UMBEL Songbird Banding Update

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UMBEL Songbird Banding Update

July 8, 2016

The University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab shares two updates on their 2016 songbird banding efforts.

We captured 42 birds of 14 species on our first day of banding. We banded 33 new birds, recaptured seven birds, and left two birds unbanded.

This female House Wren in breeding condition was originally banded on June 2nd, 2015. The bird had a similar brood patch when it was banded in 2015, suggesting that the bird built a nest and laid eggs in 2015 and 2016.

This opportunely timed photo of a male Bullock’s Oriole captures the dynamic mechanics of its flapping wing.

We captured 32 birds of 11 species on our second session of banding. We banded 15 new birds, recaptured 14 birds, and left three unbanded.

Males like this Yellow Warbler made up a greater percentage of our capture rate this week than last week. This may be because females are busy incubating eggs in nests.

UMBEL Biologist Boo Curry carefully extracts a Calliope Hummingbird from a net.