Karori Cemetery 17 May - a bit of variety

We had a session at the Karori Cemetery this morning and there was a good group of banders and helpers. Love our banding friend from Sweden was back for a last bit of banding before heading home next week. His flat mate Franziska helped as our scribe. Rory a very keen and knowledgeable lad came for the first time, and his mother and sister also spent some time with us when not away at netball. Ros and David, a couple of regular experienced banders, rounded out the team.

After a cold start the day warmed up with little wind but a bit too much sun on some of the nets. After the cold southerly earlier in the week no one was complaining. We caught 24 birds of 6 species with 22 new and 2 recaps.


Species caught were -
Blackbird - 8 (1) the recap was banded a couple of weeks ago

Love showing Rory how to hold a Blackbird, his first bird handling.

Rory about to release his first bird.

House Sparrow - 1 (0)
Greenfinch - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 7 (1) the recap was also banded a couple of weeks ago.
Eastern Rosella - 2 (0) a presumed pair.

The 2 Rosella, male left with a bill width of 11.8 mm, female right bill width 10.1 mm

Tui - 3 (0)
A 7th species, a banded Chaffinch made its escape before being processed.