Week 1: Kalamata, Nyon, or Manzanilla?

Are any of those your favourite type of olive? Or, like me, do you find them uniquely unpalatable? In either case, this week was decidedly olive-themed at one of our stations; read on to find out more!

Welcome to the 2023 edition of the RPBO blog! Each year, we (the banders) write these as a log of the interesting goings-on at the stations, and this year will be no different. As of 21 July we are operating our regular migration monitoring program at both of our sites: Rocky Point (restricted access) and Pedder Bay (public). The program runs through to 18 October, so stop by for a visit at Pedder Bay if you're around, or consider signing up for some shifts as a volunteer (we can always use the help)!

Moody skies at Rocky Point (David Bell)

This year, we'd like to give a warm welcome to Evan Lewis (who some of you may recognize as one of last year's interns) and Emma Radziul (bander in 2020), who join us as banders this year, to Mara Hanneson, our intern for July and August, and to James Kennerley who is joining us as the Science Program Manager and will be filling in at the stations as needed. Past intern Sonja Futehally will be again joining us in September and October, and I (David Bell) am back for another season as the bander-in-charge (or command, as I've been told is the new unofficial name!). We'd also like to thank all of the volunteers who came out to help during our opening week! We saw a lot of both new and familiar faces at the stations, which was great! Although it started off a little slow, the week picked up and many who came out got to enjoy some nice birds. 

Another glorious Rocky Point sunrise (Mara Hanneson)

A young male Downy Woodpecker showing off its red crown (Emma Radziul)

The 250 birds banded at Pedder Bay this week were highlighted by no fewer than four(!) Olive-sided Flycatchers; two on the 25th and two on the 26th. We usually catch one or two of these oversized pewees at our Rocky Point site each year, but in the 11 years of operations at Pedder Bay, only two have been banded before (both in 2020). Top capture at Pedder Bay this week was Swainson's Thrush, with 26 individuals. Western Tanagers also put on a good show with 12 individuals banded, many of them spectacular adult males. Average first week totals at Pedder Bay are around 285 birds banded, so this season has definitely started off a little slower than usual. Sightings at Pedder Bay are generally a little more limited than at Rocky Point in terms of rarities, but there's never a dull moment when you stop to look at what's around you. A pair of Bewick's Wrens took up residence in a cracked limb in the willow tree above our storage bins, and we could hear the young begging incessantly on opening day, with the parents coming and going despite the various large mammals around their nest. On the second day of the season, the young fledged right before our eyes; crawling up out of the cavity one by one and scattering around the banding station before the parents came to round them up. Definitely one of the highlights of the week!

One of the three baby Bewick's Wrens just emerging (David Bell)

Baby Bewick's Wren figuring out how its wings work (David Bell)

One of the four(!) Olive-sided Flycatchers banded this week - this one is an adult (David Bell)

A hatch-year Olive-sided Flycatcher, one of four(!) banded this week (James Kennerley)

A nice spread-wing shot of the above bird - note the buffy tips on the coverts that help to age this as a young bird (James Kennerley)

Although we can't band them, baby California Quail are always a nice treat in the nets (James Kennerley)

Rocky Point also had some highlights, with a Gray Catbird heard on the 21st then found in the nets on the 22nd (second banding record for the migration program!), a Northern Parula found on census on the 24th (and still continuing as I write this on the 28th), and a Marbled Godwit (22nd) and Brown Pelican (24th) observed. The 189 birds banded there this week were well below the average of around 250, and indeed represents the fifth slowest start to the season in the past 23 years. The top capture this week at Rocky was Wilson's Warbler, with 41 individuals banded, although American Goldfinch likely would have been a contender had we been able to open the front nets on more days; as it is they tied for second place with 23 banded. 

The Gray Catbird! (Mara Hanneson)

A nice example of a molt limit on a second-year female American Goldfinch - note the contrast in the greater coverts (David Bell)

This Marbled Godwit was a nice treat for the crew at Rocky Point (Evan Lewis)

The "oldest bird of the week" award went to a White-crowned Sparrow at Rocky Point, banded in September 2020 as an after-hatch-year, making it at least four years old now. At Pedder Bay, the oldest bird was a Western (formerly Pacific-slope) Flycatcher banded in July 2021 as a second-year, making it three years old. 

A nice male Western Tanager ((David Bell)

A young Hutton's Vireo, a banding tick for Evan! (Evan Lewis)

The birds weren't the only wildlife about this week, with two Roosevelt Elk greeting us at the Rocky Point station on opening day, a few sightings of Humpbacks, a Little Brown Bat in the nets, and the usual multitude of insects, deer, squirrels, otters, mink, etc. A few days of rain this week were well-enjoyed by the Red-legged Frogs and Rough-skinned Newts, which came out in numbers on those wet days!

One of several Red-legged Frogs on a rainy day (David Bell)

 The star of the show this week, the Northern Parula! Documented nicely here by Joachim.

 

Rocky Point	21 Jul	22 Jul	23 Jul	24 Jul	25 Jul	26 Jul	27 Jul	Total
Banded	28	40	31	17	10	36	27	189
Species banded	11	18	14	10	8	13	8	29
Recap	2	2	6	4	1	5	3	23
Species recap	2	2	4	4	1	3	3	9

Pedder Bay	21 Jul	22 Jul	23 Jul	24 Jul	25 Jul	26 Jul	27 Jul	Total
Banded	66	33	37	15	26	43	30	250
Species banded	21	15	18	12	14	24	14	33
Recap	1	5	2	6	6	8	7	35
Species recap	1	4	2	4	4	5	4	11

Weekly banding totals (click to enlarge)

Week 13 - Year End Wrap-Up: Pedder Was Better!

 The final week of migration monitoring is always a bittersweet one. The banding staff and volunteers are ready for some well-deserved R&R, while nostalgia and excitement from the season leaves us wishing it could go on forever! The migration season at RPBO is one of those good things that must come to an end. But fret not, for next fall we get to do it all over again! In the meantime, let us reflect on the outcomes, highlights, and banding stats of Week 13 at our Rocky Point and Pedder Bay stations.

A couple of semi-unexpected visitors this week included Swamp Sparrows banded at both stations! One of which being the first bird of the day at Rocky Point on the final migration shift.

Swamp Sparrow (David Bell)

Although we hear many calling on most days, House Finches don’t often find themselves caught in our nets. This week proved to be an exception as the team at Pedder Bay banded their 3rd of the season!

3rd and final House Finch of the season at Pedder Bay (Ashlea Veldhoen)

Another interesting catch was a recaptured Chestnut-backed Chickadee with only one foot. This Chickadee was originally banded in 2020 with no recorded injury information, meaning it had lost its foot in between now and then, and somehow managed to keep the band! A true champion of migration banding practices.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee banded in 2020. (Louis Driver)

This week Rocky Point banded 181 new birds with top species being Ruby-crowned Kinglet (61), Golden-crowned Kinglet (34), and Spotted Towhee (15). Pedder Bay continued its dominant numbers into the last week with 198 birds banded. Top species at Pedder were Oregon Junco (39), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (32), and Hermit Thrush (23). Between the stations 7718 new birds were banded with 1400 recaptures this year! Rocky ended the season with 3790 total banded, while Pedder smashed its old record with 3928!  Our top three most banded species this season are as follows: Lincoln’s Sparrow (710), White-crowned Sparrow (607), and Wilson’s Warbler (557).

Lincoln's Sparrow (David Bell)

White-crowned Sparrow (Julian Powers)

Wilson's Warbler (Louis Driver)

Although our season was devoid of any bird-dropping storms or rain, both stations managed to break a variety of different season-total records. At Rocky Point we had record-highs of Pacific-slope Flycatcher (387), American Robin (45), Cedar Waxwing (24), Lincoln’s Sparrow (313), Brown-headed Cowbird (28), Wilson’s Warbler (354), Alder Flycatcher (2), and White-throated Sparrow (24).

Season Total Board at Rocky Point - Green marker indicates new record (Ashlea Veldhoen)

Records at Pedder Bay included Downy Woodpecker (7), Swainson’s Thrush (288), American Robin (147), Chipping Sparrow (42), Lincoln’s Sparrow (397), and White-throated Sparrow (14).

Season Total Board at Pedder Bay - Stars indicate new records (Ashlea Veldhoen)

Although we didn’t want it to end, our final observation totals were estimated and the last few birds were banded. That wraps it up for the 2022 season! Here are some of the final moments captured.

From left - Louis Driver, Sonja Futehally, and David Bell with the Pedder Totals Board (Ashlea Veldhoen)

A Pacific Wren - The last passerine banded at Pedder Bay of 2022 (Ashlea Veldhoen)

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet - The last passerine banded at Rocky Point of 2022 (Julian Powers)

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible team of volunteers, staff, and board members that make our program at Rocky Point Bird Observatory possible. We've been fortunate to have an incredible 2022 season thanks to your hard work, long hours, dedication, and passion! With so many memories made, skills learned, and friendships formed, it's no wonder that the sense of community is so strong within the organization. To each and every one of you who supports what we do, THANK YOU! We hope to see you next year to further education, hone your skills, and engage in some of the most captivating fieldwork there is!

Week 13 banding numbers alongside totals for the entire season!

Week 12 - Robin Record(s)

This week’s cool mornings and the time spent clearing numerous leaves from the nets are a sure sign the weather is changing. Though we are nearing the end of passerine migration season, there has been no shortage of happenings at the stations, including the anticipated record-breaking number of birds banded at our Pedder Bay station in a season (previous record 3558 in 2017). Also noteworthy for both stations this week is the surpassing of previous records for numbers of American Robin and White-throated Sparrows banded.

At Pedder Bay (PB) 367 birds were banded this week. Top species banded were Oregon Junco (60), American Robin (47), Golden-crowned Sparrow (45), Hermit Thrush (38) and Fox Sparrow (37). The record-breaking bird was this American Robin pictured below, understandably oblivious to his/her significance! 

 

The record-breaking American Robin (Julian Powers, 2022)

Rocky Point (RP) banded 272 birds this week, topping the charts were Ruby-crowned Kinglets (52), Spotted Towhee (32), and Pacific Wren (29). Notable captures at the station were a Palm Warbler, a Barred Owl and an interesting Northern Flicker intergrade. Special recaps of the week were two Fox Sparrows, originally banded at RP in 2016 and 2018, making them 6 and 4yrs old respectively!

 

Palm Warbler, this unbanded individual was spotted at RP (Aiva Noringseth, 2022)

 

 

Palm Warbler banded at RP (Andrew Jacobs, 2022)

Northern Flicker intergrade - the brown face and red nape are features of Yellow-shafted, while the reddish-orange under wings are of Red-shafted (David Bell, 2022)

 

Fox Sparrow recap from 2016! (Julie Howe, 2022)

A single net round brought in 6 White-throated Sparrows at RP on Oct 7th! (David Bell 2022)

Steller’s Jay, Varied Thrush, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Canada, Cackling, Greater White-fronted, and Snow Geese (524 in a single day at RP!) have all been observed at both stations this past week. Also seen at RP this week were Sooty Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Pectoral Sandpiper, Long-tailed Duck, Wilson’s Snipe, Lapland Longspur, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Common, Red-throated and Pacific Loons. Pacific Wrens, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned kinglets have been conspicuous in and around the nets. Their small size requires them to be processed quickly, hence extractors are required to mark their bird bags with a red peg.

Snow Geese flying over at RP (David Bell, 2022)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

Rose-hip, pacific crab apple, and Snowberries are a major source of fruit for birds at this time of year. You might have noticed them around the station, or in the beak of a bird. One of our most numerous yet often overlooked birds, the American Robin, is quite dependent on fruit now while the ground is hard and earthworms are unattainable. They also have an extendable esophagus which allows them to store fruit, an adaptation allowing them to survive colder night temperatures, and many are able to overwinter in their breeding range. 

Since we have an abundance of sparrows to observe, lets have a closer look at some of our winter residents. Many sparrows have red eyes as adults, while first year birds have a dull red eye colour. Those with a distinct hood can be sexed, with males having a black hood and females having more brown (Spotted Towhee) to gray (Oregon Junco). 

 HY Spotted Towhee  (David Bell 2022)

AHY Spotted Towhee (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

 

 

HY Oregon-Junco (David Bell, 2022)

 

AHY Oregon-Junco (Tamara Wolowicz, 2022)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crown of Golden-crowned Sparrows is not well defined in first year birds. Adults have a yellow forecrown and crown, changing to white halfway down the median crown, the supersilium and supraloral is black.

 

 

HY Golden-crowned Sparrow(David Bell 2020)

AHY Golden-crowned Sparrow (David Bell 2020)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, White-throated Sparrows can have very well defined head plumage in their first year, but often have streaking on the flanks which is indicative of first year birds. Adults also have reddish eyes, while first year birds have more brown in the eye colour.  

 

HY White-throated Sparrow (David Bell, 2020)  

 AHY White-throated Sparrow (David Bell, 2022)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Snowberry (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

The ever present Mule deer are also enjoying the rose plants, the leaves though! (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

As you might already be aware, the banders at RPBO have many talents, including drawing, as you can see from this fine art work at RP. 

 

Turkey Vulture by bander Ashlea (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

 

Common Murre by Ashlea (Sonja Futehally, 2022)

 

Drawing birds is a great way to enhance your knowledge of bird topography and better understand feather arrangements. Taking the time to draw the head of a passerine can help you identify birds in the field as you will become more familiar with feather groups.

The owl banding season is also well under way. A Northern Saw-whet Owl originally banded outside Calgary (by Calgary Bird Banding Society) on October 1st, 2021 was captured at Pedder Bay station this week. That is a direct distance of 706 km, and it likely traveled further than that! It is a female and is now considered a second year bird. 

SY recap NSWO (Mark Byrne, 2022)

And for the first time at RPBO a Great Horned Owl was caught at Rocky Point (in net 5!). There have been at least 5 individuals seen regularly at RP this season. Since we do not carry the band size required for this species, we were unable to band it. 

Up close with an ATY male Great Horned Owl!

Great Horned Owl wing under UV light - Owl feathers contain the pigment porphyrin, which glows under UV light and is helpful for determining their age (Mark Byrne, 2022)

As always, we are grateful to all the volunteers for coming out and helping at the stations! If you would like to pick up some shifts please sign up on whentohelp.com. Or if you are new please email volunteer@rpbo.org. Further statistics for the week can be found in the following tables!

Weekly and Season Species Totals

 

 

 

 

Pedder Bay               Oct 6    Oct 7   Oct 8   Oct 9   Oct 10   Oct 11   Oct 12   Totals

Banded                          49       56         43        81        43          42          53         367    

Species Banded            15       12         15         17        13          12          14         58    

Recaptured                   18       15         22         27        17          13          19         131   

Species Recaptured       8         8          10         13        8             6           11         18   

Rocky Point 

Banded                         30      52          37         44        47          34          28         272

Species Banded            13      18         12          16        15         11           11           25

Recaptured                    6       11           3            6         4            8            6            44

Species Recaptured       5        7           3            4          2           6            4            12

                                          Week 12 Banding Totals