THIS WEEK at HILTON POND
29-31 December 2007

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2007 BIRD BANDING TOTALS:
STRIKING GOLD

Click on chart above to open a larger image in a new browser window

All text, charts, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center

Every year of our on-going bird banding program at Hilton Pond Center is unique. Each check of our mist nets and traps is filled with anticipation and excitement because we never know what may show up next. Likewise, we don't know until year's end how many birds of how many species we will have been privileged to handle during the 12-month period. After a dismal year in 2006 with only 1,501 birds banded from 37 species, we rebounded in 2007 with 2,084 individuals and 66 species--both above our 26-year average at the Center (see chart above). That said, we wouldn't have had a very good year at all had we not struck gold beginning in early November.

When we say we "struck gold" we really mean to say the cool days of November brought the first of several waves of American Goldfinches (non-breeding male above)--a species that has always been regular in winter around Hilton Pond but that appeared this year in unprecedented numbers. In all we banded 838 AMGO in 2007--obliterating the previous annual total of 529 set back in 1990. Only the 950 Purple Finches we captured in 2004 had a higher single-species annual total than this year's AMGO.

Click on chart above to open a larger image in a new browser window

This American Goldfinch invasion cemented the species in position as the third-most-common bird captured at the Center with 6,800 banded since 1982 (see chart above)--exceeded only by House Finches (7,634) and Purple Finches (7,176). If things don't pick up for PUFI as this winter continues, AMGO very well may move into the #2 spot. (Note on the above chart that AMGO, PUFI, HOFI, and Pine Siskins--our four "winter finches"--make up 46.15% of all bird banded at Hilton Pond.)

Although AMGO did smother our old record for bandings in a calendar year (see chart above), it's interesting the tally so far for the WINTER of 2007-08 has not been so different from those in previous winters (see chart below). Like everyone else we consider the "calendar year" to be 1 January through 31 December as depicted in the chart above, but for the sake of simplicity we designate "winter" as 1 July of one year through 30 June of the next year. This works pretty well for understanding movements and populations of birds such as winter finches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and White-throated Sparrows that breed up north and come south to spend the cold months.

Because we've caught female AMGO in summer with pronounced brood patches, we know the species breeds at or near Hilton Pond Center; however, the vast majority of AMGO we band are almost certainly migrants from elsewhere. And, because new AMGO always appear as cold weather continues, it's possible the 489 goldfinches banded so far this winter will eventually surpass the record of 748 banded during the winter of 1989-90--although our two hummingbird banding expeditions to Costa Rica in January and February 2008 will conflict with our Hilton Pond winter banding schedule. (We're not complaining.)

Click on chart above to open a larger image in a new browser window

Because Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (adult male, below right) are our main summer focus, we should reiterate our banding results for 2007 (see chart above). Our best year ever was two years ago (2005) when we banded 226 RTHU. For some reason there was a big drop last year with only 164 hummers captured, but the Hilton Pond population--which includes both breeding birds and spring and fall migrants--rebounded nicely in 2007 to our third-best total of 204 birds. This was also well above our 18-year average of 168, a figure that does not include the six partial field seasons for which we were away from Hilton Pond for significant portions of the summer. If we can trust the red trend line on the chart above, RTHU do indeed appear to be on the increase at the Center; we doubt the upward curve is a result of our becoming more experienced at catching hummers, nor does it reflect more hours of trapping and mist netting. Perhaps our numbers reflect what we and some other hummingbird experts believe: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are adapting well and thriving in suburban backyards in the U.S. and Canada where there are plenty of feeders, hummingbird flowers, and "edge habitats."

During our presentations around the country folks often ask us about the "rarest" or "most unusual" bird we've banded at Hilton Pond Center, so this year we decided to create a few arbitrary categories along those lines.

Our "Hardest-to-Get Bird" for 2007 was the Northern Saw-whet Owl (above), lured in with an audio tape on the night of 15 December. This was our tenth NSWO captured at Hilton Pond Center and only the 15th banded in South Carolina; the other five were all netted in the Sandhills or Coastal Plain.

The "Most Noteworthy Bird" in 2007 was the raspberry-red male House Finch (above) we caught on 7 December. This individual was our 50,000th bird banded at Hilton Pond Center since our work began in June 1982.

The "Best Reappearance Award" for 2007 was a tie between Yellow-rumped Warbler and Northern Cardinal, both of which were captured at rates considerably higher than in recent years. Yellow-rumps (see chart above) are one of our most unpredictable winter migrants. Some years we were away from Hilton Pond for large portions or all the winter banding period, so it's difficult to find YRWA trends based on banding results. What IS apparent is we banded precious few YRWA during the preceding nine years--a lowly average of 30 birds since 1998. Thus, this year's 142 "butterbutts" banded was a welcome increase worthy of a "Best Reappearance" designation.

Northern Cardinals share the "Best Reappearance" award because of a similar increase in 2007. During the seven-year span from 2000 to 2006, we averaged only about 64 NOCA, but in 2007 our nets and traps snared 120 individuals--the first time we've had more than a hundred NOCA at Hilton Pond Center since 1994. We're not sure of all the factors that may have caused this increase, but because almost all our autumn birds were recent fledglings we conclude NOCA had a pretty successful breeding season in 2007.

The comprehensive table below--which lists our complete banding totals for 2007--documents several species for which we had record numbers banded this year at Hilton Pond Center. In addition to the previously mentioned American Goldfinches, these include Carolina Chickadee (24 banded in 2007, equalling a previous high set in 1990); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (five, surpassing the old record of four set in 1992; adult male above); our second-ever Cooper's Hawk (our first was banded in 2004); Red-breasted Nuthatch (three, surpassing the old record of two from 1985 and 1996); Fox Sparrow (eight; surpassing the old record of five set in 1990); and, Scarlet Tanager (13, surpassing the old record of 11 set in 1995; adult male below). We also saw average or above-average numbers for a surprising 25 species banded in 2007, noted in GREEN or RED on the table at the end of this report.

In summary, compared with our preceding 25 years of research at Hilton Pond Center, 2007 was above-average with 66 species and 2,064 individuals banded. American Goldfinches provided a big boost to our numbers, but with record-tying or -breaking tallies for 25 species, we still look upon 2007 as a pretty good year and certainly one of the most diverse in the past decade or so. As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, we reset our banding spreadsheet and embark upon our 27th year of work at Hilton Pond, always anticipating and excited about what a new 12 months of trapping and mist-netting will bring.

All text, charts, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center


ANNUAL (2007) and CUMULATIVE BIRD BANDING TOTALS (26-year) FOR HILTON POND
(Birds in GREEN were banded at a rate ABOVE the 26-year average or tied it; all others were below average, Birds in RED set new record highs or tied old ones AND were above average.)
SPECIES
2007
Total
26-Year
Maximum
26-Year
Average
26-Year
Total
Blackbird, Red-winged
.
5
1
22
Blackbird, Rusty
.
3
<1
4
Bluebird, Eastern
13
32
9
239
Bunting, Indigo
8
52
13
337
Cardinal, Northern
120
157
79
2,060
Catbird, Gray
11
114
34
888
Chat, Yellow-breasted
.
24
5
135
Chickadee, Carolina
24
24 (tied record)
14
366
Cowbird, Brown-headed
16
90
14
366
Creeper, Brown
.
3
<1
8
Cuckoo, Black-billed
.
1
<1
2
Cuckoo, Yellow-billed
.
18
2
55
Dove, Mourning
25
37
13
362
Finch, House
194
715
288
7,634
Finch, Purple
10
950
261
7,176
Flicker, Northern
.
9
1
35
Flycatcher, Acadian
1
18
4
104
Flycatcher, Great-crested
.
6
2
43
Flycatcher, Least
.
2
<1
4
Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied
.
2
<1
2
Flycatcher, Willow
.
3
<1
3
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray
1
20
5
125
Goldfinch, American
838
838 (old record 529)
248
6,800
Grackle, Common
9
164
34
898
Grosbeak, Blue
.
6
2
61
Grosbeak, Evening
.
49
3
87
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted
5
5 (old record 4)
1
38
Hawk, Cooper's
1
1 (tied record)
<1
2
Hawk, Red-shouldered
.
3
<1
8
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
.
6
1
38
Heron, Green
.
3
<1
11
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated
204
226
138
(24 years)
3,614
(24 years)
Hummingbird, Rufous
.
1
<1
2
Jay, Blue
5
65
20
518
Junco, Dark-eyed
41
74
29
752
Kingbird, Eastern
.
4
<1
11
Kingfisher, Belted
.
3
<1
9
Kinglet, Golden-crowned
.
41
6
151
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
7
91
21
557
Meadowlark, Eastern
.
1
<1
1
Mockingbird, Northern
1
24
6
162
Nuthatch, Brown-headed
4
10
2
41
Nuthatch, Red-breasted
3
3 (old record 2)
<1
10
Nuthatch, White-breasted
2
4
1
15
Oriole, Baltimore
.
2
<1
6
Oriole, Orchard
1
13
2
52
Ovenbird
2
42
8
209
Owl, N. Saw-whet
1
7
<1
10
Pewee, E. Wood-
.
16
4
107
Phoebe, Eastern
7
36
9
232
Redstart, American
6
57
14
376
Robin, American
32
171
29
758
Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied
2
7
2
42
Screech-Owl, Eastern
.
1
<1
2
Shrike, Loggerhead
.
1
<1
1
Siskin, Pine
3
482
59
1,544
Sparrow, Chipping
55
145
56
1,463
Sparrow, Field
2
44
11
287
Sparrow, Fox
8
8 (old record 5)
2
40
Sparrow, Grasshopper
.
1
<1
2
Sparrow, House
.
5
<1
9
Sparrow, Lincoln's
.
2
<1
6
Sparrow, Song
10
34
14
364
Sparrow, Swamp
.
12
3
71
Sparrow, White-crowned
.
2
<1
3
Sparrow, White-throated
120
167
75
1,948
Starling, European
.
2
<1
7
Swift, Chimney
.
4
1
17
Tanager, Scarlet
13
13 (old record 11)
3
89
Tanager, Summer
6
18
6
149
Thrasher, Brown
4
59
18
466
Thrush, Gray-cheeked
1
14
4
91
Thrush, Hermit
.
35
7
181
Thrush, Swainson's
13
65
17
454
Thrush, Wood
5
27
7
174
Titmouse, Eastern Tufted
13
26
11
297
Towhee, Eastern
27
85
26
688
Veery
3
15
4
97
Vireo, Philadelphia
.
1
<1
1
Vireo, Red-eyed
6
49
12
307
Vireo, Blue-headed (Solitary)
1
4
1
18
Vireo, White-eyed
2
40
12
316
Vireo, Yellow-throated
1
5
2
39
Warbler, Bay-breasted
.
3
<1
11
Warbler, Black-and-White
.
21
6
145
Warbler, Black-throated Blue
1
24
6
148
Warbler, Black-throated Green
.
2
<1
8
Warbler, Blackburnian
.
1
<1
2
Warbler, Blackpoll
.
40
5
124
Warbler, Blue-winged
.
4
1
22
Warbler, Canada
,
5
1
31
Warbler, Cape May
2
45
4
98
Warbler, Chestnut-sided
1
14
3
70
Warbler, Connecticut
.
3
<1
3
Warbler, Golden-winged
.
2
<1
3
Warbler, Hooded
.
9
2
44
Warbler, Kentucky
.
6
1
18
Warbler, Magnolia
3
55
15
397
Warbler, Nashville
.
2
<1
6
Warbler, Orange-crowned
.
1
<1
4
Warbler, Palm (yellow race)
1
20
2
55
Warbler, Parula (N. Parula)
1
7
2
45
Warbler, Pine
2
23
5
139
Warbler, Prairie
1
9
2
39
Warbler, Prothonotary
.
4
1
15
Warbler, Swainson's
.
2
<1
2
Warbler, Tennessee
2
39
3
72
Warbler, Wilson’s
.
2
<1
4
Warbler, Worm-eating
.
13
2
47
Warbler, Yellow
.
5
1
21
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
142
425
79
2,042
Warbler, Yellow-throated
1
2
<1
8
Waterthrush, Louisiana
1
8
2
39
Waterthrush, Northern
3
44
12
311
Waxwing, Cedar
5
44
8
209
Woodcock, American
.
1
<1
1
Woodpecker, Downy
9
18
6
154
Woodpecker, Hairy
.
5
1
24
Woodpecker, Pileated
.
1
<1
1
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
3
9
3
76
Wren, Carolina
15
62
24
634
Wren, House
.
11
2
62
Wren, Winter
.
2
<1
10
Yellowthroat, Common
5
51
13
344
[Duck, Wood]*
.
.
.
.
[Bobwhite, Northern]*
.
.
.
.
* = Captured by not banded, per Bird Banding Laboratory restrictions on game birds
.
.
.
.
Total 2007 Species = 66
(26-year avg. = 69.2)


26-Year Species Total =
124
2007
Total

2,084
.
26-Year
Avg.

1,929.5
26-Year
Total

50,167

All text, charts, tables & photos © Hilton Pond Center


Comments or questions about this week's installment?
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Be sure to scroll down for an account of all
birds banded or recaptured during the period,
plus other nature notes of interest.


Thanks to the following fine folks for recent gifts in support of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History and/or Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project. Your tax-deductible contributions allow us to continue writing, photographing, and sharing "This Week at Hilton Pond." (Please see Support if you'd like to make a gift of your own.)

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"This Week at Hilton Pond" is written & photographed
by Bill Hilton Jr., executive director of
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.

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BIRDS BANDED THIS WEEK at
HILTON POND CENTER

29-31 December 2007

SPECIES BANDED THIS WEEK:
American Goldfinch--36
Carolina Chickadee--1
House Finch--11
Purple Finch--4
White-throated Sparrow--1

* = New species for 2007


WEEKLY BANDING TOTAL
5 species
53 individuals

YEARLY BANDING TOTAL (2007)
66 species
2,084 individuals

26-YEAR BANDING GRAND TOTAL
(since 28 June 1982)
124 species
50,167 individuals

NOTABLE RECAPTURES THIS WEEK
(with original banding date, sex, and current age)
American Goldfinch (2)
03/02/05--4th year female
02/05/06--3rd year female

Dark-eyed Junco (1)
01/09/07--after hatch year unknown

Northern Cardinal (1)
07/23/07--hatch year female

OTHER NATURE NOTES OF INTEREST
--Even this "This Week at Hilton Pond" was only three days long, we still managed to capture 36 American Goldfinches and the rest of the birds at left.

--Despite the scarcity of precipitation across the Carolina Piedmont, another 1.25" of rain at Hilton Pond Center and elsewhere on New Year's Eve meant 2007 was no longer the driest year on record--but only by a quarter-inch or so. We fervently hope everyone's resolutions list for 2008 includes several steps they're going to take to conserve water--and all our other valuable but finite natural resources.

--Hilton Pond banding summaries for seven years preceding are on-line at 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000.

All text & photos © Hilton Pond Center


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