Subject: [Tweeters] Request for banded Purple Martin sighting reports (fwd)
Date: Aug 23 05:18:27 2006
From: Dan Victor - dcv at drizzle.com


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This message is being forwarded to Tweeters (by Dan Victor) because the
original sender is *not* subscribed. Please copy this email address
with any responses : mailto:pmartin_bands at georgiabasin.ca

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:11:39 -0500
From: Kelsey Low <corvid81 at hotmail.com>
To: tweeters-owner at mailman1.u.washington.edu
Subject: Request for banded Purple Martin sighting reports

I work for the BC Purple Martin Stewardship and Recovery Program, an
organization concerned with the conservation of Purple Martins (Progne
subis) in British Columbia, Canada. For the past 10 years we have banded
most of the Martin nestlings born in BC every summer. Despite all the
banding work over the past decade we still don't know much about west
coast migration, but there have been some banded BC birds seen at
still-occupied colony sites in WA in late summer - possibly non-breeders
and failed nesters heading south early - plus a few early fledged young.
Apart from that and a couple of coastal sightings in OR and northern CA,
they just seem to disappear - my guess is they are mostly tree-roosting
and not visiting colony sites in migration. Even with the numbers this
year there are only about 3000 BC birds (~2700 banded remaining from all
years) plus another 4000 from WA (~600 banded) heading south, spread over
several weeks, so unless they are concentrated in a noisy roost somewhere
or moving slowly through populated areas they would be easy to overlook.

We are interested in any information on Martins travelling in Washington,
especially reports of any banded birds. If someone sees a banded Martin,
we would like to know if the bird was alive or dead when sighted, and if
possible the gender and general age (SY or ASY). For identification we
need the full number-letter code of the coloured leg band, which can be
read at close range with a spotting scope, together with the band colour
and which leg it was on, and/or the number of the silver aluminum federal
band if the bird is captured or found dead. Partial information for colour
band sightings (colour, leg, partial code) is also useful but may not
allow full identification. The coloured bands we have used are red, white,
orange, or yellow plastic, and gold or blue metal. The plastic bands have
a number up to three digits, while the metal bands have a "BC" prefix, a
three digit number, and a letter. Birds banded in Washington State have
similar metal bands (orange or green) with a "WA" prefix, a letter, and a
three digit number.

Any information about communal roosting sites, numbers of birds seen, or
dates when migrating birds passed through would also be appreciated. Of
course, all reports should include the date and location of the sighting,
and some personal contact information (email, address, etc.). Reports can
be sent by email to: pmartin_bands at georgiabasin.ca

Or by regular mail to:
GBEARS
133 - 4176A Departure Bay Road
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
V9T 4V7

Our phone number is:
(250) 758-2922

Thank you,
- Kelsey Low
corvid81 at hotmail.com