We had a reasonably successful session at the Zoo on Saturday, it probably would have been better but for some early morning rain that affected our water based nets. There was a good turn out of banders with an added bonus of the Guru of banding in New Zealand, David Melville coming along for the most of the day. David's knowledge is massive and his input, especially on moult, was much appreciated by all.
We caught 49 birds of 8 species with 44 new birds and 5 recaps. As is usual at this time of year and at our first session at the Zoo the catch was dominated by unbanded juvenile birds.
Species caught were -
Blackbird - 1 (0)
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| The last bird of the day - a brown headed Blackbird (Juv Male) no wonder we get reports of unidentified birds at this time of year. |
Song Thrush - 2 (0) Probably the first time ever we have caught more Song Thrushes than Blackbirds.
Chaffinch - 4 (0)
Greenfinch - 1 (2) one of the recaps was banded a couple of weeks ago at Houghton Bay.
Dunnock - 3 (0)
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| A Dunnock showing the dark eye of a juvenile. |
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| Kyle showing Finn a Dunnock banded by his Mother. |
House Sparrow - 29 (1) The recap was an old bird by H Sparrow standards, banded Aug 2009 the oldest we have caught for a couple of years. Almost all the new birds were juveniles.
Silvereye - 3 (2) One of the recaps had a band which was not one of ours - but it was banded at the Zoo. It had been in rehab at the "Nest" and was banded before release about a week ago. Good to see it is surviving OK.
Fantail - 1 (0)
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