[TN-Bird] 2003 MAPS banding, so far
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: TN-Bird <TN-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:00:41 -0700 (PDT)
2003 bird banding at Tremont
The 2003 MAPS banding season is off to a good start. MAPS, an
acronym for Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship, is a
protocol developed by the Institute for Bird Populations in Point
Reyes, California, to study the birds the breed in North America.
Two of the 500 MAPS stations are in Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. Most bird banding stations operate during migration, when
there are many more birds flying around, and those stations tend to
catch both higher numbers of birds, and greater variety of species.
Those stations help us to understand migration and other movement
patterns, but tend to have a very low rate of recaptured birds, so
they tell us little about how long they live, where they breed, etc ?
important information when trying to conserve these species. Because
birds frequently return to the same breeding location each year,
banding stations that focus on breeding birds recapture a higher
percentage of birds. This helps us learn how long birds live, how
often they reproduce, and whether their young are surviving.
This is the 4th season of the Tremont MAPS station, which was started
by Paul Super. Now that Paul is working for the National Park again,
I am the Tremont MAPS station manager under his supervision. Paul
has also started a station at Purchase Knob. Bonnie Jo Voorhis, our
Assistant Station Manager, is helping again, for the 4th year.
We have banded on 3 days so far this season. We have captured 9
birds the first day, 10 the 2nd and 9 on the third. Those are pretty
average days here. The most numerous species caught so far are:
American Goldfinch (5), Louisiana Waterthrush (4 birds, one was
caught twice), and Indigo Bunting (4). We have caught 4 birds that
hatched this year: one Black-and-white Warbler, and three Louisiana
Waterthrushes. This is good news: waterthrushes nest low on the bank
of mountain streams. Because this area suffered severe floods last
month, we were concerned that most nests, and maybe some adults, were
lost to the high water. Apparently at least one nest survived.
Because the 3 waterthrush fledglings we caught were apparently
different ages, we hope they were from three different nests ?
indicating a higher probability of there being more youngsters out
there.
So far two birds have been recaptured, which were banded on previous
years.. On May 26 we recaptured an Acadian Flycatcher that was caught
on June 9, 2001, and identified as being at least in It?s 3 year of
life ? making this bird at least 5 years old.. On June 10 we caught
a Hooded Warbler which was banded on June 26, 2002, and identified as
being in at least it?s third year, so now it?s at least 4.
For those of you who appreciate trivia, bird have been caught in 8 of
10 nets. Eight of our birds have been identified as male, 10 as
female and 10 are unknown
Good day!
charlie
=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Now living in Maryville, TN
Still working in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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