Fall 1998 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

The twenty most common species banded at Thunder Cape in fall 1998
compared to their previous fall totals.

1998
Rank Species 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 311 392 216 263 400 110 48 61
2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 285 22 508 58 196 38 36 18
3 Dark-eyed Junco 216 1490 8 1332 16 391 38 456
4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 147 358 248 145 468 329 292 174
5 American Redstart 114 100 269 239 255 247 532 217
6 Savannah Sparrow 104 103 135 212 57 85 27 58
7 Northern Waterthrush 79 75 58 73 45 27 47 29
8 Swainson's Thrush 71 89 68 435 31 115 78 415
9 Palm Warbler 68 199 295 403 145 230 293 295
10 Magnolia Warbler 64 53 104 111 121 104 177 79
11 Golden-crowned Kinglet 61 25 59 247 125 222 0 0
12 Black-capped Chickadee 56 301 95 1879 166 930 331 310
13 White-throated Sparrow 55 39 14 70 55 30 19 53
14 Chipping Sparrow 53 181 88 108 83 66 49 30
15 Song Sparrow 52 56 69 97 88 83 45 26
16 Yellow-rumped Warbler 50 154 119 462 187 423 167 266
17 Lincoln's Sparrow 48 47 19 68 27 31 13 36
18 Brown Creeper 41 38 34 69 40 91 75 130
19 Nashville Warbler 39 77 152 150 209 266 120 142
20 Traill's Flycatcher 37 33 51 108 58 117 34 76
Totals for all species 1951 3832 2371 6529 2772 3935 2421 2871

1998 Rank	Species	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991
1	Northern Saw-whet Owl	311	392	216	263	400	110	48	61
2	Red-breasted Nuthatch	285	22	508	58	196	38	36	18
3	Dark-eyed Junco	216	1490	8	1332	16	391	38	456
4	Sharp-shinned Hawk	147	358	248	145	468	329	292	174
5	American Redstart	114	100	269	239	255	247	532	217
6	Savannah Sparrow	104	103	135	212	57	85	27	58
7	Northern Waterthrush	79	75	58	73	45	27	47	29
8	Swainson's Thrush	71	89	68	435	31	115	78	415
9	Palm Warbler	68	199	295	403	145	230	293	295
10	Magnolia Warbler	64	53	104	111	121	104	177	79
11	Golden-crowned Kinglet	61	25	59	247	125	222	0	0
12	Black-capped Chickadee	56	301	95	1879	166	930	331	310
13	White-throated Sparrow	55	39	14	70	55	30	19	53
14	Chipping Sparrow	53	181	88	108	83	66	49	30
15	Song Sparrow	52	56	69	97	88	83	45	26
16	Yellow-rumped Warbler	50	154	119	462	187	423	167	266
17	Lincoln's Sparrow	48	47	19	68	27	31	13	36
18	Brown Creeper	41	38	34	69	40	91	75	130
19	Nashville Warbler	39	77	152	150	209	266	120	142
20	Traill's Flycatcher	37	33	51	108	58	117	34	76
Totals for all species	1951	3832	2371	6529	2772	3935	2421	2871

Migration monitoring resumed at the Cape on 1 August and ran until 30 October, for a total of 91 days of coverage (with one day lost for logistical reasons). The fall season was a continuation of the spring in many respects in terms of the stable weather systems, warm temperatures, and subsequent leisurely pace of migration activity. October proved remarkably mild, with sub-freezing temperatures recorded only on a couple of mornings and no snow encountered at all.
In total, 2544 birds of 88 species and forms were banded during the fall coverage period. A total of 166 species was documented in the count area. The banding total represents a record low total for the fall at Thunder Cape.

Highlights

Although a quiet season for the most part, there were a number of interesting and unusually late birds recorded during the fall:
Jaeger (species?) on 20 September
Sora: One banded on 27 August
American Coot: One on 18 October
Broad-winged Hawk: 84 counted on 3 September
Bald Eagle: An impressive 35 individuals counted on 24 October
Western Kingbird: One observed 25 October
Red-eyed Vireo: A very late record of a single bird observed on 25 October
Red-breasted Nuthatch: Steady numbers throughout the fall, with 128 birds counted on 24 October
White-breasted Nuthatch: One observed on 24, 25 and 28 October
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One 11 October
Townsend's Solitaire: At least one bird observed on 19, 25, 27 and 28 October, with an additional two birds observed outside the count area
Canada Warbler: A late record of a single bird seen on 11 October
Scarlet Tanager: One observed on 13 October
Le Conte's Sparrow: Recorded on 12 dates from 7 August to 29 September
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow: One banded on 14 October
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: A very late record of one banded on 25 October
Baltimore Oriole: A late record of one observed on 28 October

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Fall 1998 Data From Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

Highlights

Fall 1998 Data From
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory