By Landbird Banding Director Trevor Lloyd-Evans 

This fall, our banding team again ran 50 mist nets on the same dates and in the same locations as we have for the past 45 years, giving us an unparalleled comparison of range expansions and contractions, yearly variation of migration, survival and long-term population change.

Recent Manomet data have documented an earlier arrival of some spring migrants which correlates with global warming; some fall migrants pass through earlier, some (mostly single-brooded short-distance migrants) later.

Formal education programs for 436 visitors at Manomet were based on migration banding, local ecology and conservation biology. Visiting groups included members, scouts, schools, universities and adults from the local community. Informal presentations included those given to members, visiting scientists, visiting birders, and people who just walked in! This year, banding was also videotaped for the Sentinelles de la Nature program of the French Ushuaïa TV Station.

An unambiguous (by plumage and measurement) hatching year Bicknell’s Thrush on October 21 was the first fall record this century. For the last five autumns, we have exceeded recent numbers of birds per effort (birds per net per hour). Overall, both spring and fall numbers have remained steady since 2000, a welcome relief from the ca. -2% /yr. declines from 1970-1995.

The Numbers:

New Bandings 2,089

Repeat Captures 1,246

TOTAL HANDLED 3,335 of 77 species

Both individual numbers banded and species captured were slightly above average for the previous ten years. Another snowy winter last year was followed by a wet spring and average summer plus a July hurricane. Late summer and fall seeds and berries were plentiful. There were no days of overwhelming migration from mid-August through mid- October, but we were rescued from mediocrity by a flurry of migrants starting on October 20.

Our busiest fall days were: October 27 (162 total captures), October 20 (144), October 24. (139), October 28. (110) and October 29. (93). Fifteen species were banded in highest or matched highest numbers this fall, when compared with the last 10 years; six species recorded lowest or equaled lowest counts in the least 10 years. The high numbers included short-distance migrants, e.g., Sharp-shinned Hawk, Hermit Thrush and Myrtle Warbler, plus an all-time Northern Cardinal record. A ten-year low Neotropical migrants count included Northern Waterthrush, Black-throated Green and Blackpoll Warblers. New bandings were led by catbirds as usual:

Gray Catbird (473) Northern Cardinal (95)
Myrtle Warbler (361) Tufted Titmouse (88)
Black-capped Chickadee (171) Hermit Thrush (86)
White-throated Sparrow (139) Red-eyed Vireo (61)

Unusual species not banded in the last decade of fall migrations were American Woodcock, Bicknell’s Thrush, and a “way out of habitat,” Nelson’s Sparrow. A single intergrade flicker with a pinkish primary among the yellow shafts was a first since 2006.

Notable recaptures this fall (69 from previous seasons) included: a Common Yellowthroat first banded as an adult male on May 20, 2008 (at least 7 years old); a six-year-old Gray Catbird; a five-year-old Northern Cardinal; a four-year-old Hairy Woodpecker; ten three-year-olds; nine two-year-olds and 33 banded the previous spring or fall. All are residents or short-distance migrants, except possibly some of the catbirds or the old yellowthroat. The latter has been missing a couple of claws on one foot since before 2008 and is fondly known to the staff as “old nubby toes.”

Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the fall migration banding and education season of 2014 such a success. We are greatly indebted to Manomet members and those who supported the Bird-a-Thon this year. Financial support also came from:

 

  • Charles Stanhope Adams Nature Research Foundation
  • Brewster Research Endowment Fund
  • Rosalie Cheney Fiske & John Fiske Educational Fund
  • Jean K. Colvin Endowment Fund
  • William Drury Memorial Fund
  • Ruth Graves Ernst Memorial Fund
  • Helen Haber Memorial Fund Burr
  • Hardon Intern Fund
  • Melita Seipp Howland Conservation Science Endowment
  • John P. Droege Scholarship Fund
  • Massachusetts Cultural Council
  • Malcolm Oakes Memorial Fund
  • Dorothy Stebbins Bowles and Chester Bowles Endowment
  • Makepeace Neighborhood Fund

Ian Davies and Grace Alloy-Relihan were the lead banders this fall, assisted by Lauren diBiccari and Ben Lagassé. We will greatly miss their experience and enthusiasm.

“Per ardua ad astra” as we sometimes say in the world of bird migration.

Trevor Lloyd-Evans has directed Manomet’s landbird banding program since 1972. He served on the faculty of the Field Biology Training Program at Manomet from 1977 – 1984. Since then, he has trained many interns and volunteers and has taught thousands of school-age children and adults about bird biology, conservation and the impacts of climate change on migratory bird species.