Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public WHAT IS COLOR BANDING? WHAT IS COLOR WHAT IS COLOR BANDING BANDING ? ? Wintering Birds in Urban Landscapes: A PSBO project
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHAT IS COLOR BANDING?WHAT IS COLOR WHAT IS COLOR BANDINGBANDING??
Wintering Birds in UrbanLandscapes: A PSBO project
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
SPECIAL PERMIT TO COLOR BANDSPECIAL PERMIT TO COLOR BANDSPECIAL PERMIT TO COLOR BAND
PSBO has been granted a permit to color band:
• Black‐capped Chickadees
• Chestnut‐backed Chickadees
• Dark‐eyed Juncos
• Fox Sparrows
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES IT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?LOOK LIKE?
Photo taken with
motion‐activated camera installed near feeder
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHY ARE WE DOING IT?WHY ARE WE DOING IT?WHY ARE WE DOING IT?
• Wintering Birds in Urban Landscapes focuses on how urban Puget Sound supports the songbirds that spend the winter here.
• Which species use area during winter?• How do wintering birds use the urban landscape?• What role do backyards, parks, & invasive plants play?
• What breeding populations are represented?
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
HOW DOES IT WORK?HOW DOES IT WORK?HOW DOES IT WORK?• Every bird has unique number and color combination.
• Example:– Black‐capped Chickadee
– Banded 3 Feb 2008 as Adult
– Band #2510‐93227
– Color combo: W/O‐K/S
• Appears healthy
• RESIGHTED 38 TIMES (at one site)
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHY COLOR BANDING?WHY COLOR BANDING?WHY COLOR BANDING?
• Collect data on habits of individual birds
• No need to recapture
– Easy on the birds
– Collect data in any weather conditions
• Gets people interested in their birds
• Fun to watch: instant gratification
• Easy to become a volunteer spotter for PSBO
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COLLECT DATA ON HABITS OF INDIVIDUAL BIRDS
COLLECT DATA ON HABITS OF COLLECT DATA ON HABITS OF INDIVIDUAL BIRDSINDIVIDUAL BIRDS
• 25 Oct 08 O/W‐K/S was observed not using left foot
• 2 Nov it was recaptured ‐had swollen leg, not using left foot
• 26 Nov picture taken showing using foot again
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEE COLOR BANDED 1/20/08 SILVER (lefT) - BLACK(right)FIRST BANDED in yard 9/29/06
020
4060
8010
012
0
1/20
/200
8
2/3/
2008
2/17
/200
8
3/2/
2008
3/16
/200
8
3/30
/200
8
4/13
/200
8
4/27
/200
8
5/11
/200
8
5/25
/200
8
6/8/
2008
6/22
/200
8
7/6/
2008
7/20
/200
8
8/3/
2008
8/17
/200
8
8/31
/200
8
9/14
/200
8
9/28
/200
8
10/1
2/20
08
10/2
6/20
08
11/9
/200
8
11/2
3/20
08
12/7
/200
8
16376 28 Pl NE
# of sightings
Positively ID’d 113 times at 16376 28 Pl NE
Shoreline, WA
and another three times at 16358 28 Pl NE, Shoreline (not shown on this graph)
MATE OF
ORANGE / LIGHT BLUE (LEFT)-
BLACK/ SILVER (RIGHT)
not
seen
after
ice/sn
not seen after ice/snow
storm of 12/18/08
S -K
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
6/02/09 6/02/09 ChestnutChestnut--backed backed
chickadee chickadee O/LBO/LB--K/SK/S
(male, #251093213)(male, #251093213)was observed feeding was observed feeding
four fledglings.four fledglings.ID of new mate not ID of new mate not
determined yet. determined yet. (Previous mate was S(Previous mate was S--K)K)
6/23/10 was observed 6/23/10 was observed bringing 5 fledglings bringing 5 fledglings
to feederto feeder
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INTERPRETING RESULTSINTERPRETING RESULTS• Black‐capped Chickadee:
– K/R‐LB/S only seen on
16 Mar, 31 May, 8 June, 22 Oct
• Is this a rover?
• How large is its range?
• Are winter ranges and rover ranges the same size?
• Do rovers fly longer distances?
• Do they have a different home range?
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
6/11/20096/11/2009all adult chickadees in yardall adult chickadees in yard
at 6:06 pm were color bandedat 6:06 pm were color banded
This chestnut-backed chickadee was feeding 3-4 begging fledglings at that time.
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
BlackBlack--capped chickadees startedcapped chickadees startedbuilding nest late Maybuilding nest late May’’09 in the 09 in the nest box in a small blue spruce.nest box in a small blue spruce.
• Parents: O/K‐LB/S W/LB‐O/S
• 3‐4 young fledged, 1 egg failed both parents feeding
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This banded blackThis banded black--capped chickadee (R/Wcapped chickadee (R/W--LB/S) LB/S) and an unbanded chickadee (probable new flock and an unbanded chickadee (probable new flock member) were feeding 5 newly fledged offspring member) were feeding 5 newly fledged offspring
6/21/20096/21/2009
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
ORJU O/W-S/STO 160153238
FIRST BANDED 9/25/2006, RECAP 11/02/08, COLOR BANDED 3/01/2009
If breeders arrive in my yard in February, does this male use the yard for wintering and
breed further north?0
51
01
52
0
2/13/2
010
2/20/2
010
2/27/2
010
3/6/2
010
DATES SEEN
# of sightings
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
Oregon junco studyOregon junco study
• Male junco, O/O‐S/STR*was observed feeding two begging youngsters July 2009.
• Returned 2/15/2010 expected to breed here again.
*Orange over Orange (left)-Silver over Striped [mauve over orange] (right)
(to distinguish from older UW junco study)
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2/ 8/ 2010 2/ 22/ 2010 3/ 8/ 2010 3/ 22/ 2010 4/ 5/ 2010 4/ 19/ 2010 5/ 3/ 2010
D A T ES S EEN ( c a m e r a s n o t f u n c t i o n i n g 1 1 / 1 5 / 0 9 - 2 / 0 7 / 1 0 )
# of s i ght i ngs
ORJU O/OORJU O/O--S/STO 160153212S/STO 160153212
FIRST BANDED 9/25/06, RECAP 10/05/08 FIRST BANDED 9/25/06, RECAP 10/05/08 --COLORBANDED 4/05/2009COLORBANDED 4/05/2009consistent breederconsistent breeder--probable 4 yearsprobable 4 years---- verified for last two seasonsverified for last two seasons
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ORJU S/STOORJU S/STO--LB/WLB/WFirst banded 2/14/10, recaptured 4/4/10First banded 2/14/10, recaptured 4/4/10
Was she on a nest Was she on a nest duringduring March? March? Or did cold wet weather drove her to more protected area?Or did cold wet weather drove her to more protected area?
05
1015
2025
3035
2/14/2
010
2/21/2
010
2/28/2
010
3/7/201
0
3/14/2
010
3/21/2
010
3/28/2
010
4/4/201
0
4/11/2
010
Dates seen
# of s ightings
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHO’S DOING THE BANDING?WHOWHO’’S DOING THE BANDING?S DOING THE BANDING?Permitted banders and trained volunteers from
Puget Sound Bird Observatory
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
HOW IS IT BEING DONE?HOW IS IT BEING DONE?HOW IS IT BEING DONE?• 10 ft high mist nets
• Four banding stations two each about a mile apart, plus one at Seward Park
• Twice a month at each station• 3‐4 hours each time
• Birds banded with colored and numbered metal bands
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Birds caught safely in mist netsBirds caught safely in mist netsBirds caught safely in mist nets
And removed by PSBO banders andtrained volunteers
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Where does Where does banding take banding take
place?place?
5 Sites:
• 3 Backyards in Richmond Beach, Shoreline & Lake Forest Park
• Shoreline Comm Coll
• Seward Park
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N Seattle ColorN Seattle Color--banding Sitesbanding Sites
Note differences in greenspace and urban density at the different sites
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?HOW CAN YOU HELP?HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Observations of banded birds sought from neighborhoods near banding sites to determine home ranges
For Example: Eastern flocks of Black-capped Chickadees have winter ranges of about a half mile.
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
WHAT DO SPOTTERS NEED?WHAT DO SPOTTERS NEED?WHAT DO SPOTTERS NEED?
• Binoculars
• Data form or notebook
• (Camera‐optional but helpful)– Handheld or tripod at feeder
– Motion‐activated camera setup
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
CAN I COME WATCH?CAN I COME WATCH?CAN I COME WATCH?• Visitors Welcome!
• Call ahead to register, and get directions.
• Shoreline banding site: 206‐363‐4910
• Lake Forest Park banding site: 206‐365‐8867• Children under direct supervision are welcome.
Sound Science→Scientific Information→ Informed Public
PSBO IS A NEW NON-PROFITPSBO IS A NEW NONPSBO IS A NEW NON--PROFITPROFIT
• PSBO's Mission Statement:
Puget Sound Bird Observatory studies birds and their habitats in the Pacific Northwest to better understand changes in bird populations, to inform decision makers, and to engage the public with birds and their needs.
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PSBO IS A NEW NON-PROFITPSBO IS A NEW NONPSBO IS A NEW NON--PROFITPROFIT
HELP US OUT & JOIN US!• Volunteer at a banding site• Become a bander• Host banding at your home• Join one of our committees• Donate color bands, a net, binoculars
YOU CAN HELP!More volunteers = more banding sites
More sites = more data
YOU CAN HELP!More volunteers = more banding sites
More sites = more data
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Points to remember when spottingPoints to remember when spotting
• 1. ID the species—Black‐capped vs Chestnut‐backed; Fox Sparrow, not Song Sparrow; Dark‐eyed Junco (in this area mostly Oregon Juncos‐don’t worry about the sub‐species)
• 2. Which way are it’s feet facing? A bird can be looking back at you, but the legs are facing away from you, so ID it’s left leg first.
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ChestnutChestnut--backed backed
ChickadeeChickadee[CHCH][CHCH]
• Y/R‐O/SYellow over RedOrange over Silver
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Which Which species?species?
• Which is left leg?
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DONDON’’T T GUESSGUESS
• Better to have partial than wrong
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Be aware of tricky colors
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Song Sparrow Song Sparrow vsvs Fox SparrowFox Sparrow
Look at head, breast, back, and bill
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Song Sparrow Song Sparrow vsvs Fox SparrowFox Sparrow
• Look for head stripes—first; Bi‐colored bill distinctive on FOSP; Uniformity of color—back of FOSP mostly same color; Size—usually FOSP larger
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Which is which?Which is which?