Date: 5/18/26 1:20 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 18, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
The weather may have not been pleasant today- It was a little brisk at times. It appeared that the storms up north helped drop some birds into the banding woods today. Twenty-four bird species captured and five new species for the year (American Redstart, Least, Hammond's, and Willow Flycatchers, Western Wood-pewee, and Warbling Vireo).
The Warbling Vireo has been split into Eastern and Western Warbling Vireo. Unless it sings for me, I have to band it as unknown Warbling Vireo. We are taking measurements and Tail feathers for DNA work to hopefully have someone work up the Warbling Vireo data to help us banders distinguish between the Eastern and Western Warbling Vireos. We can catch both here at the station. We do not catch many in a season but hope in the future more morphometrics will help determine between the two.
As you can tell from the banding data below, we had several flocks of American goldfinches flying through the banding area this morning. We are still catching Hermit Thrushes as well. Two Ovenbirds graced us with their presence in the nets and one continued to sing near the building off and on during the morning.
*97 New Banded Birds* Wilson's Warbler- 5 Yellow Warbler- 12 American Redstart- 1 MacGillivray's Warbler- 5 Ovenbird- 2 Common Yellowthroat- 1 Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler- 1 Warbling Vireo- 1 Western Flycatcher- 3 Western Wood-Pewee- 3 Least Flycatcher- 1 Hammond's Flycatcher- 2 Willow Flycatcher- 1 American Goldfinch- 22 Lincoln's Sparrow- 7 Lazuli Bunting- 4 House Finch- 1 Yellow-breasted Chat- 1 Western Tanager- 3 Hermit Thrush -5 Swainson's Thrush- 7 Black-headed Grosbeak- 2 Gray Catbird- 2 Bullock's Oriole- 5
*5 Recaptures* Bullock's Oriole- 3 - one of these lost weight but since they are breeding here they are expending energy fighting for mates, etc. American Goldfinch- 1 Yellow Warbler- 1
*1 Return* Yellow Warbler male banded last year as a Second-year male on May 17th. Returned to the same area to breed again!
The Banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday weather permitting from sunrise until @ 11AM. Remember if you want to bird the ranch to please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com. Also if you have never birded the ranch make sure you look at the map provided on the website OR come to the banding station to see the posted map in the building. We have had quite a few new birders to the ranch this past week and they have wandered into areas of private residences. We need to be cognizant of the map and where you can bird. We do not want to upset the ranchers and have our privileges revoked. Thank you. Also, gates around the banding building need to be closed after entry as cattle is now grazing outside the woods around banding station. Stop by the Banding station to share your sightings. We would love to hear them!
Have a good day,
Julie Shieldcastle Bander, Chico Basin Ranch Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
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