Spring 2010 - Braddock Bay Bird Observatory

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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.
Top 10 species banded during autumn 2009 With numbers captured during previous 10 autumn seasons 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 White-throated Sparrow 898 1183 1379 867 1569 1146 1516 674 1037 554 839 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 757 492 538 330 221 702 722 619 510 420 521 Golden-crowned Kinglet 556 814 358 312 193 473 502 458 295 341 324 Magnolia Warbler 276 265 341 214 220 188 170 270 309 350 316 Hermit Thrush 261 216 178 238 414 307 450 171 200 186 186 Black-capped Chickadee 1082 48 1668 48 68 189 237 96 396 320 163 Gray Catbird 135 83 128 160 163 102 175 138 236 266 157 Yellow Warbler 56 23 33 25 58 49 123 31 142 180 157 Common Yellowthroat 104 76 157 144 150 107 125 119 161 155 128 Cedar Waxwing 30 16 37 20 96 13 36 69 85 59 110 Autumn 2009 Banding Report members of Boy Scout Troop 99 from Hilton, Cub Scout Den 4 Pack 282 of Rochester, and members of the New York State Young Birders Association who were visiting Rochester on 10 October. People from ten states signed our Visitor’s book this fall as well as guests from Canada, Sweden, and South Africa! Research Dr. Mark Deutschlander and Martyna Boruta of Hobart & William Smith Colleges recorded spectroradiometric data as part of a study on bird plumage and coloration. Mark also collected data on wingspan and wing area in migrants, which will be used to model potential remaining flight distances for birds of different energetic condition. Dr. Susan Smith of Villanova University took blood samples from four species of birds for her research on energetic condition and ecological factors that limit passerines during long-distance migrations. We also took blood samples from three sparrow species for research being conducted by RIT student Diyana Khalisa Azhari. Appreciation Our fall Research Assistant was Ryan Kayhart; Martyna Boruta and Cindy Marino were our Field Assistants. Special thanks to volunteer Heidi Henrichs who helped with data entry and Dominic Sherony who spent many hours cross-checking data from past seasons for accuracy. Banding was conducted by licensed staff banders including David Bonter, Elizabeth Brooks, Linda Boutwell, Mark Deutschlander, Kelly Dockery, Jon Dombrowski, Ember Jandebeur, Erin Karnatz, Ryan Kayhart, Jim Keefer, Marian Klik, Cindy Marino, Robert McKinney, Sara Morris, David Semple, Susan Smith, and John Waud, and by visiting banders Dave Alexander, David Holmes, Richard Joos, Hannah Suthers, and Bob Yunick. Banding assistants were Greg Cunningham, Virginia Duffy, Sue Evans, Greg Lawrence, Emily Runnells, Peggy Keller, Nancy Keppel, Tom Klotzbach, Pat Lovallo, Doug Smith, Leanna Twohig, Barb Wagner, and Aggie Windig. Thanks to Tom Muller for mowing paths, and to Kelly Dockery and the Garden Committee, Chris Gates, Steve Maley, and Doug Smith for their assistance with building and grounds management. Appreciation to the following individuals who helped scribe, tended net lanes, or assisted with other aspects of our educational or banding operation: Cathy Belair, Amanda Burns, Jane Capellupo, Judy Engerman, Marilyn Guenther, Kathy Habgood, Gary Herbert, Kathleen Holt, Joanna Klima, John Lehr, Rosemary Lillis, Chita McKinney, Shirley Meston, Andrea and Emily Patterson, Terry Perry, Megan Phillips, Debbie Reed, Lynn Runnells, Gregg Sargis, Lee Schofield, Jeanne Skelly, Ruth Stork, Lona Van Orden, Tom Verhulst, and Kelly Wicks. A special thank you goes to Bill Kaiser and The Genesee Land Trust for permission to band on their land. - Compiled by Betsy Brooks and Ryan Kayhart Right: The vireo trifecta: Blue-headed, Red-eyed, and Philadelphia. Previous page: Autumn leaves at BBBO. Photos by Ryan Kayhart.
Page 1 and 2: Spring 2010 www.bbbo.org The Marsh
Page 3: arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum). Cage
Page 7 and 8: Volunteer Spotlight Tom Verhulst To

Spring 2010 - Braddock Bay Bird Observatory

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