Hi folks,

I was Busy around the house this weekend, so didn't go chasing ibises
(ibisii??), grackles, owls, or much of anything except dust bunnies and
Pinewood Derby pieces.....

But, I did take time to put up the mist-nets in the side yard (2 nets, 36
net-hours for the 3 days). Didn't catch all that much, but a few
interesting birds moving through the yard. (HY = Hatch-Year; SY = Second
Year; AHY = After Hatch Year)

Song Sparrow - 1 Banded (AHY-Unk)
Spotted Towhee - 1 Recapture (SY-Male on 29 January 2000)
Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Recaps (HY-Unk on 26 Aug 1997
AHY-Unk on
29 January 2000)
Golden-crowned Sparrow - 1 Recap (HY-Unk on 1 Oct 2000)
Oregon Junco - 7 birds banded + 16 Recaptures

Junco recaptures included 2 'oldies', one that was AHY-Male on 6 February
1996, and one that was HY-Female on 24 November 1995. The song sparrow
had 'pox' lesions on its right foot; this is the first avian pox I've
noticed at my place this winter.

I also recaptured an adult male junco, originally banded as a Hatch-year
bird on 18 October 1997, that had broken its right leg (the leg without the
band) sometime during the ensuing 3 years; the leg had healed crooked, and
the bird was 'walking' on the side of its twisted foot, with its claws
growing quite long because they weren't abraded with normal wear. It had a
relatively high amount of furcular fat, and seemed healthy - flying away
strongly when released. These are tough little characters.

As much as I like to band new birds, I enjoy renewing my acquaintence with
those I haven't seen for years. The oldest juncos that I recaptured today
were at least 5 years old. It provides a bit of mental entertainment to
speculate on where these birds have travelled and what they may have seen in
the years since they first graced my yard and feeder.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington 47* 03'N 122* 55'W
festuca at olywa.net
Federal Permit #21792