INDEPENDENCE CREEK

Chandler Ranch

21 – 23 JUNE 2008

After banding at Dan & Cathy Brown’s Hummer House on 20 June, Ross Dawkins and I continued our expedition by traveling to the Chandler Ranch in Terrell County. We netted on the south side of Independence Creek near its confluence with the Pecos River. Conditions were hot and very dry. There was still a good clear flow in the creek. We focused netting near the “slab” on the first day having to keep most nets in total shade because of 100+ degree temperatures. The 2^nd day, we shifted unproductive nets and all nets near the river westward towards the “shady grove” area. We caught about 300 individuals of 30 species. Yellow-breasted Chat, Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Bell’s Vireo were the dominant species in the baccharis dominated riparian zone. Black-capped Vireo and Green Kingfisher occurred in relatively high numbers. We caught a Black-capped Vireo that was banded during an earlier study that was at least 8 years old.

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We finished our last banding run of the season during late June in the eastern Hill Country with the Burditt Ranch feeding 3.7 gallons of sugar water per day, Matter Ranch 1 gallon per day and Wiedenfeld Ranch 2 gallons per day. The breeding season is starting to show signs of winding down with adult males starting to leave the mega feeding stations. Reproduction looked good for the season with all ranches showing about 50% young during the last check and ¾’s of the adult females showing some tail wear which is normally indicative of having fed young. Total capture of birds this season was below those of the record year of 2007 and collectively at least as high as the other previous years. We had one day of strong winds which lowered catch and tallies for the year.

The last round of the season netted two very interesting birds. The first was a male that was banded as a hatch year at Dan Brown’s Hummer House Ranch near Christoval in 2004. It was caught again at that ranch in 2006 and 2007. However, this year they did not catch it at Dan’s, and we caught it at the Burditt Ranch in late June. Our data has shown over the years that males are more prone to switch breeding areas and we suspect this bird did this. The 2^nd bird was banded as an adult female at my Victoria County banding station in October of 2006 and was caught at the Matter Ranch in late June. She was apparently en route to her winter ground when she was caught near the Coast.

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Banders: Brent & Sue Ortego, and Bron Rorex

This is our 3^rd trip of our 5^th season banding hummingbirds in the Texas Hill Country. We make 4 monthly trips during each breeding season. We caught hummingbirds and songbirds for 4 hours at each of 3 ranches during the weekend 7-8 June 2008

Winds ranging from 15-25 mph all weekend made capturing hummingbirds and songbirds very difficult. Capture rates of hummingbirds were very low this trip as compared to past years, and likely much of this was due to the weather. However, not all differences to past years can be explained by the weather.

We did not recapture enough birds from previous trips to be able to make reasonable estimates of the population this month.

Burditt Ranch, Leakey

Caught 239 in June 2006, 200 in June 2007, and 354 in May 2008. We caught 162 Black-chinned Hummingbirds on this trip: 32 adult and 45 immature males, and 59 adult and 26 immature females. We had 44% of the birds as young with only 28% in 2007 and 22% in 2006. Only 35% of the adults were male this month as compared to 54% in 2007 and 42% in 2006.

46% of adult females showed evidence of having nested while 75% did in 2007 and 85% in 2006.

Ranch fed 3.86 gallons per day the week prior to banding in June.

Matter Ranch, Comfort

Caught 65 in June 2006, 104 in June 2007, and 136 in May 2008. We caught 52 Black-chins on this trip: 21 adult and 8 immature males and 22 adult and 1 immature female. We had 17% of the hummingbirds as young with only 4% in 2006 and 2007. 49% of the adults were male this month as compared to 50% in 2006 and 2007.

55% of the adult females showed evidence of having nested while 90% did in 2007 and 74% in 2006.

Ranch fed 1.75 gallons per day the week before banding in June.

Wiedenfeld Ranch, Comfort

Caught 102 in June 2006, 310 in June 2007, and 332 in May 2008. We caught 44 Black-chins on this trip: 5 adult and 10 immature males, and 25 adult and 4 immature females. We had 32% of the hummingbirds as young with only 3% young in 2007. Males represented only 17% of the adults as compared to 44% in 2007 and 35% in 2006.

64% of the adult females showed evidence of having nested while 64% did in 2007 and 92% did in 2006.

Ranch fed 1.88 gallons per day the week before June banding.

Summary:

With low catches caused by the weather, we can only guess as to what is happening and likely will have to wait until our last banding session at the end of June to make any conclusions on production in 2008.

Evidence of nesting females were considerably lower than past years, but percent young higher than normal. Adult males appeared to already be leaving for the year. We did notice a few adult males and one adult females already going through body molt indicating the breeding season for these birds was done and they were getting ready for migration. Some individual hummingbirds molt before migrating south while others will wait until they get to the winter grounds.

While there might have been other factors affecting catch rate, our story will be that the weather caused the low catch.

SONGBIRDS

We spent more time catching songbirds this trip because of low numbers of hummers being brought to the banding tables.

We banded 23 songbirds at the Wiedenfeld Ranch and 121 at the Matter Ranch. Young birds made up a high percentage of the catch indicating nesting was going well for them.

Of particular interest were the 23 Purple Martins we banded at the Matter Ranch. These birds were individually banded with color bands that are readable with spotting scopes. This allows us to identify the birds without having to capture them again and should make it easier for us to learn more about the martins. This martin banding is part of a larger study sponsored by the Purple Martin Conservation Association where attempts are made to band 2,000 Purple Martins per year in Texas with the same protocol.

We spent a good part of Sunday morning watching the young martins in the picture above that left the nest early being fed by the parents.

There is obviously much more to these trips than just the banding. We are participating with some very wildlife conscious landowners that treat their guests very well with their time, food and facilities.

We used 2 Russell Traps (mist-net tent) at the Burditt Ranch and caught 354 BCHU.  They are feeding 4 gallons of sugar water per day with a large bee population consuming an unknown portion of the food.  We estimated the population at this site to be 2500 based on the ratio of recaptures to new birds.

We used 1 Russell Trap, 1 Hall Trap (drop trap), and 2 passive 6-meter mist-nets at Matter Ranch and caught 137 hummers and 64 songbirds.  They are providing 1 gallon of sugar water per day and we estimate they are feeding about 800 hummingbirds.

We used 2 Russells and 1 Hall trap at the Wiedenfeld Ranch and caught 333 hummers while they were feeding 2 gallons of sugar water per day.  We estimate they are feeding about 1350 Black-chins.

Many females (40%) had worn tail tips from feeding young or eggs visible within their bodies.  Seven young hummers were caught which is just the beginning of this year’s crop of hummers.  Ruby-throats were passing through in small numbers.

We caught a hummingbird wearing somebody else’s band at the Burditt Ranch and we are checking to determine its history.  We also caught one of Sue Wiedenfeld’s birds taking advantage of the hummer resources on the Matter Ranch which is about 7 miles across the hills.

SPECIES                                                BURDITT              MATTER              WIEDENFELD

BCHU male                                            190                          82                            149

BCHU female                                        164                          54                            183

Ruby-throat                                          0                              1                              1

Golden-fronted Woodpecker                 0                              1                              0

Ladder-backed Woodpecker                 0                              1                              0

B-c Titmouse                                       0                              4                              0

Chipping Sparrow                                0                              3                              0

Field Sparrow                                      0                              5                              0

Lark Sparrow                                      0                              2                              0

N. Cardinal                                          0                              8                              0

Painted Bunting                                  0                              9                              0

House Finch                                       0                              15                            0

Lesser Goldfinch                                0                              20                            0
 
 
Brent Ortego
near Raisin, TX

Our team of banders will be visiting cooperating landowners with mega feeding stations during the breeding season again this year. We will be visiting our good friends Bob & Sudie Burditt near Leakey in Real County, Annie & Corky Matter and Egon & Sue Widenfeld near Comfort in Kendall County once each month. We will also be visiting Dan and Cathy Brown’s Hummer House in Tom Green County during June. Our main focus will be continuing research on Black-chinned Hummingbird site fidelity and breeding success. We will also be banding songbirds at these sites and at other conservation areas.

Our first trip was made by Brent & Sue Ortego from 12-13 April 2008. Temperature ranged from 40-75 during each day with 15-25 mph north winds. We conducted 4-hour banding sessions at each ranch which is what is usually done each year. We used 2 modified Russell Traps at Burditt Ranch, 1 modified Russell & 1 Hall Trap and 2 6-meter nets at Matter Ranch, and 2 modified Russell & 1 Hall Trap, and 1 6-meter net at Widenfeld Ranch.

We caught:

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS

Artied and Hanna Richard originally banded at these ranches from 2000 – 2002 and we are still recapturing some of the birds they originally banded. Our research started in 2004.

One exciting band return during this trip was a female originally banded at Matter Ranch in 2006, recaptured there in 2007 and recaptured this year at Burditt Ranch which is about 50 miles SW of Comfort. We will be looking for this female to determine if she stayed at Burditt or continued her migration to Matter.

Burditt Ranch

We banded 99 males and recaptured 25 from previous years, and banded 50 females and recaptured 27 females during the morning. Female return rates are consistently higher than males and this ranch is feeding almost 2 gallons of sugar water per day.

Matter Ranch

We banded 54 males and recaptured 17, and banded 29 females and recaptured 16 in the afternoon. This ranch is feeding about ½ gallon per day.

Wiedenfeld Ranch

We banded 49 males and recaptured 22, and banded 31 females and recaptured 34 in the morning. This ranch is feeding about ½ gallon per day.

RECAPTURES

About the same number of birds are banded each year and number recaptured gives us an indication of survival and site fidelity at each of the ranches. Survival of Black-chins by studies like this one at mega feeding stations are showing that small hummingbirds survive much longer than previously believed. Banding results from this first trip of the season was very similar to 2007. There is a noticeable reduction in recaptures at every ranch during the 2^nd year following banding which is either mortality or dispersal related.

We again would like to thank our Ranch Host for their providing food and lodging during our trip, their management of our hummingbird resources and their special friendship.

The 2007-2008 winter season finished with the lowest number of captured hummingbirds since the winter of 2000-2001 (Land of Ortego/Zalk Winter Hummingbirds/); a year when we only maintained 50 feeders. Today, we manage 75 hummingbird feeders during winter and consistently net 9 times during each winter to capture hummers and other wintering birds. Thanks are extended to Susan Heath, Sue Ortego, Bron Rorex and Suzie Ross who assisted with banding.

Buff-bellied Hummingbirds continued to be the most abundant species at the banding station with 51 individuals captured which is close to normal levels. Rufous was the 2^nd most abundant with 19 which is about the normal number for a bad winter and about ½ of what is expected during good winters. There were 6 Black-chins which is well below average, 5 Ruby-throats which is below average, and 4 Allen’s & Broad-tails which is what is expected.

Buff-bellies had 18 new birds for the yard and 33 returning veterans. Eight were originally banded during 2006, 12 from 2005, 5 from 2004, 3 from 2003 and 5 from 2002 or earlier. Our most frequently captured Buff-bellied (band # R57800) continued on his habit of being captured by visiting the banding table 7 of the 9 netting sessions. Y44101 who is the “Old Man” (11 years old) of the yard during winter made an appearance in September and October, but was not captured since. The banding station appears to be saturated with Buff-bellies during winter.

Rufous was the 2^nd most abundant with 11 new birds and 8 veterans. This is the 4^th most we have had during winter and is well below expected numbers, but not part of an apparent long term decline for this site. Two veterans were from 2006, 3 from 2005, 2 from 2004 and 1 from 2003.

Only 6 Black-chins were captured and this is well below expected numbers. This is the 2^nd winter in a row of below average numbers for this species. Only 1 bird was new for the yard, and 5 were veterans; 1 from 2006, 3 from 2005 and 1 from 2002. Our team bands significant numbers of Black-chins in the Texas Hill Country during summer and there is no apparent lack of reproduction from this population. The only foreign Black-chinned recapture we have during winter on the Texas Coast is from a population in the Rocky Mountains and we wonder if this is the source for our winter birds. One bander, Susan Wethington, noted below average reproduction for western Black-chins this summer.

Five new Ruby-throats were banded this winter. We have never had a returning winter Ruby-throat at this site. In general, there was a more westward migration of Ruby-throats this fall and the migration at the Land of OZ finished earlier than expected. A Ruby-throat for only the 2^nd time was known to survive the winter here.

We caught 5 Allen’s with one being a veteran from last year. This is the expected number for this species.

We caught 4 Broad-tails with two originally banded in 2006 and one in 2005. This is twice the number nearly captured at this site.

We did not capture any Calliope or Anna’s Hummingbirds this winter which was very disappointing. A few Anna’s were reported along the Coast, but Calliope’s were extremely rare this winter.

The banding station continues to be a very significant site for wintering hummingbirds in the eastern United States. Data on returning species provide information on their life history.

So, why did we have lower numbers? The winter had about the same number of freezing days as in past years, but was generally warmer. We maintained 75 feeders as in the past, and the habitat did not significantly change in our area. We do not believe weather was a factor. Our best guess is that the populations supporting our winter grounds had poor reproduction last summer. Our returning veteran numbers are about the same as past years. Further banding and research may reveal the answer.

Winter banding data since we started maintaining at least 70 feeders occurs below. First Number = total individuals captured; Second Number = total returning veterans.

BIRDS BANDED ON PERMITS OF ROSS DAWKINS, TERRY MAXWELL & BRENT ORTEGO

1974 through 2007

Order follows AOU Check-List, 7^th ed., 1998, as supplemented:

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MATAGORDA COUNTY – MAD ISLAND MARSH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

17 December 2007

Our Team of 113 very dedicated birders reported 235 species during the 15^th running of our CBC. This is our 4^th highest tally and is a very good total for this “down year” for total species. Guadalupe River Delta reported 225, Dan Diego, CA, 215 and Freeport 203 species.

BEST BIRD

Our section leaders had a very close vote for the Best Bird. OLIVE SPARROW won by one vote over Green-tailed Towhee. There seemed to be a consensus that they would prefer seeing an Aplomado Falcon next year on the t-shirt. Does anybody have a good photo of an Aplomado with an Olive Sparrow in its talons?

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Guadalupe River Delta/McFaddin Family Ranches CBC 20 December 2007

SPONSORS:

• Lyondell Chemicals
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
• Jess Womack Ranch
• LaQuerencia Ranch
• Rio Vista Bluff Ranch

Guadalupe River Delta – McFaddin Family Ranches CBC

20 December 2007

The 4th running of this CBC produced reports of a record 225 species from 59 birders with the Best 3 Birds being Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell’s Vireo and Prairie Warbler. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard twice by the Nan Dietert, Diane Nunley and Lydon Holcomb team on Hog Bayou. The Bell’s Vireo was photographed by Brush Freeman and Petra Hockey on River Road, and the Prairie Warbler was photographed by Michael Gray, Cecelia Riley, Steven Bone and David Plunkett.

The 225 species will likely place us in the Top 3 in the Nation which is Great for our count. As we increase participation for this fun CBC and access new lands we should be able to consistently post 230 species results each year and occasionally be the Top CBC in the Country. As an example that our potential has not been reached, we reported 12 new species for the count: Long-tailed Duck (Riley team), Aplomado Falcon (Mitchell team), Greater Roadrunner (Mitchell team), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Nunley team), Black Phoebe (Ashbaugh team), Great Crested Flycatcher (Farnsworth team), Bell’s Vireo (Hockey team), Chihuahuan Raven (Friedrichs team), Yellow Warbler (Rorex team), Prairie Warbler (Gray team), Summer Tanager (Wauer and Julian teams), and Yellow-headed Blackbird (Freeman team). This brings the total for 4 years of this CBC to 263 species. Read the rest of this entry »