Fall 2003 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

The twenty most common species banded at Thunder Cape
in the fall of 2003, with comparative totals.

2003
Rank Species
Overall rank fall 1991-2002
2003
2002
2001
2000
1 Black-capped Chickadee (1) 1143 111 2602 146
2 Northern Saw-whet Owl (3) 573 413 285 350
3 Slate-colored Junco (2) 487 139 762 100
4 Tennessee Warbler (9) 397 199 52 114
5 Western Palm Warbler (6) 380 195 168 36
6 Myrtle Warbler (7) 344 161 81 38
7 Swainson's Thrush (8) 273 65 64 51
8 American Redstart (5) 253 217 245 140
9 Savannah Sparrow (10) 204 192 187 59
10 Sharp-shinned Hawk (4) 203 119 150 120
11 American Tree Sparrow (16) 171 57 204 30
12 Nashville Warbler (12) 171 96 75 40
13 Snow Bunting (19) 164 174 33 9
14 Downy Woodpecker (13) 151 114 59 40
15 Red-breasted Nuthatch (11) 144 19 44 30
16 Brown Creeper (17) 129 144 126 90
17 Golden-crowned Kinglet (14) 117 383 196 87
18 Blackpoll Warbler (18) 104 36 35 14
19 Song Sparrow (15) 100 75 86 42
20 Blue Jay (20) 90 41 32 17

2003 Rank	Species Overall rank fall 1991-2002	2003	2002	2001	2000
1	Black-capped Chickadee (1)	1143	111	2602	146
2	Northern Saw-whet Owl (3)	573	413	285	350
3	Slate-colored Junco (2)	487	139	762	100
4	Tennessee Warbler (9)	397	199	52	114
5	Western Palm Warbler (6)	380	195	168	36
6	Myrtle Warbler (7)	344	161	81	38
7	Swainson's Thrush (8)	273	65	64	51
8	American Redstart (5)	253	217	245	140
9	Savannah Sparrow (10)	204	192	187	59
10	Sharp-shinned Hawk (4)	203	119	150	120
11	American Tree Sparrow (16)	171	57	204	30
12	Nashville Warbler (12)	171	96	75	40
13	Snow Bunting (19)	164	174	33	9
14	Downy Woodpecker (13)	151	114	59	40
15	Red-breasted Nuthatch (11)	144	19	44	30
16	Brown Creeper (17)	129	144	126	90
17	Golden-crowned Kinglet (14)	117	383	196	87
18	Blackpoll Warbler (18)	104	36	35	14
19	Song Sparrow (15)	100	75	86	42
20	Blue Jay (20)	90	41	32	17

by John Woodcock
We had a very busy fall season with 7,125 birds banded of 101 species/forms. Standardized fall migration monitoring began on August 3 and ended on October 30.
Daily details of this fall's hawk migration watch at TCBO are available online at the Hawk Migration Association of North America website
A total of 935 birds were recaptured. These were 460 individuals of 51 species. Most of these were Black-capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow. Twelve birds that were banded in other seasons were recaptured. The oldest was the Redstart banded as a hatch year in 2000. Five foreign recoveries were made. Three were Northern Saw-whet Owls, one of which was banded in Oct. 2002 near Arnold, MN.

Fall 2003 Highlights

Lark Sparrow banded on Sept. 13 and recaptured the next day
Sora banded on Sept. 15
Yellow-billed Cuckoo observed on Sept. 20
Red-bellied woodpecker male banded on Oct. 8, another observed Oct. 11
Kentucky Warbler male banded on Oct. 13
Connecticut Warbler observed on Oct. 13

Notable events:
Song Sparrow - 100 banded, fall season record high
Lincoln's Sparrow - 73 banded, fall season record high
Northern Shrike - 8 banded (season record high)
Sept. 28 - first Great Gray owl observed at the cape
Sept. 28/29 - 126 Saw-whet Owls banded
Oct. 11 - 7 species of woodpecker observed

Back to TCBO PAGE

Back to BIRDING PAGE

Fall 2003 Data From Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

Fall 2003 Highlights

Fall 2003 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory