Hi folks,

On Monday April 24, 2000, I mist-netted and released a previously-
banded AHY-U Golden-crowned Sparrow (GCSP 557.0) at my home
in west Olympia, Thurston County, Washington. 47*03' N 122*55'W

It was wearing a thinned, moderately-worn "NBS" band: 4501-07976

This bird was released alive, with the band remaining on its right leg (I
tightened the band, as it had gapped). The bird was in full alternate
plumage, had fat bulging its furcular groove, weighed 37.5g, and was
associated with a mixed flock of golden-crowned and white-crowned
sparrows. I also caught and released this bird the following day - the
25th of April - and haven't seen it since.

Many Zonotrichia sparrows were migrating north through the area then,
and are still coming through in good numbers this week. I had a bright,
alternate-plumaged White-throated Sparrow in the yard this morning.
All-told, I've caught and banded about 40 golden-crowned sparrows
this spring - including the 'foreign recovery'. Anyway -

I reported the banded golden-crown to the US Bird Banding Laboratory
folks (at bbl at usgs.gov - or call 1-800-327-BAND), and got the following
information back:

The bird was banded as a hatch-year, unknown sex golden-crown near
Orleans, Humboldt County, California on 25 October 1995. The bird
was banded by Dr. C. John Ralph at the USFS Redwood Science Lab
in Arcata.

Orleans is on the Klamath River about 55 miles south of the Oregon
line, and is a little more than 400 miles south of Olympia.

There are very few band recoveries of songbirds, as compared to the
hunted waterfowl or of the larger birds such as hawks, gulls, etc. So,
it is pretty neat to have found this bird.

I am amazed when I realize that this bird, weighing an ounce-and-a-
half, has migrated from its breeding grounds in Alaska or British
Columbia to California and back each year for these 5 years. Here's
wishing it another 5 years!!

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net