2005

The Texas Coastal Banding Team

2005 Review

Welcome to the Texas Coastal Banding Team, a Unit of The Texas Banding Team. We are a group of volunteers and professionals studying birds via bird banding. We conduct research at specific banding stations on a regular basis, intermittent sampling of historic research sites, and investigations of avian fauna at selected habitats. We additionally assist with research of others as appropriate and provide educational bird banding demonstrations as needed.

Our Team is comprised of Brent and Sue Ortego near Raisin, John Barrow at Corpus Christi, Susan Beree at Rockport, Charlie and Olivia Brower at West Columbia, Chet Couvillon at San Antonio, Robert and Kay Lookingbill at Lake Jackson, Bron Rorex at Rockport, Lyndon Schatz at Victoria, Glen Swartz at Calallen, Jeff Webster at Corpus Christi, and Craig Zalk at Sugarland. We all work under Master Permittee Ross Dawkins.

This Review will contain a series of reports by individual banders.

BRENT ORTEGO

Land of OZ banding station

Managed as a constant effort banding station with major emphasis on monitoring migrating and wintering hummingbirds. Site is mist-netted 3 days per week (two 1-hour week day sessions and one 4-hour weekend day session) from April-May, and Mid-August through October. Site is additionally mist-netted every two weeks for a 4-hour session on weekends the remainder of the year. Data are used to monitor migrants and conduct specific research on hummingbirds and songbirds. The station has gathered large amounts of data on Buff-bellied Hummingbird biology, and response of hummingbirds to feeders. Banding Station is registered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory.

Hill Country Research

Monthly research on population size, survival and site fidelity at 3 ranches. One at Leakey and 2 at Comfort. As a follow-up to previous banding conducted by Hanna Richard, research was continued in the scenic Hill Country where landowners feed thousands of hummingbirds daily. Second year of research looked into, recaptures of previously banded birds and efforts were made to estimated population size by Mark Recapture. Abstracts from past research can be found in APPENDIX B.

6^th Biennial International Hummingbird Banding Workshop

The Texas Bird Banding Team hosted this biennial hummingbird banding workshop that was attended by banders from across the country. The workshop occurred at the famous Brown Ranch near Christoval. Attendees were extremely well fed, and received experience in handling Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds at the same time, and presentations were made about results of a variety of research. APPENDIX B.

Running Liveoak

As part of an on-going study to evaluate the value of running liveoak to wildlife, birds were mist-netted weekly during the fall for the 3^rd year on herbicided and untreated liveoak.

GCBO banding demonstration

Team members assisted with conducting this annual event by catching and banding hummingbirds for the education of hundreds of attendees during September.

Candy Abshire WMA banding demonstration

A bird banding demonstration was conducted for the 2^nd year at this fall event focused on migrating raptors in October. About 400 attendees visited the banding station to watch dozens of songbirds being banded.

Brown Ranch

Annual visits have been made to the famous Brown Ranch to assess hummingbird populations in late June. After the banding at Dan’s, team members normally spend 2 days banding on the Dolan Falls TNC preserve to assess status of several species of birds. Poor road conditions prevented access this year and an alternative site was netted along the Middle Concho River.

Black Skimmer Color-Marking

Assistance is provided to James Heller to annually catch and band with color bands Black Skimmers hatched at the Dow facility in Freeport. James follows up the banding with observations of the breeding colony.

Exploratory Mist-Netting

Mist-netting is conducted opportunistically at various properties and habitats to assist in assessment of avian populations.

Jimmy Jackson Live

Oak County. Fall weekend visit sampled birds in somewhat unique ranch setting.

Guadalupe Delta WMA.

On-going sampling of Swamp Sparrow populations are conducted each winter to look at site fidelity and survival of this species. In addition, pre and post Christmas Bird Count sampling is conducted on the Wildlife Management Area to learn more about the value of the property to lingering neotropical migrants.

Magic Ridge TOS sanctuary.

Mist-netting was conducted during spring break when labor was available to sample bird use of this valuable coastal preserve.

Womack Ranch.

On-going research with use of river basin wetlands for shorebirds allowed for one morning of mist-netting birds this fall.

Rockport.

Hummingbirds are banded in Rockport each fall during the simultaneous banding for the public to determine similarities and differences of this major hummingbird passage through this community.

Mad Island CBC scouting:

As time is available, important neotropical habitats are mist-netted to determine their usage by lingering neotrops.

SUSAN BEREE

I have banded 43 hummingbirds in three locations since September. Four species were banded—Buff-bellied (2), Broad-tailed (3), Rufous (5), and Ruby-throated (33). Males accounted for 60%; 40% were female.

A surprise of my banding activities was the capture of three Broad-tailed hummingbirds within six days in mid-December. The BTLH were banded in two different yards. I was lucky to be off work during the time of their brief visits; otherwise, they might not have been noticed in the yards.

The most rewarding part of my banding experience was the recapture of three out of the eleven hummingbirds that were banded during my training in January—a 27% recapture rate (one Allen’s, one Rufous, and one Buff-bellied). I hope to see that recapture rate climb even higher. I left two traps in one yard New Year’s weekend to get the Buff-bellied used to using them.

A disappointment is the winter hummingbird numbers in our yard, and in the Rockport area this year. I was hoping to study wintering Rufous/Allen’s. Normally, we have 4-8 Rufous/Allen’s wintering in our yard; this year, we have only two—both females. Numbers are also low in other yards this winter.

 

Banding Summary, Beree, September-December, 2005

CHARLIE BROWER

During January, and February I continued banding wintering hummingbirds in the surrounding area. During this time I trapped forty birds of six species. Five of these were birds originally banded the previous winter. This was also the second winter in which the areas right on the Gulf of Mexico in which I band; primarily the Sargent and Matagorda areas; had few hummingbirds. My data is not extensive enough to show if this is the norm; and if not; the reason for the lack of birds in those areas during the winter.

I also was a participant in the Forest Birds Study Group banding project at the Big Pond tract of the San Bernard NWR.

During the same time period I worked with the Mid Coast U. S. F & W field biologist in an ongoing Yellow and Black Rail banding project. It included training in drawing blood to send to a group that is doing a Yellow Rail project in the Klamath Basin. This continued through the first part of April.

During the winter I bought enough equipment to set up a viable banding station. I first used this equipment to mist net on the San Bernard River in Wharton Co. the first week of April. I have an interest in banding during migration on what could be considered major and minor rivers; inland from the gulf; during migration I sited, and ran an educational banding station during the local Migration Celebration for the benefit of the USF&W Mid Coast NWR using the Forest Bird Study Group equipment and personnel.

I received a special use permit to do migration banding at the CLT tract of the San Bernard NWR in April. This tract is located near my home, and is located on the Brazos River about 42 kilometers due north of the Gulf of Mexico. I was able to start banding on 4/14 and banded one afternoon and one morning in succession each week until 5/22. Although banding in the area is complicated by a sand hauling operation, and lack of under story vegetation on over 90% of the tract due to previous heavy grazing, I was able to band 384 birds in this period. Both birds that breed here, and migrants passing through.

During the summer I assisted with duck banding on the Mid Coast NWR. This included capture from airboat, trapping, and rocket net use. I banded a few species using our bands during this period.

The fall was dedicated primarily to banding migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. This included educational banding at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, banding in my yard, the homes of local hummer hosts in Brazoria and Matagorda counties, and a new site at CLT. During this period I had no foreign recaptures, but did have one recap from two years prior.

The advent of Hurricane Rita affected my efforts, which resulted in a smaller number of birds banded than hoped for. This was a very small price to pay, considering the hurricane’s effect on less fortunate folks.

After October, wintering hummers was again the target, albeit with small success.

The Forest Bird Study Group banding at Big Pond started up again in October, and I was again part of that effort.

During the entire year I banded birds released by the local rehabbers to track their success rate.

ROBERT & KAY LOOKINGBILL

We spent the month of January, 2005, in the Mission Valley of western Montana, studying Rough-legged Hawks at the invitation of Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute. This was the second year of this project. The goal of the project was to determine if these hawks can be reliably sexed based on plumage characteristics. We spent two weeks in October in Cape May, NJ, at the invitation of Bill Clark, to participate in the Cape May Raptor Banding project. The first week we trained with Bill, and banded over 200 raptors with him. During the second week we ran our own banding station, and banded 69 raptors. We also inadvertently caught over 40 song birds in the mist nets we were using, which we also banded. We banded raptors (mostly in Brazoria County) throughout the year. We’ve banded approx. 20 Red-Shouldered Hawks, and have re-captured three of them in successive winters. All three of the re-caps were caught within yards of original capture site. Also, two of our banded RSHAs found their way to Dana Simon, the local wildlife rehabilitator. Both of these birds, unfortunately, died. We banded hummingbirds locally, mostly in Brazoria County. We banded almost 500 RTHU during the fall migration. We banded 5 wintering hummers at GCBO, including BCHU, RTHU, BUFH and ANHU. We also “rescued” two RTHU that were caught inside buildings. We participated in other banding activities locally with the banding team in Brazoria County. Included are the winter banding project at Big Pond, Migration Celebration, Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza at GCBO. We also continued banding our own back-yard birds.

Robert & Kay Lookingbill Banding Plans for 2006

An opportunity has arisen at GCBO, and we intend to start a banding project on their grounds in January. This will be open to the public, for educational and PR purposes. It will also provide a means to monitor the avian activity on the GCBO property.

We intend to return to Cape May, NJ, in the fall to band raptors.

We intend to continue banding hummingbirds and raptors locally, with an emphasis on RSHA. And we are continuing working on the Big Pond winter bird study.

We’ll continue to work with Bill Clark in the RGV and on the upper TX coast, banding raptors as opportunities arise throughout the year. Bill Clark has been very gracious and generous in tutoring us in our raptor banding activities.

There is an opportunity to band birds in Michigan. More planning and permit issues need to be addressed first. And whatever other opportunities might arise…

JIM RENFRO

Big Pond

In November 2001, a project was initiated by volunteers to study birds wintering in the bottomland forests of Brazoria County, TX. Bird banding was selected as the primary study tool. Oversight for the project protocol has been provided by biologists from USGS, USFWS and TPWD. Project participants formed the nucleus of the Forest Birds Study Group, a cooperative whose purpose is to coordinate citizen science bird study projects in the Columbia Bottomlands region of southeast Texas. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory has been added as a project cooperator. Some 25 volunteers have participated in the project since its inception. The Big Pond unit of the San Bernard NWR was selected as the wintering birds study site. Big Pond is a primarily wooded tract in northwest Brazoria County. It is a remnant, 2500-acre bottomland forest system transected by Dance Bayou, pipeline ROWs and bordered by Linville Bayou. It was heavily grazed until about 1999. The banding station is located in a 20-acre clearing that is undergoing reforestation, and is surrounded by existing woodland. The station is populated with mist nets arrayed in 13 separate net lanes within plot. Old growth forest, successional woody plants and brush comprise the bulk of the habitat. Fieldwork begins in late October and is conducted in two-day segments every 3-4 weeks. The station is operated from sunrise until about noon. To date 1086 birds representing 44 species have been banded in 45 days of operation. Net hours total about 6000 thus far. Of the banded birds, 265 individuals have been recaptured on the site, many more than once. Statistically, approximately 25% of individuals banded have been recaptured in subsequent days and/or subsequent winter seasons. Several intra-continental migrant species are among the birds recaptured.These data strongly support fidelity of many species and individuals to this site. Further, analysis of recaptures by net (nets have the same numbered location each season) indicate that many individuals are using the same small plot feeding ground year-after-year. Two hundred eighty birds were banded in 2005. The study is currently in the 5^th year. Plans are to continue the project into at least the 10^th year, 2010-11. Additionally, a May-July breeding season banding effort is under consideration for the purpose of correlating resident species’ seasonal site fidelity as well as monitoring Neotropical migrant breeding status. Cataloging of the substrate vegetation was begun in 2005 and further work is planned.

San Bernard NWR

Each April the Friends Of the Mid-Coast NWR Complex conduct a nature exposition geared for families. The Forest Birds Study Group is requested to conduct banding demonstrations for the event. About 25 nets are arrayed in lanes of upland brush and woody plants in the San Bernard NWR south of Churchill, TX. No attempt to analyze the data has been made. A mix of Neotropical migrants and residents are being banded. Forty-three birds were banded in 2005.

Birdsong

Birdsong Hill is a private property located about 8 miles southeast of Grapeland in Houston County, TX. Nets are arrayed around feeder stations and in a flyway between the feeders and roosting sites. Eleven species totally 160 individuals have been banded in primarily winter operations. Twenty-nine individuals were banded in 2005. No analysis of data has been made to date. Plans are to continue this activity in future years.

LYNDON SCHATZ

White-winged Doves are banded annually from March through September. About 3% of the 2 to 300 doves banded are harvested by hunters and the data provides us information on the movements of this suburban breeding population. We have received band returns from Victoria, Karnes City, Beeville, Uvalde, Sequin, San Antonio, Florida and Mexico during 2005.

JOHN BARROW

2005 Banding Report -John Barrow, Jeff Webster, Chet Couvillon Continuing a banding study of purple martins that began in 2003, the team banded a total of 900 martins in 2005, primarily nestlings and equally divided, coincidentally, between Calhoun, Nueces and Comal Counties. Purple martins have been the subject of extensive banding studies in northeastern United States (PA, OH, IN and NJ), and this study allows the opportunity to work in concert with Purple Martin Conservation Association to compare regional data from a deep southern area with northern data. PMCA, which is currently under the direction of John Tautin, retired director of BBL, plans to conduct other regional studies throughout the country to compare the differences relating to nesting productivity, return percentages of SY martins to their natal colony, dispersive distances from natal colonies and longevity. In addition, PMCA has initiated an international study of migratory roosts; movement and characteristics. Our banding study will assist in tracking martins through several known roosts in South Texas in flight to South America. One potential goal of this study will be to determine, conclusively, whether martins are capable of, and do, fledge multiple broods in North America. At the close of the nineteenth century, Audubon characterized purple martins to raise three broods during their nesting season in North America. We now know that in fact they raise a single brood and immediately begin staging to migrate back to South America. However, in recent years, and among colonies being studied by this banding team, the season has significantly been extended and apparent second broods are being raised by early arriving, mature adult martins. Knowledgeable landlords have no doubt that it is the same pair raising a second brood in the same nesting compartment; however, some skepticism remains and it is hoped that banding studies, in a relatively short time, will conclusively prove or dispel this opinion. To our knowledge there is no banding record of one or more martins raising a second brood. After this year, the team is seeing a trend of 2-3% of banded SYs returning to their natal colony. This compares to a 10-13% rate of return in northern colonies where there are far fewer martins to compete with and less available housing. Nest productivity is significantly higher in the south where weather is generally more favorable throughout the nesting season. That fact, coupled with a much shorter migration, will likely result in a lower mortality rate of southern populations of martins and a longer life span. Finally, this banding project is placing heavy emphasis on outreach to children, primarily students at the elementary school level. Opportunities are extended for students to observe martin colonies, where they can observe nests, eggs and nestlings and also observe a short banding session. PMCA has now opened its first regional extension office, in South Texas, and their director of educational development is staffed here and currently working with a director of environmental education for the Texas Education Agency to develop a curriculum for the study of purple martins and other birds throughout the state. At the same time, John Barrow is working with a teacher at Fred Sanders Elementary School to develop a similar curriculum which would also incorporate the efforts of Hawkwatch, International, with specific attention to its successful hawk watch at Hazel Bazemore Park in Corpus Christi.

Plans for 2006. Chet Couvillon, who was recently sub-permitted, will oversee banding studies in the Comal / Bexar County area. Chet presents a popular annual program about purple martins at Schultz’s Nursery in Marion, Texas, and is offering those in attendance the opportunity to band martins at their sites, provided they have adequate nesting records from doing weekly nest checks. In addition, Chet hosts about 100 pairs of martins at his home, and has access to the large colony of David Van Booven in Seguin, Texas. David, along with Chet and Tony Frederickson, are the designers and originators of the upscale Lone Star purple martin houses. John Barrow will continue banding at his 50 pair colony in Port O’Connor and 45 pair colony in Corpus Christi, as well as doing extensive banding in the Port O’Connor area where he has nurtured the success of several large colonies. He has added a 16 gourd- rack system to supplement the martin housing at the Verheul ranch at Seadrift, Texas, where Brent Ortego is overseeing the restoration of the large ranch to coastal prairie and wetlands. Jeff will continue to band in the Corpus Christi area and has recently helped establish two new colonies in the City–one on Padre Island and the other adjacent to Oso Bay. It is hoped that he will have access to about 75 pairs this season. This group has been in contact with Clay White of Harris County, also sub-permitted under Ross Dawkins, and hope to coordinate him into their color-banding scheme. Clay has been authorized to color band in 2006. John Tautin at PMCA is in the process of writing a complete banding strategy for purple martins in the United States and Canada, and this group will continue to work closely with that organization to help achieve their goals.The golden fronted woodpecker project John Barrow has attracted a pair of golden fronted woodpeckers into a box at his property in Corpus Christi. Seven nestlings were banded there in 2004; eight in 2005. Much that is known of golden fronted woodpeckers was learned through studies conducted by Terry Maxwell and Michael Husak Angelo State University. There is much that is unknown. The woodpeckers are still guarding their box for use in 2006. In addition to banding any nestlings raised there, it is hoped that a nest camera will be installed in the box to observe and study the woodpeckers’ nesting behavior and perhaps provide some of the unknowns in the Maxwell-Husak study.

APPENDIX B

6^TH BIENNUAL INTERNATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD BANDING WORKSHOP

CHRISTOVAL, TEXAS 31 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER 2005

Sponsors:

• Hummer House,
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
• Angelo State University,
• Texas Ornithological Society,
• Hummer/Bird Study Group

Coordinators:

• Brent Ortego,
• Ross Dawkins,
• and Dan Brown

Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 7:00 p.m.

Welcome/Workshop Preview: Brent Ortego

Historical Examination of Hummingbird Banding at Dan Brown’s Ranch in Christoval, Tom Green County, Texas Ross Dawkins 1 and Brent Ortego 2
1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Angelo State University #10892, San Angelo, TX 76909; ross.dawkins@angelo.edu.
2 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B, Victoria, TX 77901; brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us.

ABSTRACT: For several decades Dan Brown has been feeding corn to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) and Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), birdseed to smaller birds, and sugar water to hummingbirds (Trochilidae). Currently, he feeds fifteen tons of corn, five tons of birdseed, and more than eight hundred pounds of sugar per year. He has created a Mega Feeding Station for wildlife. Dawkins described these phenomena to John Tauten, who was then head of the Bird Banding Laboratory, and Tautin said this was the type situation that warranted a large banding effort. We started banding birds at Dan’s in 1995 and have continued to the present. We have banded more than six thousand hummingbirds of six species with greater than ninety percent being Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). In addition to hummingbirds, we have banded over fifteen thousand other birds of one hundred seventeen additional species. Dan’s ranch is several miles north of Anson Spring which is the headwaters of the South Concho River and flows north through the ranch. Just south of Dan’s ranch are additional springs, which feed the South Concho River. Dan’s ranch is comprised of riparian area lined with pecan (Carya illinoinensis), cypress (Taxodium distichum), walnut (Carya spp.), and elm (Ulmus spp.); old live oak mottes (Quercus fusiformis); pecan orchards, and oak, juniper (Juniperus spp.), and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) pasture land. The surface water and the relict floodplain forest are not typical of western Edward’s Plateau. The avifauna of Dan’s ranch is also not typical of the Concho Valley. We have mist-netted all over the region for twenty-five years and there are fifteen species of birds that we have caught only at Dan’s. To review the hummingbird situation at Dan’s we will analyze several types of data. To attempt a standardized view of the hummingbird situation, we have made a major effort on the third Friday of each June since 1997 to catch as many individuals as possible just prior to the start of fall migration. Generally, Bob and Martha Sargent and their crew, and Brent and Sue Ortego and their crew have joined Debra and Ross Dawkins and their crew to make this effort possible. Banding generally ran from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Wire traps, Russell traps, and flat mist nets have been used. Table 1 shows hummingbirds caught each year and their age breakdown. The percent young is generally both a measure of reproductive success and an indication of average life span measured in reproduction years. Others have found that about one third of eggs laid produce young in Black-chinned Hummingbirds. If all adult females lay two eggs per clutch and only a few produce a second clutch then a proportion of 33% young which we observed is consistent. Because the percent young averages around thirty-three percent this would indicate an average minimum reproductive life span of two years to maintain a stable population. The assumption is that the snapshot of the composition of the population in late June is representative. It is probably a safe estimate that two adult hummingbirds require more than one breeding season to replace themselves with two reproducing progeny in a static population. Table 2 shows the sugar consumption in pounds of sugar per season. Because the amount is increasing we assume availability of sugar is not the limiting factor in population. The average of six hundred seventy pounds per year is 1.2 x 106 Calories /year or about twice the caloric intake of a human in a year. Table 2 also shows the average sugar consumption per day during selected weeks. The maximum is around July 1st when a ten-year average of 6.4 pounds per day have been consumed. This is eleven thousand nine hundred Calories (kcal). Black-chinned hummingbirds have a measured field metabolic rate of 29 kj/day, which is 7 Cal/day. If a hummingbird is getting half its energy from sugar water feeders, then eleven thousand nine hundred Calories/day corresponds to thirty four hundred birds.

Table 1: Black-chinned Hummingbird Production, Brown Ranch, Christoval, Tom Green County, Texas.

Year

Total Banded

Young

Adults

Y:A

% Young

Table 2: Sugar Consumption Per Day and Per Year at Brown Ranch, Christoval, Tom Green County, Texas

Year

Wk June 3rd

Wk June 17th

Wk July 1st

Wk July 15th

Total for Year

THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2005

7-12 a.m.: Practice Hummingbird Banding at Brown Ranch, Christoval, TX

1:30 p.m.: Cutting and Forming Hummingbird Bands - Bob Sargent 7570 Mack Hicks Rd., Trussville, AL 35173; RubyThroat@aol.com;

ABSTRACT: The process of making hummingbird bands is generally done by following a brief set of instructions that comes with the equipment when purchased. In view of the fact many banders learn to make bands with little or no assistance from others, this discussion will touch on techniques that have been used successfully by the author. Things to be discussed and demonstrated will be slicing the bands in strips of the proper width, finishing and properly smoothing the edges of newly cut band strips, cutting bands to proper lengths and the storage of finished bands for easy use. A discussion of brand names and sources of equipment will also be discussed. The negative implications of poorly made and improper sized bands will be high on the list of topics. Negative experiences encountered by the author will be demonstrated.

2:00 p.m.: Russell Trap Installation - Brent Ortego 2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B, Victoria, TX 77901; brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us

ABSTRACT: Procedure for erecting and managing a Russell Trap will be demonstrated.

2:30 p.m.: “New” Bonnet-style Trap - Bill Taylor 1644 N. Woodland Ave., Tucson, AZ 85712; btaylor@vhta.com.

ABSTRACT: BONNET TRAP–Brief Set-up and Operational Notes

1. Hang from suitable limb or bracket and anchor docking lines to tent peg, re-bar or suitable stationary ground fixture. Level of trap is adjusted by pulling on docking lines, beginning by shaking out attachment ring which will more or less find its own center.
2. Running lines with small ring should be drawn through guide ring on hanger and attached to operator’s release line. (Not supplied.)
3. Fill and place feeder base on Velcro attach points of the Base ring. (Best results are when feeder base is identical in design to that on the feeders to which the birds are accustom.) *NOTE: a third eyebolt is affixed to the attach plate inside the trap for hanging a feeder when the trap is tied and left open for any period of time when not in use. This allows birds to become accustom to feeding from it (a dummy trap can be a useful alternative for extended periods of time.)
4. Draw up curtain with skirt attached to a gap of approximately 4″-5″. Release when bird is centered in trap and/or feeding comfortably.
5. 1. *NOTE: responsiveness of trap can be enhanced by attaching approximately 6″-8″ of elastic with paper clips or hooks from the weight eyelets to the Base ring.
   2. *NOTE: trap can be operated manually as above, or w/ a remote (R/C) release. This has been found useful for conditions where crowds might interfer w/ trap release lines; and for intermittent or selective trapping. Significant safety and operational features of Bonnet Trap

1. NO wires inside curtain for birds to contact or with which to become entangled.
2. NO hanging feeders to encumber or exacerbate capture. (Optional.)
3. Soft skirt with weight stops minimizing bird strikes on attempted escapes. Also reduces gap when operator’s arm is inserted to retrieve bird.
4. Weights EXTERNAL to trap chamber; reduced to 3/4oz. (20 grams) each.
5. Component construction simplifies repaires or replacement of parts and curtain.
6. Interchangeable skirts allows for a variety of colors and fabrics, and to meet existing adverse conditions e.g 3.6 gram rattan stiffner threaded through one skirt for wind resistance.

3:00 p.m.: Tail Photo Technique
Tom Woods and Sheri Williamson 3:30 p.m.: Physical and Chemical Properties of Various Sugar Water Ratios for Hummingbird Feeders Ross Dawkins Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Angelo State University, Box 10892, San Angelo, Texas.

ABSTRACT: Most people using sugar water for hummingbird feeders use a recipe ratio involving volumes of water (solvent) to volumes of dry granular sugar (solute) or they measure the final volume of the solution instead of added solvent. In either case it is not easy to compare one recipe to another as far as energy content or total amount of sugar.I made up a series of sugar (sucrose, Imperial Pure Cane granulated) solutions using the volume % of water and the volume % of dry sugar. I then measured the density, molarity, molality, Calories/ gallon and freezing point of various ratios. Density (or the similar specific gravity) is easily measured in the field. The molarity (M) is a normalized method of measuring the moles of solute per volume of final solution. This makes comparisons between solutions easy. The molality (m) measured the moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. This helps calculate colligative properties such as freezing point or boiling point of any solution. From the molarity, the number of Calories per gallon can be calculated. This can be converted to calories or to joules easily. The results are in tabular form and interpolated into graphic form.
Table of Characteristics

V%water/ V%sugar Molarity Molality Freezing Density kCal/gal M m pt.oF g/mL 33/67 (1:2) 2.31 4.97 15 1.25611.96 50/50 (1) 1.58 2.485 24 1.174 8.18 60/40 (1.5:1) 1.20 1.66 26 1.132 6.21 67/33 (2:1) 0.965 1.24 28 1.1075.00 75/25 (3:1) 0.695 0.828 29 1.077 3.60 80/20 (4:1) 0.543 0.621 30 1.058 2.81 4:00 p.m.: Sugar Preferences of Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri) at a Mega Feeding Station in

Texas. Ross Dawkins Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,

Angelo State University Box 10892, San Angelo, Texas

ABSTRACT: At Dan Brown’s ranch near Christoval, Texas approximately 3,000 Black-chinned hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri) regularly feed during the breeding season. Dan feeds more than 800 pounds of cane sugar (sucrose) during the year. At this location we tested various sources and types of sugar and different concentrations of sugar to see if preferences existed. The sugars tested were sucrose from beet sugar (Albertson’s Granulated Sugar), cane sugar (Imperial Pure Cane Sugar), fructose (Eastman Organic Chemicals), glucose (Reagent Grade), and high fructose corn syrup (Betty Crocker Corn Syrup). One cane sugar solution was 80.0 mL of deionized water (80.0 g) added to 20 mL of dry, granular sugar (17.7 g sucrose) and this was designated as CS4. A second cane sugar solution was 90.0 mL of deionized water (90.0 g) added to 30mL (26.5 g sucrose) of cane sugar. This was designated as CS3.The other solutions were like CS4 with 80.0 mL of deionized water added to 17.7 g. of sugar. These solutions were BS (beet sugar), G (glucose), F (fructose), and K (Karo-type high fructose corn syrup). 70.0 mL of each solution were placed in clear, new Perky Pet single port feeders with a bee guard. A six feeder array was assembled in oak (Quercus fusiformis) shade in a 2×3 arrangement. Feeders were 2 meters above the ground and 1.5-2 meters apart. A second six feeder array was set up under the back eaves of Dan’s house in a linear arrangement. Again feeders were 1.5-2 meters apart. After each sample period, volumes were measured and feeders switched with higher and lower usage feeders exchanged to zero out positional variables. In addition, sampling periods were varied as to time of day from July 8th- July 11th. Dan’s normal complement of about 20 two-liter feeders were also available the whole time. Results were tallied by place of finish in each time period. The places of finish were then averaged over the four-day period. The results were fructose (average place 1.7) slightly preferred to beet sugar (average place 1.8). Next were Cane Sugar 3 (average place 2.8) followed by Cane Sugar 4 (average place 3.8). Last were glucose (average place 5) and high fructose corn syrup (average place 5.9).A second method of comparison was by total volume of solution consumed over all trials. Beet sugar was preferred with 177 mL consumed. Next came fructose with 134.5 mL consumed. Cane Sugar 3 with 117.5 mL and Cane Sugar 4 at a 104.5 mL follow. Least preferred were glucose at 36 mL and high fructose corn syrup with only 19 mL consumed.The preference of fructose was surprising in light of other studies that rarely show a preference for fructose. It might be explained by fructose being about 170% as sweet as sucrose and more than twice as sweet as glucose. Any preference of beet sugar over cane sugar is surprising because both are very pure sucrose with only slight traces of other sugars or salts. If any preference really exists it must be due to trace impurities and their taste. The preference of 3:1 cane sugar over 4:1 cane sugar is expected and has been shown by others. The discrimination against glucose is in accord with some other studies and possibly due to its lack of sweetness. The rejection of high fructose corn syrup is most puzzling, especially in light of the preference for fructose. A second study was done with CS4 solutions. Three feeders had a drop of red food coloring added and three remained colorless. In a second run all red and colorless solutions were positionally switched. No preference at all was observed.
4:30 p.m.: Black-chinned Hummingbird Sugar Water Consumption Rates at 4 Ranches in the Edward’s Plateau Ecoregion in Texas during 2005. Brent Ortego1 and Ross Dawkins2 1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B, Victoria, TX 77901 2 Chemistry Department, Angelo State University, Box 10892, San Angelo, TX 76909

ABSTRACT: Black-chinned Hummingbird (BCHU) (Archilochus alexandri) sugar water consumption were studied at 4 rural ranch banding sites in the Edward’s Plateau during the 2005 breeding season. Dan Brown Ranch, Tom Green County, was located at the edge of the S. Concho River floodplain in the western Edward’s Plateau in a forested park-like yard with 19 48-oz hummingbird feeders. Due to livestock grazing and high white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana) densities there were few hummingbird nectar producing plants. In the southeastern Edward’s Plateau, Bob and Sudie Burditt Ranch, Real County, was at the edge of the Frio River floodplain with park-like deciduous yard with 12 96-oz hummingbird feeders. Few hummingbird nectar producing plants were present for the same reasons as the Brown Ranch. Annie and Corky Matter Ranch,Kendall County, was on top of a hill about ½ mile (.8 km) from the small Flat Rock Creek in a cedar/hardwood savannah with 10 32-oz hummingbird feeders. Numerous hummingbird nectar plants were available in the residential yard of the banding site, but not in the rest of the ranch because of livestock and deer grazing. Egon and Sue Wiedenfeld Ranch, Kendall County, was at the edge of the floodplain of Big Joshua Creek in a park-like hardwood setting with 10 32-oz hummingbird feeders. Many hummingbird nectar plants were available in the 10-acre (4 ha) residential yard as well as regular occurrence in the surrounding pastures because of lower livestock and deer numbers. 1850 BCHU were captured during visits once per month from April through June using modified Russell traps, and sugar water consumption was recorded daily and summed weekly. Banding was discontinued after June because of the beginning of migration. The Lincoln’s Index was used to calculate hummingbird densities in May and June (80 recaptures from birds previously banded) and compared to sugar water consumption for the week of the banding. Sugar to water ratios of 1:4 was used at 2 ranches, and 1:5 and 1:3 at other ranches. All sugar water consumption was converted to 1:4 equivalents because this is the rate used at most hummingbird feeders.Sugar water consumption at each ranch is graphed below in gallons consumed per week. Sugar consumption typically started increasing in late March as migrants arrived, reached a peak in late April and then started declining in May, except the Brown Ranch with the larger hummingbird population did not peak out in sugar consumption until July.
Fig. 1 Gallons of Sugar Water Consumed per Week at 4 Ranches in the Edward’s Plateau, TX, during 2005.BCHU estimates per site varied from a low of 1542 at the Matter Ranch to 6350 at the Brown Ranch. Highest consumption rate by hummingbirds was at the Burditt ranch and lowest at the Matter Ranch Availability of nectar producing plants and suitable insect prey are suspected to influence consumption rates, but data from this study are not conclusive. Table 1. Sugar Water Consumption and the
Lincoln’s Index BCHU Estimated Population. SITE
LINCOLN’S HUMMERS/ INDEX GALLON Brown 6350 1411/gal/day Burditt 2251 855/gal/day Wiedenfeld 20161275/gal/day Matter 1542 1610/gal/day
5:00 p.m. Dinner on Your Own.

7:00 p.m.

Angelo
State
University7:15 p.m.: Black-chinned Hummingbird Band Return Rates from Ingram,
Kerr County, Texas. Brent Ortego1, and Artie and Hanna Richard2 1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B, Victoria, TX 779012elfowl@omniglobal.net ABSTRACT: Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri) were banded multiple times per week with “Bonnet”, and cage traps during the months March through September from 1996 to 2002 within a subdivision at Ingram,
Kerr County, Texas. The banding site is comprised of a trailer park with ¼-acre (.1 ha) lots or smaller in park-like cedar/deciduous hardwood habitat, and is ½ mile (.8 km) from Johnson Creek and 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Guadalupe River. Initial date of banding was pooled for each month across 1996 through 2000. Black-chins were still captured and banded during 2001 and 2002, but the data was only used for tabulating recaptures. Thus, each banded bird in this report would have at least 2 years after banding to be recaptured. Percent recapture rates were calculated for monthly age and sex in the table. First number is percent recaptured and 2nd number is sample size. AHYM AHYF HYM HYF March 19 (79) April 11 (112) 7 (96)May 18 (60) 21 (46)June 13 (83) 15 (41) 12 (207) 23 (103)July 09 (170) 15 (92) 15 (416) 16 (197)August 04 (78) 03 (67) 08 (302) 05 (268)September 04 (51) 02 (141) TOTAL 552 342 976 709 Site fidelity, survivorship and effects of migrants on the data set will be discussed. 7:45 p.m.: Black-chinned Hummingbird Dispersal from Breeding Sites in the Edward’s Plateau,
Texas 1996-2002. Brent Ortego1, and Artie and Hanna Richard2 1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2805 N. Navarro, Suite 600B, Victoria, TX 779012elfowl@omniglobal.net ABSTRACT: Attempts were made to band Black-chinned Hummingbirds (BCHU; Archilochus alexandri) twice per day, every day they were available from 1995 thru 2002 in the Edward’s Plateau, Texas. 11,933 BCHU were banded and 669 recaptured. The effort produced a network of 8 banding sites surrounding the home, Ingram,

Kerr
County, of Master Bander Hanna Richard where 40% of the birds were banded. Banding sites were positioned 3, and 13 miles NW, 36 miles SW, 5 miles S, 27 miles SE, 3 miles E, and 7 and 11 miles NE. Data were examined to determine site fidelity and survival by age and sex. Recaptures during years following initial banding were highest for HYM at 7.22%, followed by AHYF 6.35%, AHYM 5.21% and HYF 3.40%. Age/Sex most likely to be captured at sites different from the one of original banding were HYM 0.90%, AHYM 0.64%, AHYF 0.30% and HYF 0.11%. Since likelihood of dispersing was probably related to total survial of age/sex classes, ratios of recaptured birds to dispersing birds were developed. One of every 8 males recaptured, both AHY & HY, were caught at a different hummingbird banding site. Only 1 of 21 AHYF and 1 of 31 HYF were recaptured at different banding sites. Thus, males were 3X more likely to disperse than females. This likelihood to disperse (site fidelity) needs to be factored into band return data when analyzing survival.

AHYF   AHYM   HYF   HYM   TOTAL

8:15: A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF HYDROGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS IN ESTIMATING THE

NATAL LATITUDES OF HATCH YEAR RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS Cathie A. Hutcheson1, Leonard I. Wassenaar2, and Lewellyn Hendrix3 11 Rowan Road, Makanda IL
62958; hutche@siu.edu. 2Stable Hydrology and Ecology Laboratory, National Water Research Institute, Environment

Canada,

11 Innovation Blvd.,  Saskatoon, SK Canada, S7N3H5;

3 Sociology Dept. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-4524.

ABSTRACT: This study seeks to determine whether stable-hydrogen isotope ratios can be used to estimate natal latitudes of RTHUs as a way of examining migration patterns. Sample 1: R4 feathers from the first 10 HY RTHUs of the 2003 season were collected by nine banders from across the RTHU range within the
USA. The stable-hydrogen isotope ratios for these feathers were determined, and these were regressed on latitude of collection site. A simple linear model explained 74% of the variation in isotope ratios, but an added quadratic expression boosted variation explained to 84%. Thus isotope ratios from HY RTHUs do vary in a curvilinear by latitude way. Isotope ratios do not discriminate clearly among all southerly sites, but there is a break in isotope between 39 degrees and 40 degrees latitude. Sample 2: R4 feathers from every 20th HY RTHU banded in 2002 were collected in Southern
Illinois (SI) (N=34). Converting these 34 cases to t-scores based on the sample of the 10 first HY RTHUs for SI suggests that 4 migrated from more northern latitudes, 1 came north from southern latitudes, and 29 likely are from SI or nearby latitudes. FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2005 7-12 a.m.: Practice Hummingbird Banding at Brown Ranch,
Christoval, TX 1:30 p.m. Hybrid Hummingbirds Stacy Peterson
20252 Lucas Ave., Eagle River, AK
99577; stacy@trochillids.com;
2:00 p.m.

Rocky

Mountain
National Park Hummingbird SurveyTena, and Fred Engelman Rocky Mountain National Park, 748 Grey Eagle Cir., South, Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1614; fcengelman@earthlink.net ABSTRACT: Five-year volunteer citizen-science initiative project begun in 2003 by two researchers. The purpose is to document Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) hummingbird populations and associated habitat. The survey supports the National Park Service (NPS) Science in the Parks initiative. No NPS funding is involved, although seasonal housing is provided. The survey requires approximately 2,000 hours of field research and report preparation time each year by the researchers.The survey objectives are to:- collect demographic information for breeding and transitory species; identify movement and dispersal patterns within the park; obtain information on philopatry and longevity; identify suitable habitat; document presence of rare or infrequently seen species; translate collected data into publicly available information for use by park interpretive personnel; prepare formal annual reports for the park; and, recommend additional areas for research. Researchers capture, band, measure, and release hummingbirds in designated locations on both the east and west sides of the Continental Divide. Field research is ongoing for 2005, and the following preliminary results apply to the first half of the study: - Approximately 2,200 hummingbirds of four species have been banded and demographic data collected.- Two significant foreign encounters have occurred, both involving broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycercus). In the more important instance, a hatch year female banded in the
Chiricahua
Mountains of southeastern
Arizona in September 2003 was encountered in RMNP in June 2004. The distance between the two sites is 630 statute miles, the current record for broad-tailed hummingbirds.- Researchers obtained extensive digital images and video for use by park interpretive personnel.- A substantial decline in numbers of rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) transiting the park in 2004 was documented.- The first ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) to be observed in the park was documented and supporting information submitted to the park and Colorado Bird Records Committee.

2:30 p.m. SABO Research

Tom Woods and Sheri Williamson

3:00 p.m. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Spring Arrival at
Fort Morgan, AL, Banding Station.

Bob Sargent 7570 Mack
Hicks Rd., Trussville, AL
35173 ; RubyThroat@aol.com;

ABSTRACT: Arrival under “fallout conditions”, apparent accompanying species in fallouts, nightime arrival of hummingbirds, body mass variations of arriving hummingbirds and related weather conditions, lack of floral nectar available to inbound Ruby-throated, molt conditions noted upon arrival, ageing some SY hummers on arrival as late as mid-April, absence of diseased and injured birds in arriving populations, and dispersal of inbound Ruby-throated from Fort Morgan to other locations northeastward will be discussed.

4:00 p.m. Bird Banding Lab

TBA

4:30 p.m. Regional and Temporal Distribution of Selasphorus rufus in Texas.

Mark Klym

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, TX 78744; mark.klym@tpwd.state.tx.us ABSTRACT: We have all heard the questions “Aren’t the Rufous Hummingbirds early this year?” Casual observation in a limited setting would seem to indicate these migrants arrive and depart at similar times each year, but data acquired through 11 years of observations at various sites across the state indicates that these birds arrive at diverse times across the state and that there is little or no standard time in any one region. Arrival dates averaged week 32 (second week in August) statewide, with a standard deviation of 6.8 and standard error of 3.6. Regional arrivals varied from an average week 29 (4th week in July) in the Trans Pecos (standard deviation 7.6, standard error 1.2) to week 36 (second week in September) in south

Texas (standard deviation 5.2 and standard error .99). Departure dates showed even less consistency with the average departure week 9 (1st week in March) with a standard deviation of 15.4 and a standard error of .87. Early average departure was seen in the Oaks and Prairies region with the birds leaving during week 2 (2nd week in January) but standard deviation was 12.4 and standard error 3.1. There were three regions of the state where the birds consistently left prior to the winter months, those being the Rolling Plains (week 38 – 4th week in September), the High Plains (week 36 – 2nd week in September) and the Trans Pecos (week 38 – 4th week in September).

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