Not much banding this year - Have been on Holiday

 There hasn't been much banding going on so far in 2023. I have been away for most of it and am away again next week. There were some interesting rehab birds that I did band last week. Eight Little Owls were waiting for me when I got back from our holiday and were duly given their bling as was a Bellbird. The most interesting was a Crested Grebe which was a first for me. Its legs and feet are weird close up and the band has to be adapted to fit. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos which is a pity. 

The Bellbird back in its cage with its bling

The Crested Grebe sitting in its's pond on a Lily pad

One of the Little Owls getting ready to go back into the Aviary.

There were another 4 little Fantails in a nest at Jan's that were also banded. This makes 10 that this pair have raised, broods of 2, 4 & 4. Also managed to band the male of the pair.

Jan with one of her little Fantails

The 4 babies' ready to go back into their nest. 

We did set the Harrier traps on Friday but were completely unsuccessful with very few birds even seen. We were also disappointed when we checked out a report of a Harrier nest in a paddock of barley that had been harvested. It had 2 large chicks in it when it was found but by the time we got there it was empty.

The empty Harrier nest.

Akaroa - A belated post 22-23 May

A few of the group were invited to join Laura when she was colour banding Tui around Akaroa. This is a project attempting to check on the progress of the population folowing the species reintroduction to the area a number ofyears ago. Laura's permit only allows her to band Tui and not any bycatch, as the permit that the group bands under most passerine species are bandabe. So the plan was that Laura would colour band the Tui and we would band any bycatch. On the morning of Saturday 22 May we started at a site at Takamatua at the head of the Akaroa Harbour.This proved to be vary successful for us but not so for the Tui catchers. All the the birds caught were adult male Bellbird of which there were incredible numbers, although there were Tui about they avoided the net. We were treated to a fabulus morning tea with great view. Ruud also took the opertunaty to do what he is very good at, both entertain and educate younger folk. In the afternoon and on the Sunday morning most of the group moved on to a site in the Akaroa township. I unfortunatly couldn't join them having to head back to Christchurch. I gather that the catch at this new site was fantastic with a total of 17 new Tui banded plus a few recaps from previous sessions. Bellbirds also proved to numerous, with the total for the trip being 22. There was also a few other species like Silvereye and Blackbird banded.

Halswell Quarry - A bit of banding here and there.

We have done a bit of banding at the Quarry in the last week or so. Some was banding nestlings and some was attempting to catch Blackbirds feeding on fruit of ornamental cherries in the Japanese Garden area.
On Thursday I banded 4 Chaffinch in a nest in the corner of a car park. I then had a bit of a walk around and found a lot of Blackbirds & Song Thrushes feeding on the cherry fruit. On Friday I put up a couple of nets for an hour or so to see what I could catch. With a catch of 8 birds including a couple of interesting recaps I thought it worth another go. Monday was the only day that a session could be fitted in so a group of us gathered and had a good couple of hours.

Species caught over this period were - (recaps in brackets)
Blackbird - 6 (0)
Song Thrush - 3 (0)
House Sparrow - 0 (2) both were old birds with one at 750 days from banding, was for about 30 min  the oldest recap of any species caught at the Quarry. It now has to share this honour with a Bellbird caught later that had been  banded on the same day.
Dunnock - 0 (1) the oldest Dunnock recap at the Quarry.
Chaffinch - 6 (0) 4 were nestlings
Goldfinch - 2 (0)
Greenfinch - 4 (0)
Fantail - 9 (0)

Kenny concentrating on banding "His" Fantail

The Fantail was aged as a 2 due to several retained juvenile covert feathers.

Welcome Swallow - 2 (0) both nestlings.
Bellbird - 0 (1) This was the bird of the week. It was the first Bellbird we banded at the Quarry. When it was banded on 16 Nov 2017 it was noted that it was blind in the right eye. It is still blind in that eye and it is amazing that it has survived this long. It is now joint holder of the oldest bird record.

The blind eye, looks sad but he's a survivor.

Botanical Gardens - a couple of Bellbirds

I received a message from Luke who is the Curator of the New Zealand section of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. They had a couple of fledgling Bellbirds that were feeding in a Tree Fuchsia that they would like banded. Bellbirds have only colonized the gardens in the last few years and it was decided it would be a good idea to get some banded and find out a bit about what they are up too.

The tree they were feeding in was pretty big and high but we managed to get a net in a reasonable position. Managed to catch 2 fledglings and an adult male, (probably Dad). There was also at least another young bird and probably an adult female, (presumably Mum). The only bycatch was a Chaffinch.

The first juvenile getting banded.

The last one banded, notice the blue pollen on its chin. Fuchsia is I think the only tree that has blue pollen.

Queenstown - recent banding

We have had two sessions here since the last post. On Thursday 20th I had nets up at a new site and caught 38 birds of 5 species with 23 new and 15 recaps. The highlight of the day was a couple of old recaptures. Yesterday, 23rd Rachel came over from Hawea for the day, we caught 58 birds of 6 species with 42 new and 16 recaps. A record number of Yellowhammers being the highlight as well as capturing 2 female Bellbirds.

The combined totals of the two days was - (recaptures in brackets)
Silvereye - 23 (16)
House Sparrow - 11 (2)
Chaffinch - 11 (1) the recap had been banded on the first day of banding here, 12 Sept 2015 so is now the oldest bird recaptured of any species.
Yellowhammer - 10 (1) all caught on the 23rd and is the highest total for a single days banding here.

Photo Rachel Hufton

The Yellowhammers come in a multitude of facial patterns. Photo Rachel Hufton

Tui - 6 (2) most of the new birds were first year females.
Bellbird - 3 (7) including 1 new and a recap female. One of the new males had all 3 front claws missing and had obviosly recieved some trauma to its right leg.

The new female Bellbird

The munted foot and leg of the male Bellbird. Photo Rachel Hufton

Song Thrush - 1 (1) the recap was banded Dec 2015 and is the oldest recaptured Song Thrush This is the first time it has been caught since being banded.
Dunnock - 0 (1)

Halswell Quarry 5 July - a lot of green and an old recovery

We had a session at the Halswell Quarry this morning and caught 49 birds with 46 new and 3 recaps. All but 7 of the birds were green, 35 new Silvereye with 3 recaps, 3 Bellbird and a Greenfinch. The LBJ's (Little Brown Jobs) were 2 Chaffinch and 5 House Sparrows. The Silvereye recaps were all banded last week

Kenny banding one of the Bellbird

Phil taking the wing length of one of the other Bellbird

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An old recovery from Wellington.

I arrived home from the session to find a recovery report from the Banding Office of a banded Starling picked up on the Parade in Island Bay Wellington. It had been banded at the Freeling St site on  5 Aug 2007 and recovered 3984 days later, which is the first time it has been encountered since being banded. I estimate its age at, at least, 11 years 7 months. This is the second oldest bird we have recorded, the oldest being a Blackbird at the Zoo found dead after 4021 days, which was only 37 days longer. Perhaps there is a lesson here for some of us older folk to be careful on the road, by the injuries to the old bird it was probably involved in a vehicle accident.

Queenstown Mon 26 March - Bellbirds & Tui

I had nets up yesterday targeting Bellbird and Tui that were coming to sugar water feeders that I have had in position for several days. I was reasonably successful and also caught a few other species as well. Total of 30 birds of 6 species caught with 20 new and 10 recaps.
Dunnock - 1 (2)
House Sparrow - 11 (2)
Chaffinch - 1 (0)
Silvereye - 1 (0)
Tui - 3 (1) all were juveniles. The old ones have learnt to avoid nets.

One of the young male Tui

Bellbird - 3 (5) The biggest catch of Bellbird I have had and the most recaps in a day. A number of the recaps were recently banded juveniles. It's good to know they are still about and surviving.

A young male Bellbird

I had planned to have another day's banding today but at the moment it's raining steadily so it doesn't look hopeful.

Queenstown - first session for the year 2018

Had the first banding session for 2018 here yesterday, on 5 Jan. Rachel came over from Lake Hawea to join me. The plan was to catch Tui near the house in the morning as there appeared to be an influx of new birds and then in the afternoon catch Redpolls at the stream. The first half of the plan exceeded expectations but the second had to be cancelled due to rain setting in about midday. A good rain would be great but this was only enough to stop the banding and then it stopped.

We caught 23 birds with 11 new and 12 recaps but only 4 species.
Dunnock - 2 recaps one of which was banded as a nestling 2 years ago, so good to know it made it to adulthood.
House Sparrow - 5 new and 3 recaps. Not targeting Sparrows at the moment so these were really bycatch.
Bellbird - 1 new and 3 recaps.

The Bellbird, an adult male getting its bling.

Tui - 5 new and 4 recaptures. This makes 8 new Tui caught in the last week or so, just when I thought I had most of the locals banded. Included in the catch was a newly fledged bird, the first down here.

Rachel with one of "her" Tui

The smaller throat tuft of a second year male

The larger tuft of an older male.

Queenstown - the last banding for the year

I have had a couple of sessions down here since the last post. An afternoon session at the stream and a morning session near the house.

Stream 29 Dec

Caught a similar number of birds as the previous session a bit different species list. A total of 26 birds of 6 species all except 2 new.
Redpoll 12, but still no recaps.
Greenfinch 7, the larges number caught here in a session.
Dunnock 3 and 1 recap.
Yellowhammer and Goldfinch 1 each and 1 House Sparrow recap.

House 31 Dec

Banded or recaptured 29 birds of 5 species with 19 new and 9 recaps.
Blackbird 1 new and a recap
Song Thrush 1 new juv.
Silvereye 1 new.

I got a surprise to find the Silvereye already starting to moult

House Sparrow 10 new and 9 recaps. Also caught and released unbanded about 20 - trying to ration my bands.
Tui 3 new, 2 old males and 1 younger female.

One of the big males

Bellbird 2 newly fledged juveniles. At the time of banding I was not sure of the sex but looking at the photos it looks clear.

Juvenile male Bellbird?

Juvenile female Bellbird?

I wish you all the best for 2018 and we will see what and who we can catch up with.

Queenstown Sat 5 Aug - a lot more little green jobs.

Now back in Christchurch after a short trip south. Sorry about this late post but things got a bit busy after spending most of Saturday with nets up. Didn't actually spend that much time banding more like recording numbers. Ended the day having caught 81 individual birds, the actual number of handlings would have been at least twice that as many Silvereyes were caught multiple times. I know I caught the first bird of the morning, Ap-19310 at least 6 times. This is the most birds I have caught in one day at this site.

There were 7 species caught with 33 new and 48 recaptures. By far the majority were Silvereyes with 24 new and 42 recaps. With a total of 66 individuals caught this is the highest number of both total birds and silvereye recaps caught in one day. Twenty four of the Silvereyes were also caught 2 days ago and 38 were new for the month which probably means that there has been considerable movement within the population. Four of the recaps had been banded in Sept 2015 within a week or two of starting banding here including the oldest bird from Thursday which is now 2 days older at 687 days.

There was also a few non Silvereyes caught -
Chaffinch - 2 (0)
Dunnock - 1 (2)
House Sparrow - 3 (0)
Starling - 1 (0)
Bellbird - 1 (4) the new bird was male and the recaps 1 female 3 male including the oldest recap for the species. Five birds in a day is the highest total for Bellbirds.

Adult Male Bellbird

Adult Female Bellbird

Wing of Adult Male Bellbird showing wingtip aging feature

Tui - 1 (0)

The wing of the new Tui showing the lack of a "notch" - aging it as a first year bird.

Queenstown - the lastest totals

Since the last update I have put nets up at various places around the grounds and twice at the stream at the bottom of the property.  At the first session at the stream I caught 20 birds which was I think a reasonable catch but the second time I caught 3 which was pathetic. So probably won't go back there for a while.

A total of 74 birds of 9 species were caught over this couple of weeks with 40 new and 14 recaps.
Silvereye - 5 (0)
Chaffinch - 0 (1)
Goldfinch - 1 (0)

A lot of birds including this Goldfinch have finished or just about finished their primary moult.

Redpoll - 14 (1) all caught at the stream.
Yellowhammer - 1 (1)
House Sparrow - 29 (7) except for the stream site Sparrows are caught regularly.

A H Sparrow had a broken/deformed P7 feather on each wing.

Dunnock - 3 (2)
Tui - 2 (0)
Bellbird - 5 (2) all Tui & Bellbird were caught in nets set next to a Nashi Pear tree.  The tree is a bit too high for my set up but I catch a few of the low flying ones. They love the juice of partly eaten fruit. One of the new Bellbirds was a female, the first and only one I have caught down here. A ratio of 1 Female  to 12 Males is a bit out of sync.

The first Female Bellbird caught down here.

On a non banding note the autumn colours here at the moment are fabulous. Photos taken from the house.

Queenstown - another new species

Haven't managed to catch a lot of birds in the last week or so, but have caught what I would call some quality ones. I have set a net up near the house a few times hoping to catch some of the Silvereyes that make occasional forays though the fruit trees. Only managed to catch a couple plus a number of House Sparrows and then I got a shock to find a juvenile Grey Warbler in a net. It would have had to cover some distance in the open to get to the net and the net site would have to be the most unlikely of all that I have used down here.

I have also set nets up at the neighbours a couple of times, didn't catch a big number, a few Sparrows and the odd Blackbird and Dunnock.

I have an interesting banding station at the neighbours - utilizing one of Mark's toys.

But also 4 Bellbirds on the first afternoon and then this afternoon I caught 2 more, 1 new and a recap. The recap is the first one down here and was the first Bellbird caught. It was caught on 13 Sept 2015 and is now the oldest bird recaptured down here, beating the Chaffinch caught last week by 2 days. I have also had a session down at the stream where Redpoll numbers appear to be dropping.

The banding station at the stream is also a bit unusual - utilizing an old knarly willow tree.

A bit primitive but effective, the net is just on the other side of the tree

Birds caught since the last post are -
Silvereye - 2
Blackbird - 1
Dunnock - 2
House Sparrow - 17 (3)
Goldfinch - 1
Redpoll - 12 (2)
Bellbird - 5 (1)

The Bellbird recap, all those caught have been adult Males with bright red eyes

Grey Warbler - 1
I had expected to catch a G W or two before now as there appears to be several pairs on or near the property.

Grey Warbler showing the cream eye stripes of a juvenile and its new bling