Observers: Chris McCreedy
Email: cmccreedy@prbo.org
Remote Name: 209.221.205.174
Date: 07/27/2006
Time: 12:33 AM -0400
Birds are starting to disperse from the Mono Basin. PRBO has color-banded Spotted Towhees, Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrows, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Warbling Vireos, and Brown-headed Cowbirds in previous seasons. I still continue to color band Willow Flycatchers and Dusky Flycatchers. There is always the possibility that birders in the Eastern Sierra can re-sight one of our color-banded birds, and we are grateful to all of those who keep watch. In the photograph, this Willow Flycatcher is white-red/silver (you can't see the silver, federally-numbered band behind its body). Bands are read from the bird's left leg to its right, and from body to toe. Colors include red, orange, yellow, black, white, green, blue, and mauve/light purple. On cowbirds, we used two shades of blue, dark and light. If you see a color-banded bird, be aware that there is generally more than one color-band on a leg, and that you need to make sure that a second or third band is not obscured by feathers on the upper leg. And, colors can fade on old celluloid bands, so be extra-sure it's white and not yellow, etc. Thanks for looking out for them, and I hope you see great birds!