[cobirds] RMBO Chatfield Banding Station Report, 5/28/12

Spent a very mellow Memorial Day morning, with a handful of cool birds and a fun mix of RMBO &/or ASGD board members, staff, volunteers, and master birders and other visitors.  Yellow Warblers continue to dominate, particularly since there are so few other species around.  We caught 2 of the many Cedar Waxwings that have been hanging around the southeast corner of the pond acting like swallows, appearing to be taking tiny insects out of the air low over the water.  We watched the Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s nest, but did not see her visit today.  Searched in vain for the Yellow Warbler nest right below the net on the ridge; we are wondering if the wild wind yesterday did it in.

 

Here’s the breakdown:

 

Western Wood-pewee 1

Warbling Vireo  2

Gray Catbird       1

Cedar Waxwing                2

Yellow Warbler 5 new, 7 caught previously this season.  2 had brood patches, bringing the total to 3 already on eggs before the end of May (compared to none in years past)

Wilson’s Warbler              1 (an adult F, only the 2^nd of the year; we banded 30 last year)

Spotted Towhee              1 (F with brood patch)

 

We are open daily, weather permitting, through Sunday, June 3.

 

Meredith McBurney

Bander, Chatfield Station

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory