This was our 18th banding season (10th fall season) since the station’s inception (fall 2012). Below are a few of the highlights:
- We banded 1,863 birds of 77 species over 73 banding days. This translates into 25.52 birds banded/day.
- We also had 283 repeat captures (birds banded earlier during the Fall 2021 season) and 54 return captures (birds banded during a previous season).
- Two of the more interesting recaptures were a Blue Jay that was originally banded in the fall of 2015 and a Tufted Titmouse that was originally banded in the fall of 2016.
- Our highest one day total was 137 birds banded on Oct. 13.
- The top five species banded (by abundance) for the season were as follows — species (# banded): American Goldfinch (306), Chipping Sparrow (188), Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (121), Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (93) and Tennessee Warbler (70).
- The cumulative total number of birds banded (over 18 seasons) at the LLCC BBS is 29,798 birds of 128 species.
- Over the Halloween weekend (Oct. 29-Nov. 1), we had an owl banding event during which we captured four owls:
- Two newly banded Northern Saw-whet Owls
- One foreign recapture Northern Saw-whet Owl (A foreign recapture is a bird originally banded elsewhere. This particular bird was banded north of Duluth, Minnesota, in 2020.)
- One return Eastern Screech Owl (banded by us last fall — 2020)
- In regards to milestones, Sept. 22 was our 1,000th day of banding operations at LLCC.
Our spring banding operations are scheduled to begin March 17, 2022.
If you are interested in following our daily/weekly banding activities, we have two Facebook pages you are welcome to follow: Lincoln Land Community College Bird Banding Station (daily reports/photos of our banding activities at LLCC) and Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders – LLABB (~ weekly reports/photos of banding activities at other sites throughout central Illinois).
You are most welcome to stop by the banding station whenever your schedule allows!
Tony Rothering, professor of biology