Spring 2010 - Braddock Bay Bird Observatory

Autumn 2009 Banding Report
The season at Braddock Bay
Autumn Banding 2009
The 24 th consecutive year of autumn banding
Education & Events
at the Kaiser-Manitou Beach Banding Station
netted 4,342 birds of 88 species. Weather Six students successfully completed our Bander
permitting, banding was carried out for at least Training Course offered through the Rochester
six hours beginning at dawn every day between 22 Institute of Technology (RIT). The graduates include
August and 22 October. Parts of five days were lost Daniel Arnold, Amanda Burns, Samantha De Sando,
due to rain and/or wind. Banding was also conducted Laura Evans, Chelsea Ricker, and Kaila Rizzo.
on five days prior to and five days after the intensive
banding period, for a total of 12,687 net hours on 73
days. The banding total was the lowest since 2002,
down from 5,144 birds banded of 89 species in fall
2008 and from 5,526 birds of 91 species in fall 2007.
The season’s overall capture rate was 34.2 birds
per100 net hours (40 b/100nh in 2008).
Twelve Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were released
unbanded (last date, 20 September). There were two
new species for the cumulative fall list—a Doublecrested
Cormorant and a Purple Martin; the fall
cumulative total is now 125 species.
The busiest day was 14 October when 283 birds of 17
species were banded. Of the 283 birds banded that
day, 131 were Ruby-crowned Kinglets. There were
no other days during the fall when more than 200
birds were banded, and only 10 days when more than
100 birds were banded. Seven of the ten 100+ bird
days came between 1 and 12 October. The greatest
species diversity occurred on 24 September when
29 species were banded.
We banded record-high numbers of Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, House
Wren, Marsh Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Northern
Parula, and Canada Warbler. On the negative side,
we missed some of the “regular” species including
Rusty Blackbird, House Finch, Connecticut Warbler,
and Baltimore Oriole.
BBBO hosted a North American Banding Council
(NABC) Evaluation at both the Bander and Trainer
levels from September 25-27. Congratulations
to the following who passed at the Bander level:
Dave Alexander of Duluth, MN; Amy Finfera of
Watertown, NY; Maren Gimpel of Chestertown,
MD; Ryan Kayhart of Vergennes, VT; Nigel Mann of
Davenport, NY; and Dan Small of Chestertown, MD.
Congratulations also to Dave Alexander, and Annie
Lindsay Crary of Phenix City, AL who passed at the
Trainer level. Participating NABC Trainers were
Betsy Brooks, Mary Doscher, Mark Deutschlander,
Anthony Hill, David Holmes, Bob Leberman, Bob
Mulvihill, Richard Joos, Erin Karnatz, Hannah
Suthers, and Bob Yunick.
We welcomed guests for a tour of the banding station
as part of Braddock Bay Raptor Research’s Red-tailed
Hawk Day on August 22, and BBRR volunteers
at a later date. We enjoyed visits from Dr. Kristi
Hannam’s Animal Behavior Lab students at SUNY
Geneseo, Senior Seminar students from Dr. Mark
Deutschlander’s class at Hobart & William Smith
Colleges, students of Dr. Greg Cunningham of St.
John Fisher College, and Dr. Sara Morris’ Vertebrate
Zoology class from Canisius College. We hosted
members of the Creative Gardeners Club for a tour
of the banding station followed by a presentation
on migration by Betsy Brooks. We also welcomed
In Memory - Julie Claffey
Julie enjoyed walking and birding in the fields and woods of Braddock Bay Bird Observatory long before
the Observatory was even an idea! She loved visiting the banding station, especially delighting in the spring
warblers. She often came with friends whom she would encourage to hold and release one of the banded
birds. Julie loved sharing her birding knowledge with those just beginning. She would point out field marks
and delighted in teaching bird songs to those eager to learn.
The enduring image of Julie was her smile and the wonderful twinkle in her eye. Her smile lit up the banding
station when she appeared. She was a long-time friend and supporter of BBBO, and we will miss her! We
extend our sincere sympathy to her family: daughters Terri and Linda, son-in-law Al, grandchildren Josh,
Chris, Katie, and Sara. The members and Board of Directors of Braddock Bay Bird Observatory thank the
individuals and families who contributed to BBBO in the memory of Julie Claffey.