The year of the Chickadee

Fall 2001 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

The twenty most common species banded at Thunder Cape
in the fall of 2001, with comparative year 2000 totals.

Rank Species 2001 2000
1 Black-capped Chickadee 2602 148
2 Slate-coloured Junco 762 100
3 Northern Saw-whet Owl 285 350
4 American Redstart 245 140
5 American Tree Sparrow 204 30
6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 198 87
7 Savannah Sparrow 187 59
8 Western Palm Warbler 168 36
9 Sharp-shinned Hawk 150 120
10 Brown Creeper 126 90
11 Magnolia Warbler 94 56
12 White-throated Sparrow 93 34
13 Song Sparrow 86 42
14 Traill's Flycatcher 86 36
15 Northern Waterthrush 85 45
16 Myrtle Warbler 81 38
17 Black-throated Green Warbler 77 59
18 Nashville Warbler 75 40
19 Swainson's Thrush 64 51
20 Chipping Sparrow 60 13

Rank	Species	2001	2000
1	Black-capped Chickadee	2602	148
2	Slate-coloured Junco	762	100
3	Northern Saw-whet Owl	285	350
4	American Redstart	245	140
5	American Tree Sparrow	204	30
6	Golden-crowned Kinglet	198	87
7	Savannah Sparrow	187	59
8	Western Palm Warbler	168	36
9	Sharp-shinned Hawk	150	120
10	Brown Creeper	126	90
11	Magnolia Warbler	94	56
12	White-throated Sparrow	93	34
13	Song Sparrow	86	42
14	Traill's Flycatcher	86	36
15	Northern Waterthrush	85	45
16	Myrtle Warbler	81	38
17	Black-throated Green Warbler	77	59
18	Nashville Warbler	75	40
19	Swainson's Thrush	64	51
20	Chipping Sparrow	60	13

by Bruce Rodrigues
The fall of 2001 was a great season for both quantity of birds and diversity of species encountered. Migration monitoring began on July 31. Over the season 2602 Black-capped Chickadees were banded and over 20,000 were observed. This is the highest number of captures for any species at TCBO. Migration monitoring ended October 30.
While diurnal monitoring provided a lot of excitement, our nocturnal monitoring of Northern Saw-whet Owls had one of the quietest years yet. Only 283 Saw-whets were banded during our season of September 11 to October 29. No other species of owl was caught in 2001.
In total 6844 birds were banded representing 93 species/forms. This is the second highest fall banding total at the TCBO. A total of 187 species/forms was recorded. There were 23 days with more than 100 captures, including 7 days with over 200 captures and one day with over 300. Some birds uncommon to the Thunder Bay District, but yearly visitors to the Cape, failed to appear this year including Western Kingbirds and Townsend's Solitaires.

Fall 2001 Highlights

Pacific Loon: seen in flight with a Red-throated Loon on September 30
Pomarine Jaeger: first confirmed sighting in Thunder Bay District on October 9
Glaucous Gull: observed from tower on September 29
Great Black-backed Gull: immature seen many times between September 17 and October 11
Harlequin Duck: female flew by with a group of Black Scoters on October 2
Whip-poor-will: seen on October 7
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow: banded on September 13
Field Sparrow: banded on October 5
Oregon Junco: two individuals banded, October 12 and 27
Virginia's Warbler: a hatch year male was banded on August 29, a new fall record for Ontario
White-breasted Nuthatch: 8 banded and 79 estimated total - only one banded in prior years.
Notable events:
August 16: over 3,200 Cliff Swallows flew past the Cape.
September 19: tower observations included 324 Broad-winged Hawks, 50 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 53 American Kestrels, 15 Bald Eagles, 6 Northern Harriers, 6 Merlins, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 1 Peregrine Falcon.
High estimated fall totals were recorded for the following waterbirds: Common Merganser 3561, Canada Goose 2067, Greater Scaup 1819, Red-necked Grebe 724 and Common Loon 694.

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Fall 2001 Data From Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

Fall 2001 Highlights

Fall 2001 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory