RPBO 2015 Banding Season

Here are some statistics from our Migration banding season which began on July 21^st and ended October 18^th. 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