Houghton Bay Tuesday 10 March - More Silvereyes.

Ros, George and I had another reasonably busy day at the Houghton Bay stream this afternoon. We caught 79 birds of 5 species. As was the case last week the catch was dominated by new Silvereyes with 60 but we did manage to make 3 recaptures, all recently banded Silvereyes. Other species caught were - 8 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 4 House Sparrows and a solitary Fantail (the first bird caught).

George and Ros busy at the banding table

With the high percentage of new Silvereyes being caught I wonder if there is just a big population in the area or if there is a turnover of birds. I have had reports of large flocks of Silvereye and other small passerines in parts of the east coast of the South Island. With the current drought conditions in that area I wonder if birds are moving north? Unfortunately there is very little banding going on in that area so we are unlikely to find out.