Wellington Zoo Sat 15 March - an enjoyable day

We had a good day's banding at the Zoo today which was the first for the year at the main Zoo site. Not a huge catch but there was a steady flow of birds for most of the day. The weather was surprisingly good despite the dire warning about the effects of cyclone Lusi and it was almost ideal for banding with an overcast sky and little wind and no precipitation.

We caught 35 birds of 9 species, with most being juveniles and only 4 recaptures. Interestingly all the recaps were reasonably old birds with 3 now aged as 6 or 6+. Species caught were - (recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 1 (0)
Chaffinch - 3 (0)
Greenfinch - 9 (1) the recap was banded in Dec 2009
Silvereye - 3 (0)

Kyle and Sarah with one of the Silvereye - astute observers might have guessed that they are expecting a nestling later in the year.

House Sparrow - 9 (2) the oldest recap was banded in Feb 2009, just making the 5 year mark. The other was banded in Nov 2012
Starling - 0 (1) the first bird caught and banded in May 2009, not quite making 5 years.

 The Starling - she might be an old bird but she's a stroppy old bird.

Grey Warbler - 2 (0)
Fantail - 3 (0)

Gen with the first Fantail she has banded.

Kate with her fantail.

Tui - 2 (0).