Hi folks,

We finally got another day of summer - just as I thought it was over for =
the year... I helped Mike Selema from Ft Lewis at the Johnson Marsh =
MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding station. =
The site isn't *at* the marsh, but is rather in the large second-growth =
just up from the marsh; we rarely (never?) get any of the marsh species =
in the mist-nets. We had 8 nets out from 6AM, and checked them 5 times =
- finishing the morning a little before noon.

New birds banded were only three: An adult female Western Flycatcher, =
an adult female Western Tanager and a hatch-year Swainson's Thrush. An =
adult female Rufous Hummingbird was released unbanded.

Recaptures of an adult female and a hatching-year Oregon Junco, an adult =
female Song Sparrow, and an adult male Western Flycatcher. The adult =
Junco had been banded last year, and the others were recaptured birds =
from this year.

8 birds total for the day, although there was a lot of activity in the =
canopy above us, and I'd swear that the chickadees just look at the nets =
and laugh at us. =20

Mike had attended the MAPS training over above Montesano several weeks =
ago, and brought back all sorts of good ideas and pointers, as well as =
having received more 'training' than I'd have been able to give him in a =
whole season (at 8 birds per day, like today....) If anyone's =
interested in learning about bird banding, he really recommended the =
training - BUT, the cost was $480 for the week (and bring your own =
food!) I can post information about the next MAPS banding training that =
I hear about, if anyone's interested.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net