Bird Banding – Fall 2016
Prepared by
Nick Kerlin
Bander-in-Charge
November 2016
General
The bird banding component of the Avian Education Program of The Arboretum at Penn State (PSU) operated
for a total of 17 days between September 8 and October 26, 2016. A total of 382 birds of 35 species were
processed during this period (335 new banded, 47 recaptures). These totals were 12% below the seven-year
seasonal average of individuals for new banded birds and 15% below average for species. Daily capture rates
varied from a low of six to a high of 42 individual birds. Average daily capture was 22 birds.
The banding areas were the same locations used in past years. The Air Quality Site is located adjacent to the
Bellefonte-Central Rail Trail in Big Hollow, approximately 0.5 mile NW of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
Banding headquarters utilized the permanent pavilion located at the site (40 °48’39.34”N and 77 ° 52’
38.25”W). A total of ten mist nets (12-meter length each) were used. The area consists of former pasture lands
populated primarily with advanced successional growth of invasive shrub species (privet, autumn olive, multiflora rose) adjacent to crop land and small woodlots (predominately mature white oak).
Banding at the Botanic Gardens site is located along the northeastern edge of Hartley Woods (four 12-meter
nets), an additional net set (two 6-meter nets set in a “V”) at the feeders located 60 yards west of the Overlook
Pavilion at the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens and one 12-meter net at the hedgerow edge just north of the
feeders. Habitat is forest edge of brush and herbaceous growth (primarily invasive privet, pokeweed and thistle)
adjacent to mowed grass fields used for football game parking and some mowed turf areas. Banding
headquarters (40 °48’24.53” N and 77 °52’11.02”) utilized a portable canopy tent erected along the service road
just north of the Overlook Pavilion
Effort
Nets were opened for an average of three hours each day starting shortly after sunrise for all but one day (group
program request on September 13). Total net hours were 446, which resulted in a capture rate of 86 birds/100
net hours. Best days were October 15 and 24. The former was a result of banding at feeders located at the H.O.
Smith Botanic Gardens and the latter from a major movement of migrants into the area from strong northerly
winds.
Weather
Weather conditions were generally mediocre for banding as a result of lack of weather influence. Exception was
the day mentioned earlier in this report. One day was rescheduled due to rain and another was shortened by two
hours for the same reason.
Equipment
The PSU sign shop provided new metal signs showing directions to the banding site at the Air Quality area.
Also supplied were signs notifying area users that banding operations were taking place. These replaced
laminated paper ones that had deteriorated.
Volunteers and Visitors
Thirty-four volunteers (PSU students and others) provided 476 hours of volunteer time in banding, data
compilation, site and equipment maintenance. A “Bander-in-Training” class was conducted September 12 to
acquire new volunteers to help with banding operations. Twelve people attended; however, only three
volunteered the requested three days of additional time for hands-on training and providing assistance to the
banding operations.
A total of 149 people visited the banding operations. These included Penn State students from an AG 150 class
and middle school students from the Delta Program of the State College Area School District.
Top Five Most Abundant Birds (new banded)
Gray Catbird 105
White-throated Sparrow 62
House Finch 25
Northern Cardinal 23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13
Gray Catbird once again led the way (as it has in all previous fall seasons) in total bandings, accounting for 31%
of total new birds banded. The top five species accounted for 68% of all new birds banded.
For the first time in seven seasons of fall banding, no Song Sparrows were caught. This is noteworthy, since
in three of the previous years they were among the top five banded birds. Result of a natural population
down trend? Missed because of “wrong” day for banding when they moved through the area?
Five “Best Birds”
Connecticut Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Purple Finch
Recaptures
There were no foreign (outside of local area) recaptures. Forty-seven birds were recaptured one or more days
after being banded at the Arboretum.
Noteworthy local recaptures are as follows:
Blue Jay – banded 10/8/2010 as a HY (hatch year) bird
Northern Cardinal - banded 4/15/2011 as AHY (after hatch year) bird
Publication of Data
Information on banding efforts for the fall of 2015 was submitted for publication in the “Atlantic Flyway
Review” section of North American Bird Bander. Daily summaries were also posted on the local State College
Bird Club listserv.
All data will be forwarded to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory with
copies to the Pennsylvania Game Commission as per banding permit requirements.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Dr. Margaret Brittingham (Avian Education Program Coordinator, Professor of Wildlife Resources),
Shari Edelson (Director of Horticulture/Curator of The Arboretum at Penn State), Penn State Operation and
Physical Plant employees (trail maintenance/support).
A special thanks to all volunteers who assisted in this season’s banding efforts: Mat Brener, Margaret
Brittingham, Kathryn Carruba, Joni Clapsadle, Ryan Conner, Amanda Cox, Wendy Davis, Emily Donahue,
Debra Escalet, James Frye, Miranda Fuchs, Nadia Gaezione, Joe Geykis, Samantha Goebel, Zoe Greenberg,
Abby Hileman, Jon Kauffman, Larry Koehler, Samantha Kruguer, Hannah Lundin, Craig and Jean Miller, Brian
Pedrick, Alisa Pendorf, Cate Pritchard, Maggie Ruppert, Zach Schumber, Kim Serno, Derek Stein, Eric
Teitsworth, Angelo Tisone, Matt Toenis, Ben Vizzachero, Lacey Williamson, Eric Zawatski.
Cover Photo: Red-bellied Woodpecker
New Banded Fall 2016
Fall 2016 Species/Numbers Handled
AG150 BG
New Banded
BG
BG
8-Sep
12-Sep
9/13/2016
14-Sep
21-Sep
9/24/2016
26-Sep
28-Sep
4-Oct
6-Oct
10-Oct
12-Oct
10/15/2016
17-Oct
19-Oct
24-Oct
26-Oct
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
M. Dov e
1
2
Dow ny Woodpecker
2
Top 5
3
2
4
2
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Individuals
Total
2
Y.S. Flicker
Least Fly catcher
Traill's Fly catcher
1
1
Willow Fly catcher
E.Phoebe
Blue-Headed Vireo
1
1
Red-ey ed Vireo
T. Titmouse
1
1
2
1
B.C.Chickadee
2
WB Nuthatch
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
7
9
5
Carolina Wren
Brow n Creeper
G.C. Kinglet
Ruby C. Kinglet
6
Blue Jay
2
1
3
1
1
Eastern Bluebird
Sw ainson's Thrush
2
6
Hermit Thrush
1
2
1
2
1
Am. Robin
1
2
8
13
4
7
3
3
1
Brow n Thrasher
Gray Catbird
21
15
12
22
1
3
5
1
3
105
1
N.Mockingbird
Brow n Thrasher
5
10
2
Veery
Wood Thrush
13
3
1
1
1
Cedar Wax w ing
Blue-w gd.Warbler
Nashv ille W.
2
2
Chestnut-sided W.
Yellow W.
Magnolia W.
1
1
BT Green Warbler
5
1
3
1
Y.R. Warbler
Blackpoll W.
B & W Warbler
2
1
1
2
1
7
2
1
1
Worm-eating W.
Ov enbird
1
N.Waterthrush
1
Connecticut W.
1
C.Yellow throat
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
Wilson's W.
Canada W.
E.Tow hee
1
Chipping Sp.
2
2
1
2
Field Sp.
Fox Sp.
Song Sp.
Lincoln's Sp.
1
1
Sw amp Sp.
White-thrtd. Sp.
11
8
1
2
4
5
9
23
2
62
2
4
7
3
1
23
4
2
3
White-crow ned Sp.
S.C.Junco
1
N. Cardinal
1
2
2
1
Rose-B.Grosbeak
Com Grackle
Red-w gd Blackbird
B.H.Cow bird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
1
1
Am. Goldfinch
1
1
2
1
1
1
17
2
4
House Sp.
Number of New
Banded
1
4
24
25
14
16
27
7
22
21
14
12
23
17
39
5
17
41
11
6
25
7
4
335
3
35
species
Recapture Fall 2016
AG150 BG
BG
BG
Fall 2016
8-Sep
12-Sep
9/13/2016
14-Sep
21-Sep
9/24/2016
26-Sep
28-Sep
4-Oct
6-Oct
10-Oct
12-Oct
10/15/2016
17-Oct
19-Oct
24-Oct
26-Oct
Recaptures
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
RC Kinglet
1
Individuals
Total
1
E.Phoebe
Red-bellied Wd.
Y.S. Flicker
Blue Jay
1
T. Titmouse
B.C.Chickadee
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
3
1
1
3
WB Nuthatch
2
1
9
9
2
Carolina Wren
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
2
1
1
2
3
3
4
Am. Robin
Gray Catbird
1
11
2
Brow n Thrasher
Cedar Wax w ing
Black & Whte W.
1
1
1
1
4
2
2
4
1
Blackpoll W.
1
N.Cardinal
1
1
E. Tow hee
Fox Sp.
Song Sp.
Sw amp Sp.
White-thrtd. Sp.
Am.Goldfinch
Number of
Recaptures
Handled
TOTAL Birds Handled
Weather and
Problems
1
1
0
1
5
1
8
4
0
2
1
7
2
1
25
26
14
17
32
8
30
25
14
14
24
24
41
6
v .cool,
v .hot, humid
sunny ,
pleasant
Warm,
Lt.Breeze
Cool to
Cool to
w arming, w arming,
sunny
sunny
Cold, w indy ,
ov ercast
Ov ercast,
P.sunny ,
cool
mild
foggy ,
ov ercast,
mild
4
1
8
47
21
42
19
382
lt.fog
v .foggy ,
cold
v .cold, sunny Cold, sunny
Cold, foggy , Rain,
ov ercast to
p.sunny ,
sunny
sunny ,
breezy , cold
ov ercast
humid
cold, frost,
p.sunny