Archive for October, 2007

Winter hummingbird banding near Raisin started in 1995 on our 2-acre lot. We initially trapped and mist-netted hummers in the vicinity of the house where we maintained a dozen feeders during winter. We caught about 1 dozen different hummers each winter and we were proud of this high density of wintering hummingbirds for this location.

Perky Pet donated to us numerous small feeders in 1999 for use in our field research and we expanded the number of feeders and the area we managed during the winter to 30 feeders on 4-acres. The 4-acres took in areas much larger than just our yard. It required acquisition and managment of an adjoining 2-acres of undeveloped land that was mostly brush and vines. We caught 29 hummers during the winter and this started our research on high density of feeders during winter.

In 2000, we added additional feeders during the winter for a total of 50. Well, we caught 62 hummers that winter.

We decided to increase the number of feeders and improve the style of feeders. We went with a different brand that we purchased to minimize bee problems we were having with the small feeders which tended to leak. We installed and maintained 70 feeders during 2001 and the number of hummers we were catching during the winter greatly increased. The response of the hummingbirds to the large number of feeders in areas of just deciduous brush and vines was phenomenal. It dramatically changed our perspective of what was suitable hummingbird habitat, and what you needed to provide to over winter hummingbirds.

We will be sharing with you some of this information in the coming months as we make time to post results from our research.

In the meantine, another winter season has started and we will be sampling The Land of Ortego-Zalk bird banding station bi-weekly with mist-nets for hummingbirds. We will post results after each session.

Data from previous years can be found below.

 This is the first in a series of questions where we are going to try to use bird banding data to firm up answers.  Data from The Texas Bird Banding Team will be used to address questions.

Question One.  Do western hummingbirds which survive the winter in Southeast arrive earlier on their wintering grounds in subsequent years?

General observations indicate hummingbirds do arrive earlier during each year following the first winter.  The belief is that first year birds which are the ones that are pioneering wintering in the Southeast do considerable wandering before they find a place to winter.  It is logical to assume that they will spend less time wandering in future years and will likely return to their wintering site earlier.  Is this fact or do we just remember the ones who arrive early?  Let’s see what the data from the Land of Ortego - Zalk bird banding station shows since this is a constant effort bird banding station where capture effort is the same from year to year.

Hummingbird Arrival Date Deviations

The Rufous Hummingbird is the classic western hummer which is most likely to visit homes in Texas.

RUHU

Males = 4 recaptures later and 9 recaptures earlier than original banding

Averages 25 days earlier; early arrivals = 39 days; later arrivals = 8

Females = 3 recaptures later and 13 recaptures earlier than original banding

Averages 32 days earlier; early arrivals = 56 days; later arrivals = 66 days

Overall, the Rufous appears to arrive earlier to winter in years following first banding.  The classical pattern is shown from one bird who arrived 13 days earlier than original banding date in its 2^nd year, 24 days earlier in its 3^rd year, and 49 day earlier in its 4^th year.  However, there is variation to this pattern and some birds just like to be different.  One bird in our study showed up at the same date as original banding in the 2^nd year, 26 days later in the third year and 11 days earlier in the 4^th year.

* * *

What about other western species?

ALHU

There is not enough returning birds for this uncommon winter species to break it down by sex.  5 birds were recaptured during the year after banding; 4 arrived earlier and one 8 days later.

Average of 28 days earlier than original date of banding one year later.

This is pretty similar to the pattern used by Rufous.

CAHU

One recapture male 57 days earlier than date of banding.

While Calliope’s are almost as common as Allen’s, not many return to the same site to winter in following years.  The exception is the data from the bird above.  This male returned for 5 years.

BTLH

One recapture male 6 days later than date of banding

Same could be said for the Broad-tailed as for the Calliope.

General summary for all species is that returning early to winter the year following first arrival by western breeding hummers is fairly common, but not consistent with all individuals.

* * *

What about a species which breeds locally in small numbers, has numerous individuals pass through in migration, and has a larger population which winters.  Would it have similar patterns as those species breeding to the northwest?

BUFH

Male = 15 arriving later and 18 arriving earlier

Late arrivers average 28 days later; early arrivals average 29 days early

There are some males with plus and minus arrival times as shown by one male which showed up 8 days earlier than date of banding in 2^nd year, but 51 days later in 3^rd year and 36 days earlier in 4^th year.

Females = 1 earlier and 2 later than original date of banding.

There is no predominant strategy to arrive earlier or later than first capture date with the Buff-bellied.

What about Black-chinned which marginally breeds in the area, but is primarily a migrant with a dozen or so birds wintering each year.

BCHU

Male = All 5 arrived earlier than first banding with an average of 31 days early.

Female = 10  arrived earlier and 3 arrived later than original banding date.  Early birds were 41 days before banding date and late birds were 48 days late on average.  Mean for all females were 20 days early.

* * *

DISCUSSION:  Adding to the variation in this data set is that the banding station is only 6 acres and there are residences nearby which feed hummers, so birds might return to the same wintering site to them, but might not be the same as the banding station.  They could be wintering in the neighborhood, but not just going back into the war zone with high density feeders and hummingbirds.  As a general rule, we do not try to catch hummers near the banding station.  However, we did document one BTLH we banded wintering the next year at our neighbors and a Calliope wintering in Houston instead of returning to Raisin.

Thus, it is fairly safe to presume that western breeding hummers wintering on the Texas Coast will likely return earlier the 2^nd year to winter, except for Buff-bellied.

The 107^th CBC edition was recently mailed by National Audubon Society. It includes several very good articles and the normal summaries for each state, and the highest counts of individual species (national highs). Many birders only look at the species tally for each count as a measure of its success. However, as a biologist I am more impressed with the number of high counts of each species a CBC reports as a measure of its value to birds.

I receive the 5 highest tallies of each species from Audubon to write the National High article each year. Texas did well in acquiring national highs; trailing only California in this category. Texas posted 437 records in the top 5 counts of each species with 69 CBCs representing Texas. Mad Island again led the nation with the most species National Highs with 29. It also had 16 2^nd places, 9 3rds, 9 4ths and 7 5^th places. Texas’s 2^nd best CBC forVswas Anzalduas-Bentsen. This CBC produced 9 1^st, 10 2^nd, 7 3^rd, 7 4^th & 2 5^th. Third place went to Santa Ana who posted 10 1^st, 6 2^nd, 7 3^rd, 1 4^th & 1 5^th. Fourth in Texas was Freeport 3 1^st, 5 2^nd, 8 3^rd, 3 4^th & 4 5^th. Tied for 5^th was Guadalupe River Delta and Weslaco with 22 Top 5 Finishes.

There is a definite trend of highest tallies being along the central coast and in the Valley. However, many CBCs scattered across Texas posted at least one Top V finish. Scroll through the list below and see how your count did. Get a copy of the American Birds 107th CBC edition and enjoy the stories. Hope to see you this winter on Texas CBCs.

Brent Ortego

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BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE

MATAGORDA COUNTY - MAD ISLAND MARSH CBC

Mad Island is a very diverse CBC that has posted the most species in the nation for 9 of the 14 years it has been conducted.  We are fortunate to get a sizeable turnout by birders, but we have lots of land to survey.  We get permission each year to survey over half of the land within the count circle. We have the likelihood of being the top CBC in the nation on a continuing basis with additional participation.

The CBC is divided into 12 sections and each section has a leader responsible for coordinating the birding for their area.  New birders to the count need to seek assignments to the count preferably at least one week in advance.  There is no one site where people just show up for assignments during the day of the count.  Some section leaders have rendezvous sites for their teams, but most just start birding as soon as they arrive.

Birding Needs:

We always need more people to help us work the beaches by scanning the Gulf for pelagics, and surveying behind the dunes for grassland and wetland birds.

There is a need for a few feeder watchers in the 2 residential areas within the Count to search for hummingbirds and unusual songbirds.

There are extensive areas of forests along the Colorado River that needs teams of good woodland birders to survey them thoroughly.

The TPWD wildlife management area and TNC preserve have extensive native grasslands, tidal marshes and managed waterfowl impoundments along with scattered motes of brush that always need additional help locating unusual birds and rare lingerers. 

Participating birders will be given this year’s custom t-shirt, a meal at the banquet and have their activity fees paid.

Contact brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you need more information, or plan to attend.  Section assignments need to be made in advance.

BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE

GUADALUPE RIVER DELTA - MCFADDIN FAMILY RANCHES

This CBC has been conducted 3 times and has placed in the top 5 counts nationally for total species each year.  The count surveys one Texas Parks & Wildlife Department wildlife management area, 2 chemical plants and a number of private ranches.  The CBC specializes in trying to locate lingering neotrops which it does well.  It also has high diversity since it is positioned at the border of South Texas and also adjoins coastal marshes.

Birding Opportunities:

BOATS:  There are at least 25 miles of the Guadalupe River within the count circle where the riparian forest can be birded from a canoe or motor boat.  We have permission to bird about ½ of the shoreline.  So, birders can get out and walk as well as travel the river by boat.  We typically have at least two boats working the river, but could use one more.

            Parts of Hynes Bay, Guadalupe Bay and Mission Lake are accessible by a shallow draft motor boat and we need assistance surveying these tidal areas.  The boat would need to be launched at Austwell.

GROUND:  We have access to small and large ranches which provide access to a variety of habitat ranging from riparian forests, Tamaulipan thorn scrub, native grasslands, coastal marshes and suburban.

Most birders will be expected to bird from foot with occasional driving with vehicles.  Birders will need to bring their food and drink with them.  Supper will be provided at the count-down on the Womack Ranch.

There are only about 50 miles of public roads within the count circle.  We need one or two teams to survey roadside habitats and suburban areas for geese, longspurs, Burrowing Owl, Merlin, Ferruginous Hawk, Harlan’s Hawk, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Black-crested Titmouse, hummingbirds, W. Meadowlark, Say’s Phoebe, Brewer’s Blackbird, etc.

Contact brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you need more information, or plan to attend.

This very diverse CBC circle was developed by Mark Elwonger and Brent Ortego during the 1990’s. They recognized a nationally significant CBC could be developed in the area, but initially speculated that a very high tally would be limited because of several miles of bay separated the forested mainland from the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, a strategy was developed to focus more on lingering neotrops along the southernmost 15 miles of the Guadalupe River riparian forest rather than a maximum species count. They delayed starting the count because the local birding clubs were very busy supporting several area CBCs and there was a perceived lack of interest from the local landowners to allow birders to access their properties.

Area landowners started exploring ecotourism opportunities during the early 2000’s which peaked the interest of the birders, and exploratory mist-netting by Brent Ortego during winter on the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area captured N. Waterthrush, Ovenbird, and Yellow-breasted Chats on a regular basis. They decided to give it a shot and held the first count in 2004.

Our team of “local experts” predicted the CBC would likely get 188 species and would probably attract about 25 birders. They recruited landowners and as they got permission to survey land they recruited more birders. These sort of built on each other. The CBC ended up with 47 birders for the first count and reported 214 species which was a new CBC species tally record for a first time count in the United States. So much for our knowledge of the area

The initial success of the Guadalupe River Delta - McFaddin Family Ranches was due to the interest, skills and dedication of many people. Petra Hocky and Brush Freeman did an exceptional job of scouting and relocating birds along the southern end of the forested Guadalupe River and the shoreline of Hynes Bay. The Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area provided staff, equipment and access to their conservation lands. BP corporation provided sponsorship for the first 2 years and gave a guided tour of their property during the count. Lyondell Corporation provided sponsorship for 2 years and their properties were not even in the count circle. Numerous birders showed up for this new count from towns as far as 150 miles away. The most impressive assistance came from the McFaddin family ranches where Jess, Jesse and Walter Womack, Jan Wheelis and David Moore opened the gates to their ranches, provided themselves, staff and facilities.

One of the more unique count downs in Texas is held at this CBC. The Jess Womack Family Ranch provides an outstanding cook-out under the live oaks of the Guadalupe River floodplain after sunset. Tired birders dine on exceptional food and listen to the night calls of Barred Owls.

This CBC will continue to evolve through time and will one day report the highest tally in the Nation.

Contact Brent.Ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you would like to join us.

Results of the Guadalupe River Delta - McFaddin Family Ranches Christmas Bird Count are provided below. Contact Brent.Ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you would like to join the CBC.

Guadalupe River Delta/McFaddin Family Ranches CBC