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New Jersey Catbird


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Sommer Park Preserve, Hopewell, New Jersey
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Fall 2004
Hannah Suthers

The fall season was warm and wet, the low temperatures well above freezing except on Nov 14, so that insects were plentiful. Fruit resources were abundant from a favorable growing season. Two major storms, hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne struck in September, affecting migration patterns. Change of ownership of one of the primary habitats preempted banding there, reduced the species recorded and substantially reduced the numbers banded. We banded birds on 11 weekends from Sept 12-Nov 21, with flights on Sept 12, Oct 10 and 24. A total of 73 species were tallied: 50 migratory species (27 Neotropical) and 23 resident species. There were 284 encounters: 232 newly banded, 41 recaptured from previous banding, and 11 escaped. No flycatchers were banded, and Black-capped Chickadees increased from last years' low. A Carolina Chickadee recaptured on Nov 14 was 7 years old, a Hybrid Chickadee recaptured on Nov 7 was 4 years old, a White-throated Sparrow recaptured on Oct 31 was over 4 years old, a Cardinal recaptured on Nov 21 was 5 years old.

Sightings and bandings were:

Canada Goosethroughout
Black VultureOct 24
Turkey Vulturethroughout
Sharp-shinned Hawksseen Sept 9, 26, Oct 3, 10, 24, Nov 7. Hatch-year female banded Oct 3.
Red-tailed HawkSept 12, 26, Oct 24, Nov 18.
Wild TurkeySept 6 mixed-age flock of 25, Oct 31 flock of 15, Nov 23 one.
Mourning Dovethroughout
Eastern Screech Owlpair calling Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 24, 31, Nov 7 two locations, Nov 21.
Great Horned Owlpair calling Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 10, Oct 24 two locations, Nov 7, 14, 21.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirdlast seen Sept 12
Red-bellied Woodpeckerthroughout
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerOct 24
Hairy WoodpeckerSept 12
Downy Woodpeckerthroughout, banded Sept 26 & Nov 7
Northern Flickerthroughout
Pileated WoodpeckerOct 24, Nov 21
Eastern Wood PeweeSept 12
EmpidonaxSept 12
Eastern PhoebeSept 12
Blue Jaythroughout
American Crowthroughout
Hybrid Chickadeefour recaptures from previous years, Oct 24 (2), 31, Nov 7
Carolina Chickadeefive new banded throughout, 2 recaptures
Black-capped Chickadee11 new banded throughout, 2 recaptures from previous years
Eastern Tufted Titmouse14 banded in Oct, 5 recaptures
Red-breasted NuthatchOct 3, 10, Nov 14
White-breasted Nuthatchthroughout
Brown CreeperNov 7
Carolina Wrenthroughout, banded Oct 10
Winter Wrenbanded Sept 26 & Oct 3, sighted Oct 24
Golden-crowned KingletOct 3, 24, Nov 7, banded Nov 14
Ruby-crowned KingletSept 12, banded through Oct, last seen Nov 14
Eastern BluebirdOct 24, Nov 16 (5)
Wood Thrushlast banded Sept 26
Hermit Thrushbanded Oct 3, weekly through Nov 21
Swainson's Thrushbanded Oct 3
Gray-cheeked Thrushbanded Sept 19, 26 & Oct 3
Veerylast banded Sept 12
American Robinbreeding subspecies Sept 12, 19
American Robinoverwintering northern subspecies banded Oct 24 & 31
Catbirdbanded through Oct 3, late brood on 19 Sept
Northern Mockingbirdthroughout
Cedar Waxwingthree banded Oct 31, seen Nov 21
European Starlingfeeding flocks Nov 14, 21
Blue-headed Vireotwo banded Oct 10
Yellow-throated VireoSept 12
Red-eyed VireoSept 12, Oct 3
Black-and-white WarblerSept 12, banded Sept 26
Nashville Warblerbanded Sept 12
Northern Parulathree banded Sept 12
Magnolia Warblerbanded each of Sept 12, 19, Oct 3, 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)first seen Oct 3, banded Oct 24 & 31
Black-throated Green Warblerbanded Sept 2
Black-throated Blue Warblerbanded Sept 12, 19, & Oct 3, 10 (first banded Aug 22)
Blackburnian WarblerSept 12
Blackpollbanded Sept 12
Ovenbirdlast banded Sept 12
Common Yellowthroatbanded through Oct 3
Wilson's Warblerbanded Sept 19
American Redstarttwo banded Sept 12, one Sept 19
Common GrackleNov 21
Scarlet Tanagertwo banded Sept 19
Northern Cardinalbanded throughout
Purple FinchOct 24, banded Oct 31, seen Nov 18
House FinchSep 19, Nov 14, 21
American Goldfinchpresent throughout
Eastern Towheethroughout
Dark-eyed Junco(Slate-colored) Oct 31, banded Nov 7 & thereafter
Field Sparrowbanded Sept 12 & Oct 3, 10
White-crowned SparrowOct l7
White-throated Sparrowbanded Sept 12 & thereafter
Fox SparrowNov 21
Swamp Sparrowbanded Sept 19, & Oct 3, 10, 24
Song Sparrowthroughout, banded Oct 3 & 31
House Sparrowat barns throughout
Hannah Suthers and the Featherbed Lane Banding Station Crew


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