Here are some statistics from our Migration banding
season which began on July 21st and ended October 18th.
We banded a total of 6,008 new birds – 3,066 at the Pedder Bay banding station
and 2,939 at Rocky Point. A total of 1417 banded birds were recaptured – a high
number at Pedder Bay of 925 and 492 at Rocky Point. Pedder Bay banded 63
different species and Rocky Point banded 59.
Here are the top 5 bird species banded at both stations:
Rocky
Point Pedder Bay
1 Ruby-crowned
Kinglet – 331 Fox
Sparrow – 312
2 Pacific-slope
Flycatcher – 316 Ruby-crowned
Kinglet – 267
3 Wilson’s
Warbler – 184 Golden-crowned Sparrow – 223
4 Golden-crowned
Sparrow – 157 Swainson’s
Thrush – 197
5 White-crowned
Sparrow – 154 White-crowned
Sparrow – 193
 |
| Semi-leucistic Fox Sparrow |
 |
| Fox Sparrow banded in 2010 and recaptured! |
These are the top 5 bird species recaptured at both
stations:
Rocky
Point Pedder Bay
1 White-crowned
Sparrow – 94 Fox Sparrow
– 153
2 Song
Sparrow – 56 Spotted Towhee – 130
3 Chestnut-backed
Chickadee – 50 Swainson’s
Thrush – 111
4 Common
Yellowthroat – 45 Song
Sparrow – 97
5 Fox
Sparrow – 42 Golden-crowned & White-crowned
Sparrow – 67 each
 |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Top 5 birds banded at both stations:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 598
Pacific-slope Flycatcher – 445
Fox Sparrow – 438
Golden-crowned Sparrow – 380
White-crowned Sparrow – 347
 |
| White-crowned Sparrow |
Pedder Bay Total
Banded – 3066
Recaps
– 925
Species
– 63
Rocky Point Total
Banded – 2939
Recaps
– 492
Species
– 59
Northern Saw-whet Owls
It was a good migration year for our charming little owls
and the human night owls who spent long hours in the dark! We banded a total of
1196 new owls – 781 at Rocky Point and 415 at Pedder Bay. It was only our
second year banding owls for the full season at Pedder Bay and although we
don’t catch as many owls there, it is open to the public which is a great
asset. We had many visitors come to see what we do and I think everyone was
delighted to see Saw-whets up close and personal! It is rare to see one in the
wild as they are a nocturnal bird which migrates and hunts at night, so this is
a special opportunity for the public.
Pedder Bay 2012 – 2015
This banding station has been in operation since 2012 and
has already given us some fascinating data. It is wonderful that our younger
enthusiasts can volunteer here and we can use it as a training opportunity for
new volunteers. We can also accommodate banders and extractors from abroad who
periodically come to participate with us. Since this site is publicly
accessible it presents us with a number of exciting opportunities for public
education and outreach. In addition to providing bird walks and other public
activities focused on bird conservation, we now offer a more formalized field trip
program for students in the Victoria area.
Pedder Bay - Top 10 bird species banded 2012-2014
Fox Sparrow – 884
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 617
Wilson’s Warbler – 604
White-crowned Sparrow – 549
Northern Saw-whet Owl – 540
Song Sparrow – 530
Hermit Thrush – 476
Swainson’s Thrush – 460
Golden-crowned Sparrow – 445
Orange-crowned Warbler - 421
