Hi folks,

I just got a "Report to Bander" notice from the Bird Banding Laboratory
about 4 of my banded birds that have been recovered this winter. As
I rarely get even one band return in one of the BBL's batch reports,
it's amazing to me that I got 4 this winter!!

All of these birds were found dead. Sad, but most of us just don't get
to handle a bird - even a banded one - unless it's hit a window or been
brought in by a cat or something. What is neat is that reports of small,
banded passerines are few and far between - down into the 10th of a
percent of bandings, for many species. So, each report of a dicky-
bird band is worth its weight in gold (how much does one report weigh,
anyhow?).

3 of the returns were of Oregon Juncos (Junco hyemalis "oreganus")
and one was a Robin (Turdus migratorius).

1551-15081 An adult male junco that I banded in Seahurst (Burien),
King County, WA on St John's Day, 27 December 1997 was killed by a
cat on NE Tonawanda Avenue in Tacoma on 15 January 2000.

1551-20143 Another junco, age & sex undetermined, was banded
by my subpermittee Don Norman at Shoreview Park up near the King
and Snohomish County line on 20 November 1999. This bird was
found dead one month later, on 20 December 1999, in SW Edmonds.

1551-20932 The third junco, a young-of-the year that I banded here
in Olympia on 30 October 1999, was found dead a scant 3/8 mile away
on 7 January 2000. This bird was 19grams in weight when released,
and appeared to be in good condition in October - just goes to show
that young birds suffer a lot of mortality their first winter.

852-29851 The Robin was banded in my yard here in Olympia as a
spotted juvenile on 12 June 1999, and was fairly lightweight - weighed
only 76 grams. Its flight feathers were still growing in; the tail feathers
were only 1/2 'normal' length. It was found dead on 23 November 1999
in Napa, California!! That's about 720 miles (1,160km). I always
wondered where 'my' robins went for the winter!

Anyway, just goes to show what one can find, so keep your eyes open.
Band recoveries should include the band number, along with how, when
and where the band was recovered - preferably with reference to the
nearest town. People who report bands receive a Certificate of
Appreciation telling when, where and by whom the bird was banded, so
be sure to include your name and address with all reports.

To report a bird band, you can write:
Bird Banding Laboratory
12100 Beech Forest Road, Ste 4037
Laurel, MD 20708
Ph: 800-327-BAND
email bandreports at patuxent.nbs.gov
http://www.pwrc.nbs.gov/bbl

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net