Had a banding session at Blythe St Berhampore this afternoon. The site is in the back garden/ lawn where Rose the lady of the house feeds birds over the winter months. She feeds them regularly about 3 pm with the birds gathering for about an hour before. There is just enough room for 1 x 6m net along one side of the lawn where birds can be flushed in.
This afternoon I managed to catch 35 birds of 4 species with 28 new birds and 7 recaptures. Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)
House Sparrow - 20 (1) the recap was banded in Island Bay back in March.
Starling - 1 (0)
Chaffinch - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 6 (6) 1 of the recaps was banded at this site a year ago 3 were banded in 2010. 1 was banded at the Houghton Bay stream in March 2011 and the other here at Hornsey Rd in June 2009 with this being the first recapture since July 09.
This is the third year I have banded at this site and in previous years there were far more Silvereyes with a much higher new bird to recap ratio. This is becoming apparent at most sites and probably indicates a low breeding success over this last spring/summer. Another change from the last couple of years is the complete absence of Greenfinch this year which have previously made up a large % of the catch.
Rose is a very good gardener and has, as well the ornamental beds where I band, a large vege garden and she often sends me home with a great selection of fresh vege which is greatly appreciated by Ruth and me.
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