Contrary to my expectations Thursday morning was dry and I was able to set the funnel trap for a period before I started work at midday. Caught a total of 96 birds, all Silvereyes. There were only 15 new but 81 recaptures. Of the recaps 39 were banded this year, 18 in 2012, 13 in 2011, 2 in 2010, 2 in 2009, 1 in 2008, 4 in 2007, 1 in 2005 (the same bird has been caught in the last 2 weeks) and an old girl (or boy) banded in June 2003. This bird at 3681 days from banding is now our third oldest Silvereye recap but still has about 150 days to get the record. It was caught last year but this is the first time this year and I was beginning to think that it hadn't survived.
Four of the recaps had been banded in Houghton Bay and 2 at the Zoo. The 2 Zoo birds have consecutive band numbers and this is the fifth time they have been caught together.
Last night I picked up a very squashed little Silvereye on the road near the Zoo. It was banded but unfortunately the band was mangled and the last 2 digits are unreadable. The string of bands A-1889?? was used at the Houghton Valley School on 10 June 2010 and the Zoo on 12 June 20010, as most birds banded were Silvereyes there is no way of positively identifying the bird.
 |
| Obviously not this bird but an example of how the older aluminium bands can get mangled |
No comments:
Post a Comment