From the Lab
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Migration is happening! We are seeing new species arrive daily, including this Yellow-shafted Flicker - a type of woodpecker which many people may be unfamiliar with. To learn more about the past week and about a new collaborative study on an ectoparasite that few people want to be familiar with, check out: www.lslbo.org/weekly-banding-reports/april-29-may-5-2021/
We just learned that one of the Northern Saw-whet Owls we banded in 2018 was found again this February in California. Although the distance covered (almost 2000 km) is remarkable, what's even more amazing is that this bird was 4.5 years old and likely made this trip multiple times! Unfortunately, she was found dead of unknown causes. If you ever find a banded bird, we researchers would love to know - you can tell us at: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/
Sharp-shinned Hawks, like this little lady we captured this morning, are our smallest hawk species. Unlike songbirds, with hawks it is the female that is normally larger than the male.