To report technical problems,
e-mail webmaster@lslbo.org

Archived Postings

June 6, 2005 – June 12, 2005

June 6 to June 12 This was the final week of spring migration monitoring at the LSLBO for 2005. The last day of spring monitoring was June 10. A total of 625 birds, from 38 species and forms, were banded this spring. The top five species banded were: myrtle warbler (123), chipping sparrow (113), white-throated sparrow (54), swainson’s thrush (42), and american redstart (38). This is the lowest spring banding total since 1996 and the lowest spring species count since 1994. Mild temperatures and the lack of wet weather allowed for excellent banding effort. The nets were to set for most of the spring, but the birds just trickled through with only a few busy banding days. So what do these low numbers mean? Are the birds in trouble? Should we be concerned and jump into action to save them? The answer is “I don’t know”. Banding totals are misleading and cannot be looked at alone to determine population trends. Birds that use the area as a stop-over point to rest and feed are the ones that are captured and banded. The number of birds banded is usually only a fraction of the birds that are passing through the area. Various counts are used throughout the day to account for the birds flying over the banding station. Count totals and banding totals are compiled to come up with a daily estimated total of birds that are in the study site. The data from the daily totals is analyzed and pooled in with previous years to create indices that show population trends. If the population trend for a particular species is declining over time then it could be in trouble. For example, the yellow-bellied sapsucker populations at the LSLBO have been declining quite steadily since 1994. Now that the migration nets are rolled up the LSLBO will begin the breeding season work. The MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) program and the canada warbler project were planned to start on June 11. However, a nasty weather system sat over Slave Lake and brought lots of rain. The two breeding projects are put on hold until the weather cooperates. Hopefully that will happen next week so there will be something to write an update on……

2010