554.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>The nano tag, white flag, and orange band to be put on a Sanderling. You can see a piece of pencil lead right above the white flag.</i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Because shorebirds can travel so far (Red Knots over winter at the very south tip of South America and breeding in the Arctic!) a great deal of coordination goes on amongst sandpiper banders. If a bird is banded in Canada and the bander puts on a flag, then that flag must be white. The significance of the bands' placement can be more complex, as with this project, where birds get an orange color band on the lower left leg as well which means the bird was banded at Chaplin Lake in 2015. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">One of the last things team does before the Sanderling is released is a nano tag is glued to its back and feathers. This nano tag sends out a radio-signal that can be detected with a traditional receiver. However, the team has deployed 3 receiver towers around Chaplin Lake, as well as 2 towers at Reed Lake, and 1 at Old Wives Lake. These receivers have a mile or two sensitivity and automatically detect the nano tags when they are in range. Using this equipment the team will be able to know exactly how long it is taking the birds to put on their fat reserves to make the final stretch to the high Arctic! The nano tag only weighs 0.6 grams compared to the 45-90 gram bird (depending on the fat reserve!). So they are less than 1% of their weight.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_10nNvFa8JUxbzmgd7DJYC-FQFuv1IYUZkwjIm8CqGF0uJFEtfCFz7goSJDRWkOVgnLdjBYHN8-q7ixMlvsQDlCll0FBZlFgdUcSt7abEu7q8aUWuN-1BB1ey6UIVlHfwfUz9YdePwMC/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_10nNvFa8JUxbzmgd7DJYC-FQFuv1IYUZkwjIm8CqGF0uJFEtfCFz7goSJDRWkOVgnLdjBYHN8-q7ixMlvsQDlCll0FBZlFgdUcSt7abEu7q8aUWuN-1BB1ey6UIVlHfwfUz9YdePwMC/s320/IMG_9686.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></div>
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<i>A pair of Sanderlings all processed. You can barely see the nano tag wire coming off the birds back.</i></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">What perhaps makes this project even more exciting, is the fact that Christy and her team went down to Texas earlier in May this year and captured Sanderlings and Red Knots that are presumed to come north through Chaplin. If the tagged birds from Texas arrive at Chaplin Lake, the towers will record the radio frequency from the transmitters and the team will know who has arrived and exactly when and for exactly how long they stay. I talked with Christy this week and she said so far a few of the birds tagged in Texas had arrived at Chaplin!!</span><br />
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The nano tags only have battery for about 65 days, and will fall off the bird once they moult their back feathers, so they are not designed to stay on for very long. Once the birds leave Chaplin, there are only 2 more towers north, one along Nelson River and one at James Bay.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">However, there are lots of towers in Ontario and along the eastern side of the continent. Interestingly, Sanderlings flying north in the spring stop at Chaplin to refuel, but during the fall they do not come to Chaplin, instead they swing east and follow the east coast as they make their way to South America (some will stay in North America all winter). So perhaps if one of the tags decides to really hold out for battery life, they could be detected on their migration south.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Additionally, birders can watch for these little bands on these little birds, along the coast in the fall. If you can see a white flag (upper right), aluminum (upper left), and orange band (lower left), then you know the bird was banded in Chaplin in 2015. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br />If you do see a banded shorebird you can report your sighting to www.bandedbirds.org, which is a site that is specifically dedicated to banded shorebirds. If by chance you find a banded Sanderling and find this post, I would love to hear from you!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">I had a blast banding shorebirds and am grateful for the opportunity to tag along with Christy and her team. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfNIj6VagI1FWnxbQfM_VGHF4LkF7Co4E3HqQYyVs1AKPPzJ17Di0iRA7_4h23V6vplalJoP0IF2hneYGrGp0YlKnpApBfkph9gpcsFvFaj0BMc8LOuxven7yLehgS9kro4HxpYvqWxNY/s1600/IMG_9703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfNIj6VagI1FWnxbQfM_VGHF4LkF7Co4E3HqQYyVs1AKPPzJ17Di0iRA7_4h23V6vplalJoP0IF2hneYGrGp0YlKnpApBfkph9gpcsFvFaj0BMc8LOuxven7yLehgS9kro4HxpYvqWxNY/s320/IMG_9703.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i>The last Sanderling we banded on Saturday morning. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGSQVM5aRDVp_9D-hjgXepao5QRN6ZuNTrLTqV5A8H0k1-nMNZ4aL79dM13WvAhfX7N_Os5zpSjXzsLUDH8dMFPGiHOHBQi4aChmtZ5xO3jjl6F-M42k-WIXM-_wJ6dd1NDgEIgW5aWzH/s1600/IMG_9691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGSQVM5aRDVp_9D-hjgXepao5QRN6ZuNTrLTqV5A8H0k1-nMNZ4aL79dM13WvAhfX7N_Os5zpSjXzsLUDH8dMFPGiHOHBQi4aChmtZ5xO3jjl6F-M42k-WIXM-_wJ6dd1NDgEIgW5aWzH/s320/IMG_9691.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i> An unusual wear in the tertials of this bird, possibly suggesting a Second Year bird, which would be unusual as SY birds do not breed and typically remain on the wintering grounds. </i> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i>The view at dawn after a long night of Sanderling banding!</i></span></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-54732678892158733552015-03-08T10:49:00.002-06:002015-03-08T10:49:28.035-06:00Wascana MAPS hoody & t-shirt<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vgRJOYZiNqJWnf5BAEG00s2v6oIUfPnUKTtoghtFm66vMmFNLH_kdGzhoRpdHXFYl01o3vujLF-DjGwdI8KxaGKZWHcu-EbI7tIbZfo3GBRjL0DSoKuenUWHFlwwbrAWGenKqdPmWsA3/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+t-shirt.png"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vgRJOYZiNqJWnf5BAEG00s2v6oIUfPnUKTtoghtFm66vMmFNLH_kdGzhoRpdHXFYl01o3vujLF-DjGwdI8KxaGKZWHcu-EbI7tIbZfo3GBRjL0DSoKuenUWHFlwwbrAWGenKqdPmWsA3/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+t-shirt.png" width="318" /></a></div>
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We are selling hoody's and t-shirts to help support and promote the Wascana MAPS program! Hoody's are dark grey with our Wascana MAPS logo and are $35, while the t-shirts are an olive-green colour with the Wascana MAPS logo on it for $20. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMuOz9jD5434uRZqck3luusVs9NHacGFVe-5dISTzR7A71NMzQLUucwefD61_Y5bc-kyEYKkl5bSBtINQTnqLJDMKSjxLCs1QDN7ZgmsOy8kgGEPDm3rRHJRwhVqmQayIh6YwQlOh_xJd/s1600/Gray+MAPS+Bunnyhug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMuOz9jD5434uRZqck3luusVs9NHacGFVe-5dISTzR7A71NMzQLUucwefD61_Y5bc-kyEYKkl5bSBtINQTnqLJDMKSjxLCs1QDN7ZgmsOy8kgGEPDm3rRHJRwhVqmQayIh6YwQlOh_xJd/s1600/Gray+MAPS+Bunnyhug.jpg" width="193" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57kWWmgFLblzb4MH7jgRpgYn1_h-lvhb9lpoL0WNTkGzXPNZM5Bok1BtOuely8i03jBz4QAkJPvJbkOVLknc-E6K5xKchf5GIcQuyRcD-Cd4il7P50GxHsq9bN6A2nA2ma4P-2B5oW52R/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+logo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57kWWmgFLblzb4MH7jgRpgYn1_h-lvhb9lpoL0WNTkGzXPNZM5Bok1BtOuely8i03jBz4QAkJPvJbkOVLknc-E6K5xKchf5GIcQuyRcD-Cd4il7P50GxHsq9bN6A2nA2ma4P-2B5oW52R/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+logo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
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All funds raised with these shirts will go to buying new mist nets, repairing old nets, buying new banding equipment as needed, and various other small needs to keep the program running. No funds will be used as payment to banders or anyone else - this will continue to be a completely volunteer run program. <br /><br />The Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship program is administered by the Institute of Bird Populations in California. The Wascana MAPS station is one of 500 stations in North America, and 1 of 4 now in Saskatchewan. I started the program in Wascana Marsh in 2010, while I was park Naturalist at Wascana Centre. When I left Wascana in the fall of 2013, I did not want to see the program end, so I took it on strictly as a volunteer. Besides assistance from Wascana's ecologist, I now rely solely on volunteers to help make this program a success. I am so grateful to so many people's commitment to bird conservation in Regina!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVZLv8W2CsbIVsd2wf0ML6zDyk-0XT7PZoIiAtyZlaFbWV9OQ8-slj5w3ywCwjmIyRmdSAt0OznMBRVvcCAhmqgmhqUgMG3m65VlWs8OP7KwaXlxLFjyO9ORkqkhIQtb2mnfEQ0Z10yYJ/s1600/IMG_5830.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVZLv8W2CsbIVsd2wf0ML6zDyk-0XT7PZoIiAtyZlaFbWV9OQ8-slj5w3ywCwjmIyRmdSAt0OznMBRVvcCAhmqgmhqUgMG3m65VlWs8OP7KwaXlxLFjyO9ORkqkhIQtb2mnfEQ0Z10yYJ/s1600/IMG_5830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our logo is of a Yellow Warbler, based off a photo of one of our long term volunteers, Kim Mann and created by Karen Kolkman of Annaheim, SK. The Yellow Warbler is the most regularly bird we catch, we have banded 696 at Wascana MAPS since 2010.<br /><br />Some of the successes we have had since beginning in 2010 are:<br /><ul>
<li>2319 individual birds have been banded at Wascana MAPS comprised of 49 different species! </li>
<li>113 of those birds have returned to Wascana Marsh in later years! </li>
<li>Five birds captured in 2014, were originally banded in the Habitat Conservation Area in 2010, making some of those birds at least 6 years old! </li>
<li>Wascana MAPS has the only banding record of a Sedge Wren in Saskatchewan's banding history and only the 3rd banding record of a Black-billed Cuckoo!</li>
<li>Our data is utilized by the Institute of Bird Populations in California to determine songbird population trends!</li>
<li>Our ongoing efforts are contributing to bird conservation across North America!</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB_W3VcL7dm4JUYXk318WtFVxtl-I3vW3DRKP_1ae_kXeagwCsya5PQAeKAc0Y-moNQz3TK7OL2eJEc66eW2uBssJlPw0YpiRFylmm69d7-IJ1tZdrRpWSis747oAXx4NrWBrqnEJXRsE/s1600/P6220998.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB_W3VcL7dm4JUYXk318WtFVxtl-I3vW3DRKP_1ae_kXeagwCsya5PQAeKAc0Y-moNQz3TK7OL2eJEc66eW2uBssJlPw0YpiRFylmm69d7-IJ1tZdrRpWSis747oAXx4NrWBrqnEJXRsE/s1600/P6220998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A<i> male Yellow-headed Blackbird, captured at the Wascana MAPS station.</i></div>
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Check out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wascanamaps?f=realtime">#WascanaMAPS</a> on twitter to see many of the species we have banded. <br /><br />If you have never been to Wascana MAPS, I encourage you help us promote this program by ordering a shirt and showing your commitment to bird conservation! <br /><br />To order a hoody or t-shirt, send me an email at clarkejared AT hotmail dot com. Our order will be placed at the end of March. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgltVHjyo0BWDBo05gPm_ZVicXzffCtjfou-mL08c7YB9pVcQz3l9BFaDbbfCUGCtbqURH9UBt0p73Zz79lvgBsCM-Nq86d8WpOComcmxTgVtajHNmEV6eXDzvV2L9uXd7IJvCLDzUvq_/s1600/NESP4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgltVHjyo0BWDBo05gPm_ZVicXzffCtjfou-mL08c7YB9pVcQz3l9BFaDbbfCUGCtbqURH9UBt0p73Zz79lvgBsCM-Nq86d8WpOComcmxTgVtajHNmEV6eXDzvV2L9uXd7IJvCLDzUvq_/s1600/NESP4.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<i>A Nelson's Sparrow captured at the Wascana MAPS station.</i></div>
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Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-4446391941617000292015-03-08T10:13:00.002-06:002015-03-08T10:13:28.916-06:00Chasing Red Banded Geese!In 2010, I started banding Canada Geese in Wascana Park with red plastic leg bands. We had already started banding the geese the year before with the regular aluminum band most birds get banded with with, but the red bands are different in that you can read them from some distance away. The colour bands simply have 3 large digits and a letter repeated around the band, whereas the aluminum band has 9 digits wrapped around it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRscWBIYrEpfpZ3ERUqvjbZrYl_OWypwjM0D6vrrkKctouJL9F0VmHx7-K264UxRPMFKItfJ0oDwoJq_Igya_2oyXUE-8F7Clz6NCsqmAYOo8l2kHSpgWcRcaqhXdUpkEsHQDOs0ig0Y3N/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRscWBIYrEpfpZ3ERUqvjbZrYl_OWypwjM0D6vrrkKctouJL9F0VmHx7-K264UxRPMFKItfJ0oDwoJq_Igya_2oyXUE-8F7Clz6NCsqmAYOo8l2kHSpgWcRcaqhXdUpkEsHQDOs0ig0Y3N/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
The original idea was we could identify birds within the park easier with the colour baands. And it definitely worked. In the following years, we collected a wealth of data on birds around the park. What I was not expecting though, was the number of sightings I would receive of birds from outside of Wascana Park, and more specifically while the birds were on their wintering grounds. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8YEJQvqrG2GVW_eoRdXg2whfwv6Maz_msEDoqBAmB56MFHXl-2ffoMchQIAQOhga1WUAdVAPHTWiQBAGoa1aPkUqEQkFwFZ4XsaYQEg-nYY8MCUq5Il6eyZ-P-fL2-whTWprI_X8ss2w/s1600/M016+from+Pierre+South+Dakota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8YEJQvqrG2GVW_eoRdXg2whfwv6Maz_msEDoqBAmB56MFHXl-2ffoMchQIAQOhga1WUAdVAPHTWiQBAGoa1aPkUqEQkFwFZ4XsaYQEg-nYY8MCUq5Il6eyZ-P-fL2-whTWprI_X8ss2w/s1600/M016+from+Pierre+South+Dakota.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
In fact, it started with this photo here of M016. We banded this male goose in 2009 with an aluminum band and then added the colour band in 2010. This photo was taken in Pierre, South Dakota in December in 2010. This would be the first of 23 different geese that were observed in Pierre that winter! <br />
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The man who had observed these first few geese would become a good friend, his name Scott. Over the next few years, during the winter Scott would get out and make various rounds to record as many red bands as he could find of the Wascana geese. <br />
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In January 2014, I decided I had to go for a trip to Pierre, to finally meet Scott and see our geese on their wintering grounds. So in February, 2014, Bob Ewart and I traveled down to Pierre. It was really neat to see the geese we were so familiar with in Wascana Park in such a different but similar place.<br />
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What is difference in Pierre versus Regina, is the sheer number of geese. Scott works for the South Dakota State Wildlife Branch. He is responsible for doing many of the game surveys. A few weeks before Bob and I arrived he did an aerial survey on the geese in and around Pierre and counted 100,000 Canada Geese! Earlier that winter, while other geese were still moving through they counted 300,000! Compare that to the current nesting population in Wascana park in 2014, around 430 nesting pair, or about 860 adult bird....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyOSef1EkuNydKmy5hjRxd0O_b_MwqParzPZuvjCeB8CliZ9y7DijEhIi2lyfCV0jG2p_hUK-iLu9RI_yAUcKDn_0bJOJa5ioToSSRIW44_9j9f5TAKM3bOhBMER9aJMpXabTCqdneY-O/s1600/IMG_8444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyOSef1EkuNydKmy5hjRxd0O_b_MwqParzPZuvjCeB8CliZ9y7DijEhIi2lyfCV0jG2p_hUK-iLu9RI_yAUcKDn_0bJOJa5ioToSSRIW44_9j9f5TAKM3bOhBMER9aJMpXabTCqdneY-O/s1600/IMG_8444.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The birds spend a lot of their time at Capitol Lake, which is fed by a man made spring. It stays open during the winter and many geese use it on cold days in Pierre during the winter. We counted 10,000 on one of the mornings we were there and the lake was not full.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhTcWD21hlgmTV593NlUEyU_bQ5WkbIw8c62ezo513LcLLX6_BUmZuokOCdxABHMwA2FNC6PVtlk4SRvIy5QIVVNK-pjhUK0Ad4yk7KS3q9tkZ-9vxotXnRPGFQuIG3JmTVchwrooR6Q2/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhTcWD21hlgmTV593NlUEyU_bQ5WkbIw8c62ezo513LcLLX6_BUmZuokOCdxABHMwA2FNC6PVtlk4SRvIy5QIVVNK-pjhUK0Ad4yk7KS3q9tkZ-9vxotXnRPGFQuIG3JmTVchwrooR6Q2/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Another interesting thing we noticed in Pierre, was the birds are scattered throughout the city during the day and not restricted to the park like they are in Wascana. Here they are a ways from the park on a soccer field.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWCT5SRCvIHq9Oir-UjHqwIm1A9L0-ycGPoTFopkPUvlQm-DEHMktj9Jv1CY4MAvyFOeuube-p15Hk2MSA5NqKFR1CJpxEa72aaKpKFiy-z4VCLqqAvFUVRGAeNKv6C_fySfGcmLdR2CC/s1600/IMG_8226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWCT5SRCvIHq9Oir-UjHqwIm1A9L0-ycGPoTFopkPUvlQm-DEHMktj9Jv1CY4MAvyFOeuube-p15Hk2MSA5NqKFR1CJpxEa72aaKpKFiy-z4VCLqqAvFUVRGAeNKv6C_fySfGcmLdR2CC/s1600/IMG_8226.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here are a few on someone's lawn! You can see all three have red bands on their legs from Wascana Park. </div>
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In addition, to our geese being seen in Pierre, we have received colour bands from a couple other states including Nebraska, and Kansas! <br />
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If you are someone who has seen a red colour banded goose, please ensure you report your observations to <a href="http://www.reportband.gov/">www.reportband.gov</a>. Thank you for your sightings!!Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-78218596206535760292013-12-21T13:32:00.000-07:002013-12-21T13:32:22.354-07:00A close up look at the Gray Catbird - Wascana MAPS Part 2In part two of this series I want to focus on some of the band returns we have had with the Gray Catbird (GRCA) at the Wascana MAPS site, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Between 2010 to 2013, we have banded 72 adult GRCAs and recaptured 14 of those individuals (19%) , with some individuals being recaptured in multiple years. <br />
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The figure below shows the number of adults captured each year and within that the proportion of newly banded adults and birds who had returned to Wascana Marsh with a band already on its leg. Of course, because 2010 was our first year of banding, we did not have any previously banded birds to recapture. In each year, returning GRCA's make up 28 to 42% of the total number of adults captured. These are some of the highest return rates we see for all of the species we band at this site, except for perhaps Yellow Warblers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GISSCLfKC6fm49eRQrAOuryKihMJ1YKgDjBuToCVaQUYkY4F2zTlXhLfXBSHCVK6j23rGjRwnr1o7q0bUUsZKYi73zbXmjcbSpC7ZH5y1kjcUVcYaVABoKxS0YtWRF8eF5OpURcmE5HU/s1600/GRCA+Newly+banded+vs+returns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GISSCLfKC6fm49eRQrAOuryKihMJ1YKgDjBuToCVaQUYkY4F2zTlXhLfXBSHCVK6j23rGjRwnr1o7q0bUUsZKYi73zbXmjcbSpC7ZH5y1kjcUVcYaVABoKxS0YtWRF8eF5OpURcmE5HU/s400/GRCA+Newly+banded+vs+returns.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on image to see a clearer graph</td></tr>
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Interestingly, we can look at what the survival rate and return rate for GRCA's is from other MAPS stations thanks to the Institute of Bird Populations. In our continental zone (North-central) there are 36 different MAPS stations that have banded 3940 GRCA between 1992-2006. 772 GRCA returned in subsequent years. Based on this, the IBP is able to calculate that adult GRCA's in our zone have a 50% chance of surviving and returning to the same areas they bred in the year before. Remember that this is an estimate as to whether the bird has survived and returned to breed in the same area, it is not a 50% chance that we will actually recapture it that year. The IBP website does calculate recapture probabilities which for GRCA's is 48.5% given it has survived and returned to the same area. So ultimately this means that the bird has a 50% chance of survival, then we have a 48% chance of catching it, so we can expect to recapture about 24% of the birds captured in the previous year... You can check out the <a href="http://www.birdpop.org/nbii2006/surv/default.asp?RegSel=nc&strSurv=surv" target="_blank">IBP website and find these stats for many other bird species</a>. </div>
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If we look at our recapture rates, in 2011 we recaptured 22% of the adult GRCAs that were banded in 2010, in 2012 we recaptured 46% of the adult GRCAs captured in 2011 and in 2013 we recaptured 19% of the of the GRCAs captured in 2012. Recapture rates in 2011 and 2013 are comparable to the expected recapture rates, but in 2012 the recapture rate was significantly higher. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcerQzVuDKNtRnzi9K9X6UVbbMMV_2OQiTi_OOba4FH0VZ37S3ck-20nTvP397vDkwV9RvWXjgwUNGlxszJmi0tdIkcch7ieT34Xf1iEzjDI8-I1VSaSeo7AjhKfVhhEVV3dawIGHNm-CP/s1600/GRCA_ASY_F_Jun142011_223110818D+Recap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcerQzVuDKNtRnzi9K9X6UVbbMMV_2OQiTi_OOba4FH0VZ37S3ck-20nTvP397vDkwV9RvWXjgwUNGlxszJmi0tdIkcch7ieT34Xf1iEzjDI8-I1VSaSeo7AjhKfVhhEVV3dawIGHNm-CP/s400/GRCA_ASY_F_Jun142011_223110818D+Recap.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Catbird with a band on its leg</td></tr>
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The actual birds we have recaptured over the years have been interesting as well. In 2011, we recaptured 3 individual GRCAs that were originally banded in 2010 (a total of 5 were recaptured this year). These were 2 males and 1 female. Amazingly we recaptured all three of these same birds again in 2011! I think it is so fascinating to think that these birds that weigh 35-40 grams will breed in the Habitat Conservation Area, fly south for the winter hundreds of kilometers away along gulf of Mexico, and then come back to exactly the same area the next spring (sometimes being captured in the same net as the year prior!) and doing that for 3 years in a row!</div>
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We had 2 more birds return to Wascana Marsh being banded in 2011 and then recaptured in 2012 and in 2013! Amazing little birds! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1BE82vLAVkgREQB78nLN_au2GJ7vG4uzx3t9KYhCcj1TU4b8pLP3y2WB2n2mLOjHC31XtH7qUGyQIKzVqrGmpWOcR79-snRaKl9c_oYgqGVnH4EuX6NYGx29OTHTo_aBuYoT57p0X0zT/s1600/GRCA+chick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1BE82vLAVkgREQB78nLN_au2GJ7vG4uzx3t9KYhCcj1TU4b8pLP3y2WB2n2mLOjHC31XtH7qUGyQIKzVqrGmpWOcR79-snRaKl9c_oYgqGVnH4EuX6NYGx29OTHTo_aBuYoT57p0X0zT/s320/GRCA+chick.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Gray Catbird</td></tr>
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Another fascinating component to our returns of Gray Catbirds, has been the juvenile GRCAs who have returned to the HCA. In each year, 2011, 2012, and 2013 we have recaptured a single GRCA that was banded the year before as a juvenile bird (~4% of all juveniles banded; juvenile bird meaning it was hatched that year). All three of these returning juveniles have been males that we are able to determine once they return (as a juvenile we are not able to determine the sex of GRCAs). While this is a very low return rate of juvenile catbirds (we've banded 74), it is interesting that only males have returned. This suggests that females disperse from their natal ground, while males may return to breed where they were raised. Remember too that juveniles often have a significantly lower survival rate then adults. So the 50% survival rate we discussed above does not apply to juveniles in their first year. </div>
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The Birds of North America Gray Catbird account has limited information on return rates of juvenile GRCA. It does not give information about sex differences in returns to the natal ground. Lehnen and Rodewald (2009) found a return rate of only 3 juvenile GRCA out of 304 young banded (1.1%), in Ohio, but did not make any note of the sex of the returning birds. </div>
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Overall, the Wascana Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) station is providing some really interesting information about Gray Catbirds and many other species! This information will be vital to help conserve Wascana Marsh in the future and promote this space as a very important area for birds! </div>
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<strong>Literature Cited</strong> </div>
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<span class="ref-authors">Lehnen, S. E. and A. D. Rodewald.</span> <span class="ref-pub-date">2009.</span> <span class="title"><a href="http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/bna/species/167/biblio/bib189">Dispersal, interpatch movements, and survival in a shrubland breeding bird community.</a></span> Journal of Field Ornithology 80(3):242-252.</div>
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Smith, Robert J., Margret I. Hatch, David A. Cimprich and Frank R. Moore. 2011. Gray Catbird (<span class="genus">Dumetella</span> <span class="species">carolinensis</span>), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: <a href="http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/bna/species/167">http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/bna/species/167</a><br />
<a href="http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/10.2173/bna.167">doi:10.2173/bna.167</a><br />
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Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-51324588816708007942013-12-20T21:35:00.002-07:002013-12-20T21:35:55.359-07:00A close up look at the Gray Catbird - Wascana MAPS Part 1While the Gray Catbird (GRCA) may not be the most flashy bird that we catch at Wascana MAPS, it is definitely one of the most interesting in terms of what we are learning about this species. Overall it is the 5th most common bird we capture. Between 2010 to 2013, 126 GRCA were banded, 72 of those were adults, while 74 were juveniles. <br />
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The Gray Catbird is a gray bird, that gives a "meow" like call; hence the name... It has a dark gray crown and rusty undertail coverts, as seen in the two photos below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult Gray Catbird</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqaKhmzqAO5YGc6F4_p_4wtg-gTRaeMhVXOhxWk-NGRbMyzxz_vTY4T5wCaXIofz3apMQAdmr7qIRy7L27TjM456D-k04lhYrrilTIdsWyJuzHnYW523GE9oT-zGy8-2EOIZMcLbRNOFw/s1600/GRCA+undertail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqaKhmzqAO5YGc6F4_p_4wtg-gTRaeMhVXOhxWk-NGRbMyzxz_vTY4T5wCaXIofz3apMQAdmr7qIRy7L27TjM456D-k04lhYrrilTIdsWyJuzHnYW523GE9oT-zGy8-2EOIZMcLbRNOFw/s400/GRCA+undertail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusty undertail coverts on an adult Gray Catbird</td></tr>
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Over the last 4 years, the Gray Catbird's productivity has stayed relatively even as seen in the figure below. This means that roughly the number of juvenile birds that we catch each year, stays proportionally close to the number of adults captured in that same year, with some small fluctuations. In some of the other species we band, we see large fluctuations in juveniles captured, which is not what we see with GRCA. Therefore, from this limited data set, these data suggest that the GRCA population is not at this time, significantly increasing or decreasing, and that productivity seems to be fairly consistent at this location. This is not to say that productivity is good or bad per se, as this is not a comparison to other sites, but simply that it is consistent at our site between years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlsPLco3-CemeHjdhkVJuLf4b2YeE2QGdkXXiC05JI_BRnJriZebxl8fCetbK49rYTegUOno2iUURfrqpuDGPLAgQjCUwkmK8L8LYQ7cIIsmJS_os8jU56cpB2CcrimpCYZfyc3agtfSy/s1600/GRCA+Adult+vs+Juveniles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlsPLco3-CemeHjdhkVJuLf4b2YeE2QGdkXXiC05JI_BRnJriZebxl8fCetbK49rYTegUOno2iUURfrqpuDGPLAgQjCUwkmK8L8LYQ7cIIsmJS_os8jU56cpB2CcrimpCYZfyc3agtfSy/s400/GRCA+Adult+vs+Juveniles.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the graph to see a clearer image.</td></tr>
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Another interesting component to look at is how Gray Catbirds utilize the habitat within Wascana Marsh. This map shows the net configuration that we use at the Wascana MAPS station. For a photograph of each of the nets and the surrounding vegetation structure, check out <a href="http://www.wascana.ca/index.php?id=223" target="_blank">Wascana Centre's website</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bnIK2qyC9qE-qUxlAjqqHofm24A4ZQmvjq1KoFosv-UjziiNDhwP-h_h-Z7_uRVoePA3D6QqPu5CwSwm0PCfsBAYWcG51I8K7iJ28mcVqdcC8z5nRUXmJsbuh8SPzldHnmsaa8FzZJL/s1600/Wascana+MAPS+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bnIK2qyC9qE-qUxlAjqqHofm24A4ZQmvjq1KoFosv-UjziiNDhwP-h_h-Z7_uRVoePA3D6QqPu5CwSwm0PCfsBAYWcG51I8K7iJ28mcVqdcC8z5nRUXmJsbuh8SPzldHnmsaa8FzZJL/s400/Wascana+MAPS+Map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We can graph where the Gray Catbirds from 2010-2013 have been captured. In the figure below, it is clear that Net 2 catches the majority of GRCA. If we were to break this down greater, you would see that this is the location where we catch a high proportion of young GRCA that are moving along the marsh edge. Net 2, is in general, our most productivity net, with approx. 25% of the total number of birds we capture each season coming out of that net. It seems to be a narrow corridor that many of the birds travel along. Although in the last two years, beavers have changed some of the willow structure around the net, so its capture rate has decreased. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_3v3hFTMh5WBnAllI09nR-Ylxj9VArcXuq7zODp2L6ebJyEsjefM-OUY_EX9BxqoBRbRiCtwJNgqWBerfGmIPxUGeBDPMaB36sry8mR2s0yvct87kWSFsJbreEustwx6UhDR9jYv1el1/s1600/GRCA+captures+by+nets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_3v3hFTMh5WBnAllI09nR-Ylxj9VArcXuq7zODp2L6ebJyEsjefM-OUY_EX9BxqoBRbRiCtwJNgqWBerfGmIPxUGeBDPMaB36sry8mR2s0yvct87kWSFsJbreEustwx6UhDR9jYv1el1/s400/GRCA+captures+by+nets.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The overall trend that can be observed when matched with the map, is that GRCAs utilize the marsh edge when there are willows present, but not where there is just cattails and bulrush (net 6 and 7). They also use the caragana and tree rows inland as well. We have found GRCAs nesting along the marsh edge (near net 4) as well as inland (near net 8 & 9). </div>
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Part 2 of this post, will focus on the recaptures and returns of the Gray Catbird at the Wascana MAPS station.</div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-6089224510593258562013-12-19T17:58:00.000-07:002013-12-19T17:58:25.744-07:00Wascana MAPS station completes 4th season!<div style="text-align: left;">
2013 was the 4th season of the Wascana Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) station and what a season it was. We again saw an overall increase in the total number of birds we captured, with 630 new birds of 35 different species, being banded in just 6 days! This is almost double the number of birds we banded in our first season in 2010.</div>
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I just figured out I can't actually upload files on the blog here, so will have get creative as to how I get all the information on here, but I have copied in the results of our 4 years of MAPS banding below. I have been amazed by the sheer numbers of birds we have captured - it definitely has exceeded my expectations when we first decided to try this project at this site. In total we have captured and banded 45 different species! What amazing biodiversity can be found in the Habitat Conservation Area, within Wascana Marsh!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfmKleQZYSzkFuj6FGgQyhDkaTEF4FzMvM2CNuNLaO7uNEKSD8rbzG8ap39SINUs7XVEo0UADwiggbrsy6I5v8aBnJd7f5Ndve-jvTWGuFPvf-sHeEjz_UV498aA_3F9RKzmARSviqNoA/s1600/BAOR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfmKleQZYSzkFuj6FGgQyhDkaTEF4FzMvM2CNuNLaO7uNEKSD8rbzG8ap39SINUs7XVEo0UADwiggbrsy6I5v8aBnJd7f5Ndve-jvTWGuFPvf-sHeEjz_UV498aA_3F9RKzmARSviqNoA/s320/BAOR.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltimore Oriole</td></tr>
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The Wascana MAPS site is located in Wascana Centre, inside the Habitat Conservation Area. Here we follow the MAPS protocol set out by the Institute of Bird Populations. We use 10 mists spread throughout the area in various habitat types, including cattail marsh, willow edge, and caragana and tree rows. The nets are set up in the exact same spots each year and are opened 6 days each season, evenly distributed between June 10th until August 10. We start at dawn, which varies from 4:45 am in June, to 5:20 am in August, and keep the nets open for 6 hours.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlxXQuh_xnKktbPg9QTxe5K52AEwdYNwKL_Q2tVUKqILoZD3an4txJfcCo-aO2gxQ7GVjcuEro-aGqxVMcVpLA9XlQQ1AvMipSPVWsQwbNIF80p1SgzJshsh_KwuPnisx5ufCoyUhhbkG/s1600/NESP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlxXQuh_xnKktbPg9QTxe5K52AEwdYNwKL_Q2tVUKqILoZD3an4txJfcCo-aO2gxQ7GVjcuEro-aGqxVMcVpLA9XlQQ1AvMipSPVWsQwbNIF80p1SgzJshsh_KwuPnisx5ufCoyUhhbkG/s320/NESP.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelson's Sparrow</td></tr>
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We rely heavily on a great team of volunteers without whom this project would not be successful! A huge thank you to all of you. </div>
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A few highlights from 2013 included a few interesting recaptured birds (birds we banded in previous years), including a Yellow Warbler which was the first Yellow Warbler we banded in 2010 for MAPS. Another highlight was catching a juvenile Sedge Wren and adult Black-billed Cuckoo! I have since learned from the Bird Banding Office, that was the first ever Sedge Wren banded in Saskatchewan and the Black-billed Cuckoo was only the 3rd banded in SK! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3tzTu1pB7n13DTHz9QCwLgvPQuj5-Gju1EDOC-Qtp21I8lU0FCK_YknGLa-X5gh6O5syRm8Ls_PrNF58P_XHeq7wJd-OEqE5oIZ7eAT_VBtoRR8WAizbIuTWJohKj_5oJr-er9gacfgM/s1600/BBCU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3tzTu1pB7n13DTHz9QCwLgvPQuj5-Gju1EDOC-Qtp21I8lU0FCK_YknGLa-X5gh6O5syRm8Ls_PrNF58P_XHeq7wJd-OEqE5oIZ7eAT_VBtoRR8WAizbIuTWJohKj_5oJr-er9gacfgM/s320/BBCU.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-billed Cuckoo</td></tr>
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I will post more information specifically about some of the recaps soon. </div>
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Here are the total number of birds banded as part of the Wascana MAPS program. Click on the table to enlarge it, so you can see the Total column.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdj6nUmZMxMhhs_eBdErAKj4G20uch3QjCk-TwYBoligeXL5S1z9_R1JDuossLHkHxHcgmBFcjMXrpAdWMPXkMUC7aN8S4ozuj5gT3LR3CpU758R8bvIMNvdWumHIIHRUpVpK9Ywm3gMi/s1600/WASC+MAPS+Results+2010-2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdj6nUmZMxMhhs_eBdErAKj4G20uch3QjCk-TwYBoligeXL5S1z9_R1JDuossLHkHxHcgmBFcjMXrpAdWMPXkMUC7aN8S4ozuj5gT3LR3CpU758R8bvIMNvdWumHIIHRUpVpK9Ywm3gMi/s1600/WASC+MAPS+Results+2010-2013.png" /></a></div>
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Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-45744322491422050792013-12-15T20:26:00.000-07:002013-12-15T20:26:55.170-07:00Our slowest Northern Saw-whet Owl season in 7 years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well this was a bit of a bust of a year for us, in terms of Northern Saw-whet Owl banding! In total we banded only 45 saw-whets in 20 nights of banding, between September 20 to October 20. Compared to our 6 year average (2006-2011) of 131 owls/season, this is significantly lower. We typically stop banding around the end of October, but poor weather prevented us from opening after October 20! </div>
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One neat bird was a recap by my sub-permit, Adam Crosby, captured on October 23, 2013, while I was unable to man the banding station. The bird was wearing a band that had been placed on its leg at White-fish Point Bird Observatory on March 20, 2012 as a third year (TY) bird (in other words, it hatched in 2010)! White-fish Point Bird Observatory is 11 mi north of Paradise, Michigan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRr_wRGT8YjLPBqRl1QDIazfGLyNkNfrKilFf8yckKs7dtGbqNgO9F73pvQID1bRUasKWL9cS9bs6H9NEJ639hEhFgPX4Y6gGL4LpV9rNSNP_GK9niMhAL1DIiyKSFLY9F8Ayn0yXfFjz/s1600/White-fish+point+to+Edenwold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRr_wRGT8YjLPBqRl1QDIazfGLyNkNfrKilFf8yckKs7dtGbqNgO9F73pvQID1bRUasKWL9cS9bs6H9NEJ639hEhFgPX4Y6gGL4LpV9rNSNP_GK9niMhAL1DIiyKSFLY9F8Ayn0yXfFjz/s400/White-fish+point+to+Edenwold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />As you can see this is quite the distance between our two sites! Our banding station, where we captured this owl is the green dot, while White-fish Point Bird Observatory is the red dot. It is important to remember that this is not a direct band encounter. The bird was banded at WPBO in spring 2012, bred somewhere in 2012, migrated south in the fall 2012, returned somewhere north in 2013 to breed and then passed through our area during the fall of 2013. There is substantial evidence to suggest that saw-whets are fairly nomadic in terms of where they breed each year and this band recovery is somewhat suggestive of that idea. In other words, the bird could have nested in northern Ontario in 2012, and then bred in northern Saskatchewan in 2013, but we don't know. Based on a number of recaptures, we currently believe that saw-whets migrate in a south-east direction when moving through the prairies in Canada. While these kind of encounters are really exciting, they end up generating more questions then they sometimes answer!<br />
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You can check out <a href="http://www.wpbo.org/" target="_blank">White-fish Point Bird Observatory's website here</a>. <br />
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-14789383851367487622013-09-30T20:56:00.002-06:002013-09-30T20:56:36.317-06:00800 Saw-whet Owls!It has been a slow start to saw-whet banding here at Edenwold so far this fall. Since we started 11 days ago, we have been able to open the nets on 6 of those days and we have only caught 3 owls thus far...<br />
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From discussions with Mike, in northern Alberta, and Harold, near Prince Albert, it sounds like Northern Saw-whet Owls did not do well raising young in their areas, likely due to a crash in red-backed vole numbers. Both sites have only captured about a quarter of the owls they normally catch by this time in the migration! <br />
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So that does not bode well for us further south here. But only time will tell what flies our way!<br />
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Of interest though, the second owl we caught this year was a milestone bird! It was the 800th saw-whet we have banded at our farm since beginning to capture saw-whet here in 2006 (in 7 years)!<br />
We can't believe we have captured so many of these charming owls over the last 7 years!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNf3bB-N4RJSVwH4y5OM0qVa1YwqBfqDFMdSqq6l0af6ASMogo13af8caEYnBcOEisFf8rF62cE5rAFTvSXuPmi9cd84x9QxwQ1-qKv4V-BTOO5sX4zsPMdtBgDCv30X6hDjFOoVDQT69/s1600/800th+NSWO!.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNf3bB-N4RJSVwH4y5OM0qVa1YwqBfqDFMdSqq6l0af6ASMogo13af8caEYnBcOEisFf8rF62cE5rAFTvSXuPmi9cd84x9QxwQ1-qKv4V-BTOO5sX4zsPMdtBgDCv30X6hDjFOoVDQT69/s320/800th+NSWO!.tif" width="240" /></a></div>
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<em>The 800th Northern Saw-whet Owl captured at our banding station on Sept 27th, 2013.</em></div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-20405269709667619012013-09-23T12:48:00.002-06:002013-09-24T09:58:03.505-06:00Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding continues in 2013In 2012, with 5 month old twin boys at home, Kristen and I decided to take a break from northern saw-whet owl (NSWO) banding during the fall migration... <br />
We had captured and banded saw-whets at our farm, from 2006 to 2011! In the coming weeks I will post some of the results from those 6 years of banding. <br />
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Today I want to let you know that we are back at the owl banding for the 2013 fall!<br />
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NSWO banding at our farm (just north of Edenwold, Saskatchewan) begins each year around Sept 20th and continues until the end of October. This year, I believe, we are one of 4 stations being operated in the province. The others are near Kyle, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs7cvz59TiLerGK82V3tVdHPggmxshi-M0QvxunR1I_JYhy7tEpMHkIo86UMQdVh1uxfJNxb2bxD7UkUd1EPvyU1aiub2maigr6K_rLmbfbJH7Dg2UaG10peeNcYf6qBAC6Y6unrN0vb4/s1600/The+NSWO+net+site.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs7cvz59TiLerGK82V3tVdHPggmxshi-M0QvxunR1I_JYhy7tEpMHkIo86UMQdVh1uxfJNxb2bxD7UkUd1EPvyU1aiub2maigr6K_rLmbfbJH7Dg2UaG10peeNcYf6qBAC6Y6unrN0vb4/s640/The+NSWO+net+site.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>This is a panoramic of where are owl nets are located. Click on the photo to see the whole photo.</em></div>
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On Friday last week, my boys and I pulled out the mist nets and patch some of the holes in the nets. We mowed the net lanes and got the nets all set up. I was surprised to find a few things had changed since we'd last banded at this location in 2011, including a few downed trees that were important for anchoring our nets. Nevertheless, to keep consistent between years, we set the nets up in the exact same spot each year.<br />
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<em>Rowan and Teal helping to set up the owl mist nets.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jjT1Au2Cea2doa3dO3TXPYX1HxxTOYj5RLtOA2-WDAcWrm8Sg88LPMBMhxBRJo4LVhzfxU_dsoka5rHMcM8eyoiDVxJQZ-K5Djk8Lqdy2FIAPFFTLjHBzFX3hsOtdevYpXAacQ9Oh9A/s1600/setting+up+the+nets.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jjT1Au2Cea2doa3dO3TXPYX1HxxTOYj5RLtOA2-WDAcWrm8Sg88LPMBMhxBRJo4LVhzfxU_dsoka5rHMcM8eyoiDVxJQZ-K5Djk8Lqdy2FIAPFFTLjHBzFX3hsOtdevYpXAacQ9Oh9A/s320/setting+up+the+nets.tif" width="240" /></a></div>
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With everything set, we began the owl banding season on Friday at dusk (Sept 20). It is such an amazing experience, with life being so busy, to stand still and quietly as the world around you is enveloped in darkness. Sounds are magnified tremendously. One could be convinced that that snowshoe hare moving through the bush, is actually an angry raging bear! lol.<br />
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I was pleased to hear and then see our resident short-tailed weasel who has lived in our yard for many years (and in our garage during the last 3 winters)! I wish I could band that guy to see if it is actually the same animal. We have never lost an owl in the nets, so really have no concerns about this guy. <br />
On the other side of the nets, I was also greeted by a long-time friend, who we affectionately refer to as "Ruffy", our resident Ruffed Grouse. Ruffy has had a drumming log on both sides of the nets over the last 7 years and is always present during saw-whet banding! Again I wonder if this could be the same bird who was there when we started this crazy project! <br />
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Alas, Friday evening resulted in no owls captured. The wind picked up to 20 km/hr from the southeast shortly after we opened. Saturday saw wind gusts of 40-60 km/hr over night so we did not open the nets. <br />
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Sunday evening, saw our first owl hit the net! So that's one so far. We will see how many owls come through our farm this fall! <br />
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<em>First Northern Saw-whet Owl banded fall 2013 near Edenwold, SK</em></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBOkyrcdre39Yj-bhX8ukjBdFhSxLKUuGFChn4Nmg7fPLq9LjjqahucAZ5YxiUEr1vPTKzYHXl1BHVLxJs4wACBYqTpJY2JG0A4amIlqpjYvA7WDenbaM30BkpHYrMyJ9xFabSjZwVUEb/s320/first+owl+of+the+fall.tif" width="240" /></div>
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Because I am back at school again this fall, we will try to be a bit sensible about when we close nets. As long as weather permits, the nets are opened at dusk and will stay open until 11:00pm or midnight. Unfortunately we can not band all night. :(</div>
Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912170156662284443.post-61339603196927903222013-09-05T11:44:00.000-06:002013-09-05T11:44:00.089-06:00Ferruginous Hawk RecoveryWell much has changed since I last posted on here! Kristen and I have been busy on our farm this past year and our 16 month old twin boys have been keeping us that much more busy!<br />
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You may have noticed that my profile has changed. As of the end of August I am no longer with Wascana Centre Authority. I have decided to go back to school to complete a 2 year after degree program in education. Don't worry though! I will still be heading up the Wascana MAPS station and continue with many of our bird banding projects! lol... like you were worried.<br />
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On to the birds and the subject of this post. I recently received a band report from the Canadian Wildlife Service. On this report was a recovery of a Ferruginous Hawk. What was interesting about this report was that the bird was still alive. <br />
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I had to find out what was happening with this bird, so I contacted the band reporter Diana Miller. She is the director at the Nature and Raptor Centre of Pueblo, in Pueblo Colorado.<br />
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She informed me a female Ferruginous Hawk was submitted to them at the Centre on January 7th 2013, after being struck by a vehicle. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ddrUxhJ8FCF0arzRD9hTnvxQzJaUVApdYDjWipjOO7PjBJvL1Nsu_YYIbfUhkPCGHISXtLkkZJGJE7m83GhYt5rvXKczkJT7qwnIE81EG3Rew_l9_1exMo4A6ni_QZHu0LvzTDH-GQa1/s1600/13_0322_Raptor_Center-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ddrUxhJ8FCF0arzRD9hTnvxQzJaUVApdYDjWipjOO7PjBJvL1Nsu_YYIbfUhkPCGHISXtLkkZJGJE7m83GhYt5rvXKczkJT7qwnIE81EG3Rew_l9_1exMo4A6ni_QZHu0LvzTDH-GQa1/s320/13_0322_Raptor_Center-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Female Ferruginous Hawk injured at the Nature and Raptor Centre of Pueblo, in Pueblo, Colorado</em></div>
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Here is an excerpt from my correspondence with Diana:<br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">"Yes, the ferruginous hawk is still alive. She is a very big, beautiful girl. Until she took a frontal assault from an auto she was thriving. We received her at our center on January 7. Her admission weight was 2.034 kg. She was recovered along a highway in Fremont County, Colorado.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Upon admission she had extensive bruising to the chest and abdomen, a large laceration on the left side of her neck and chest, and internal injuries. The veterinarian also found that her breast muscle on the left side was damaged and torn from the bone. Her first few days were touch and go, but by the 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> day she was up, eating and ready to kill us all! At this time she has moved into our large flight enclosure and is flying. We are still dealing with the laceration. Because of its location, it has been slow to close, and the stitches keep tearing out. We caught her Sunday to check on the wound’s condition. It’s looking better, but I did clean it up and put in a few stitches. It will be a few more weeks before it heals completely. The muscle has healed well however. Her flight is improving, but she is nowhere close to release at this time. Her extension is good, but her endurance is poor. I’m afraid that she will probably be with us for the summer."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;">After checking my records I found we banded this bird in June, 2009 a few miles southwest of Herbert, Saskatchewan. That makes this girl just about 3.5 years old when she was turned into the raptor centre. Here is a map of where this bird was banded near Herbert, Saskatchewan (2009; green dot) and where she was found hit by a vehicle near Pueblo, Colorado (2013, red dot).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkYL_vfwo3KEiqKMKVHYSaziwKM1Xi-yVipRvysCvQgSKdUOkQQl-BNGTXS_NUnd4VSl9uIpD2vKzNzIbK1DjtrqcJOQHBxGdMCRASmj1bJS9sYc0EZkB9LTEvCLsOwQ3SiWN-yReTH6b/s1600/Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkYL_vfwo3KEiqKMKVHYSaziwKM1Xi-yVipRvysCvQgSKdUOkQQl-BNGTXS_NUnd4VSl9uIpD2vKzNzIbK1DjtrqcJOQHBxGdMCRASmj1bJS9sYc0EZkB9LTEvCLsOwQ3SiWN-yReTH6b/s320/Map.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;">What was most interesting was that this bird was colour banded with one of our blue alpha-numeric bands. This is one of the very few resightings we have had. </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;">Here are her bands after 3 years.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsNmkZl560C3PZ5hkCl4bmbjsqYJeIeXefikk_jNJkj8yDiBbEYyYcQSsg_SM6Z6UTQx3xQC2y4xYrjmAw-ny9ttvtZ0522NbAmk-ENU4wB1xPfx9KtKVL7zPX8Q6MX7LFk8iPBr5XV8X/s1600/13_0322_Raptor_Center-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsNmkZl560C3PZ5hkCl4bmbjsqYJeIeXefikk_jNJkj8yDiBbEYyYcQSsg_SM6Z6UTQx3xQC2y4xYrjmAw-ny9ttvtZ0522NbAmk-ENU4wB1xPfx9KtKVL7zPX8Q6MX7LFk8iPBr5XV8X/s320/13_0322_Raptor_Center-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> The Nature and Raptor Centre of Pueblo hopes to release this beautiful hawk in the future. What an amazing bird.<br />
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Check out the good work the Nature and Raptor Centre of Pueblo by visiting their website <a href="http://natureandraptor.org/">http://natureandraptor.org/</a>. Thanks for all you do!</div>
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Jared B. Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07876356797363577991noreply@blogger.com1