Jim Neitzel wondered:

>A not-very related question about fledging success. When you see a
>recently fledged bird, how far will it have moved from its nest? I am
>curious about how people who do breeding bird surveys or produce breeding
>bird atlases deal with this question.

<snip>

Breeding Bird Surveyors do not count anything with down on it as a data
point for the BBS. The survey is set up to census only birds of breeding age.
Thus, the question is not very germane to BBSes. However, I would say that
the answer to your question depends very much on the species of bird
involved. A Violet-green Swallow could be hundreds of miles south of its natal
grounds a few days after fledging whereas sedentary species such as some of
the larger owls are much more likely to be "homers" for a while after leaving
the nest.

,Jack




Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
CANADA
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca