NABB 51.1

Table of Contents FEATURE ARTICLES 1 Documenting patterns of spring and autumn bird migration at Phillips Tract Research Area, a stopover site in the American Midwest Janice K. Enos, Michael R. Avara, Tara A. Beveroth 14 A Modified Potter Trap for Safe and Effective Capture of American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes Gary M. Santolo INLAND FLYWAY REVIEW 19 Spring 2024 Migration Report Compiled by Vernon Kleen ATLANTIC FLYWAY REVIEW 28 Spring 2025 Migration Report Compiled by Aaron Given SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 41 Help Needed for a Neotropical Migratory Bird Tick Collection Project Danielle Kaschube SPECIES SNAPSHOT 42 Species Snapshot: Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) Steven Gabrey NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 46 A Message from the President of the Eastern Bird Banding Association Aaron Given 46 Eastern Bird Banding Association Annual General Membership Meeting Clifford Berek 47 Western Bird Banding Association Call for Grant Applications Adam Hannuksela 47 Request for Assistance: Banders Who Utilize Color Bands Scott Johnson 48 Summary of the North American Banding Council Annual General Meeting Annie Lindsay 49 Summary of the 2025 Western Bird Banding Association Annual Meeting Danielle Kaschube 50 Tribute to Bob Pantle Proclamation by Andrea Patterson; compiled by Maren Gimpel 52 Taking Flight with North American Bird Bander Kellie Hayden

Jan-Mar 2026 Vol. 51 No. 1

North American Bird Bander

A Publication of the Eastern, Inland, and Western Bird Banding Associations

Eastern Bird Banding Association

Front Cover: White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), Annie Lindsay North American Bird Bander (NABB) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly publication of the Eastern, Inland, and Western Bird Banding associations. This journal welcomes original papers on research on marked birds, molts, plumages, morphometrics, capture techniques, telemetry, and notable bird captures or encounters.

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Documenting patterns of spring and autumn bird migration at Phillips Tract Research Area, a stopover site in the American Midwest Janice K. Enos1 , Michael R. Avara2 jkkelly2@illinois.edu

NA BB

, Tara A. Beveroth1

1 Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820 2 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

Abstract Stopover habitat, which is used by birds during migration to rest and refuel, is scarce in the American Midwest due to intensive agriculture. Protected woodlots and other small parcels of habitat do exist on the landscape, and may be important for migratory birds to utilize as stopover sites. Here, using mist netting techniques, we documented abundance and age specific patterns of spring and autumn migration at Phillips Tract Research Area, a protected parcel of land comprised of woodlots and mixed grassland plots. We found that 69 migratory species use this site as stopover habitat, and the most common (n ≥ 100 captures across seasons) were Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis), Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), White‑throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), and Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia). Overall, we captured more birds during autumn than spring migration. In contrast, however, we captured more House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), and Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) during spring than autumn migration. We also captured more juveniles than adults during autumn than spring migration, and more adults than juveniles during spring than autumn migration. We conclude that Phillips Tract Research Area supports a diverse number of migratory birds, giving credence to the importance of protecting small parcels of habitat that remain in agricultural landscapes for stopover use by migrants of varied life histories.

Introduction In North America, billions of birds migrate long distances to take advantage of seasonally available resources during breeding seasons and then overwinter elsewhere to avoid seasonally detrimental conditions (Somveille et al. 2015, Van Doren and Horton 2018). Due to the physical demands of migration, migratory birds must take breaks in habitat to rest, refuel, and shelter along migration routes (Smith and McWilliams 2014, Schmaljohann et al. 2022). This habitat is collectively known as “stopover” habitat and can vary greatly in quality and availability along different landscapes (Mehlman et al. 2005, Taylor et al. 2011, Bayley et al. 2017).

North American migratory birds have declined precipitously since 1970 (Rosenberg et al. 2019), with declines linked to anthropogenic causes (Loss et al. 2015). For example, climate change compromises the timing of migration for several species (Cotton 2003, Jonzén et al. 2006, Zurell et Studies

al. 2018), whereas breeding and overwintering habitat loss negatively impacts survival and energy expenditure for many migratory species (Dolman and Sutherland 1995, Taylor and Stutchbury 2015, Rosenberg et al. 2019). Loss and degradation of stopover habitat over the past century could also contribute to population declines, as access to high quality stopover sites with plentiful refueling resources is likely crucial to improving survival odds during migration (Mehlman et al. 2005, Solomon et al. 2023). Compared to breeding season habitat use, however, fewer studies focus on stopover habitat use, which presents a challenge to conservation (Faaborg et al. 2010). Documenting basic patterns of migration, such as differences in site use over time by age class or species, is thus crucial to improve conservation efforts of migratory bird species in decline (Mehlman et al.

2005, Bayley et al. 2017).

Seasonal patterns of use and timing of arrival at stopover sites can vary considerably by species as

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well as age class. For species‑specific differences, it has been well‑documented that dietary needs can impact the timing of migration. For example, insectivorous species tend to appear in stopover habitat earlier during autumn migration and later during spring migration, which coincides with greater insect availability (Deppe and Rotenberry 2005, La Sorte et al. 2015). Omnivorous species tend to decouple with timing during both migratory seasons, as major refueling resources for these species are more consistently available throughout the season compared to insectivores. For temporal differences, migrants tend to be more abundant during autumn than spring migration, because the breeding season produces a surge of newly fledged juveniles this time of year (e.g., Dunn and Nol 1980, Swanson et al. 2003). During spring migration, overwinter survival tends to be lower for juvenile individuals on their first migration, which skews the migrating age ratio towards adults this time of year (Swanson et al. 2003, Patchett et al. 2022).

Most studies comparing stopover site use during spring and autumn migration patterns come from research programs along the Gulf of Mexico (Leu and Thompson 2002, Deppe and Rotenberry 2005, Cohen et al. 2015, Solomon et al. 2023) or banding stations in eastern North American where contiguous stopover habitat exists or large water bodies occur (e.g., the Great Lakes region, the Atlantic coastline; Marra et al. 2005, Van Buskirk et al. 2009, La Sorte et al. 2016, Bayly et al.

2017). Fewer studies assess behaviors and patterns of migration in the American Midwest, where inhospitable stretches of agricultural fields akin to large water bodies dominate the landscape and stopover habitat is scant (Thompson 1996, Blount et al. 2021, Guo et al. 2024).

Studies from the American Northern Prairie, an inland region similar to the Midwest in agricultural intensity, suggest anthropogenic woodland parcels are crucial stopover sites in agricultural landscapes, serving as suitable refueling habitat during spring and autumn migration (Swanson et al. 2003, Dean et al. 2004, Liu and Swanson 2014). Capture rates are higher during spring than autumn migration in agricultural stopover habitat at these sites, with diversity measures of migrants being similar between seasons (Swanson 2

et al. 2003, West and Swanson 2024). In contrast to these results, one study from the American Midwest found abundances of migratory birds to be equal between seasons based on point count survey methods (Packett and Dunning 2009). Guo et al. (2023) suggested that deciduous woodland parcels in the American Midwest are particularly important stopover habitat during both spring and autumn migration. To date, however, few banding studies target such stopover habitat embedded in the agricultural Midwest. It is thus difficult to describe basic patterns of migration that are important to guide conservation efforts, such as the differences in capture rates between seasons, timing of migration by species, and patterns of age class use over time. As habitat loss and fragmentation continues throughout North America, documenting these patterns may help decide which woodland parcels are important enough to conserve as stopover habitat for migratory birds.

Here, we used mist netting data collected from Phillips Tract Research Area (Phillips Tract hereafter), a small, restored habitat parcel comprised of deciduous woodland and reconstructed prairie in east‑central Illinois, to evaluate how species abundances, capture rates and age class counts of migrants compare between spring and autumn migration. Phillips Tract is embedded in a largely agricultural landscape and located near what is predicted to be a stopover site use “hotspot,” as the next nearest high quality stopover site is hundreds of kilometers south (Guo et al. 2023, 2024). We expect capture rates to be similar to other inland studies of stopover site use (e.g., Swanson et al. 2003, Packett and Dunning 2009), or to find higher capture rates in autumn than spring, and more juveniles caught during autumn than spring (e.g., Dunn and Nol 1980). In addition to documenting these patterns, we also qualitatively described the phenology of our most common migrants during spring and autumn migration and qualitatively compared patterns over time between seasons.

Methods Study site Phillips Tract is a 52.6 ha parcel of former

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farmland, managed by the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, and restored to a matrix of reconstructed prairie, fallow field, and early successional deciduous woodland, that lies in an agriculturally dominated landscape. The Saline Branch of the Salt Fork River runs through the western portion of the site. Management is ongoing on‑site with rotating prairie burns and invasive species removal. Our banding station is comprised of 12 mist nets, with 10 located in the understory of the deciduous woodland and two nets located at the edge of the woodland bordering restored prairie. Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) dominates the understory of the woodland, but annual management includes small batch honeysuckle removal. This removal continues to open the understory and allows growth of native vegetation, especially around the perimeter of our banding area.

Mist netting and banding During spring (2020‑2024) and autumn (2019‑2023; n = 5 years per season), we captured birds one morning weekly using 2.6 x 12‑m, 30-mm mesh mist nets. Start and end dates for each season varied annually and were based on when temperatures were suitable enough to handle birds safely (earliest spring start date: 4 Mar; latest end date: 30 May; earliest autumn start date: 18 Aug; latest end date: 19 Nov). Mist nests were consistently placed in the same locations each season. We only used nets 1‑8 during autumn 2019 and spring 2020, then added nets 9‑10 during autumn 2020, and added nets 11‑12 during spring 2023. There was also variability in the nets used on a seasonal basis, most often attributed to net damage from wildlife or fallen tree limbs rendering nets unusable for windows of time until repairs were possible. Because of such annual and seasonal variation in net operation, in all statistical analyses (described below) we corrected for equal efforts between seasons by averaging the total netting hours (nh) for each season and then generated a correction factor by dividing the actual total nh by the average for each season (see Rappole et al.

1979, Swanson et al. 2003). We then divided total seasonal captures by the corresponding correction factors to produce corrected numbers for equal Studies

efforts. Total spring efforts were 2,400.55 nh and autumn efforts were 2,357.18 nh.

Nets were opened one morning weekly from 30 min before sunrise until 11:00. We checked nets every 30 min, and processed all birds captured. Processing of birds included placing a federal aluminum bird band (USGS permit 23902) on the bird’s leg and collecting morphometric data, including a fat and muscle score (see Kaiser 1993), wing chord, tail length, tarsus length, and mass. We aged and sexed all birds following Pyle (1997, 2022). For the purpose of this study, we only included migratory birds that do not spend their full annual cycle in Illinois (Table 1). We used Birds of the World to guide our inclusion decisions (Billerman et al. 2022), as well as our combined knowledge/experience with Illinois bird communities. Birds were classified mostly based on molt limits as adults that have experienced at least one complete molt and migration (i.e., After Hatch Year and After Second Year individuals, or AHY/ASY denotation; Pyle 1997, 2022), or juveniles experiencing their first autumn migration (i.e., Hatch Year individuals, or HY denotation; Pyle 2022) and/or spring migration (i.e., Second Year individuals, or SY denotation; Pyle 1997, 2022). These age classes are biologically meaningful and could differ in how, when, and in what abundances they utilize stopover sites seasonally (e.g., Schmaljohannet et al. 2018, Patchett et al. 2022). We categorized birds we could not age as Unknown (U) and excluded these individuals from any analyses concerning age class differences. All birds were released following processing.

Statistical analysis We used a Chi‑square (χ2) goodness‑of‑fit test to compare total capture numbers of all migrants between seasons. We also compared species‑specific capture numbers for migrants with n ≥ 20 captures total and n ≥ 5 captures per season. We used Chi‑square tests of independence to compare numbers of adults versus juveniles captured for all species, as well as for migrants with large enough sample sizes for age‑specific comparisons (n ≥ 20 captures total and n ≥ 5 captures per season). Sample sizes were too small

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to consider annual differences, so we instead pooled all years into a single spring and autumn value for each test. For all tests we set statistical significance to α ≤ 0.05.

Sample sizes were too small to statistically compare how abundances changed over time within a season. Instead, we qualitatively described patterns of abundance over time, within and between seasons, by coding the earliest banding date of a season as Week 1, the following banding date as Week 2, and so forth. We then assigned the nearest week to each banding date to visualize changes in total abundances over time per season. We also qualitatively described changes in abundance over time of the most common migrants, for each season (n ≥ 100 individuals across seasons, pooled across years).

Results We captured 935 migrants of 57 species during spring, and 2,089 migrants of 59 species during autumn (Table 1). The most common migrants captured (n ≥ 100 individuals across seasons) were Gray Catbird, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, White‑throated Sparrow, Ovenbird, and Magnolia Warbler (Table 1, includes all scientific names). The number of migrants captured, corrected for seasonal netting efforts, significantly differed between seasons, with more migrants captured during autumn than spring (X² = 421.09, P < 0.0001). Total capture rate during spring was 389 birds/1000 nh, and 886 birds/1000 nh during autumn. Species richness was 69 migrants across seasons.

Sample sizes were large enough for 24 species to compare seasonal differences in total capture numbers, corrected for netting efforts (Table 1).

Capture numbers were significantly higher during autumn for Ruby‑crowned Kinglet (X² = 117.49, P < 0.0001), Golden‑crowned Kinglet (X² = 20.82, P < 0.0001), Gray Catbird (X² = 32.72, P < 0.0001), Veery (X² = 32.24, P < 0.0001), Gray‑cheeked Thrush (X² = 28.75, P < 0.0001), Swainson’s Thrush (X² = 212.72, P < 0.0001), Hermit Thrush (X² = 66.71, P < 0.0001), American Robin (X² = 184.87, P < 0.0001), White‑throated Sparrow (X² = 6.13, P = 0.01), Ovenbird (X² = 92.3, P < 0.0001),Tennessee 4

Warbler (X² = 13.13, P = 0.0003), Nashville Warbler (X² = 13.50, P = 0.0002), and American Redstart (X² = 44.10, P < 0.0001; Table 1). In contrast, capture numbers were higher during spring for the Northern House Wren (X² = 13.5, P = 0.01), Brown Thrasher (X² = 14.55, P < 0.0001), Fox Sparrow (X² = 8.09, P = 0.004), Dark-eyed Junco (X² = 43.86, P < 0.0001), Northern Waterthrush (X² = 11.36, P =0.0007; Table 1), and Common Yellowthroat (X² = 33.92, P < 0.0001; Table 1). Capture numbers were equal between seasons for Least Flycatchers (X² = 0.91, P = 0.34), Wood Thrush (X² = 0.79, P = 0.37), Mourning Warbler (X² = 0.0017, P = 0.98), and Canada Warbler (X² = 0.46, P = 0.49).

Species with n = 1 sample total across all years were Blue‑headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Yellow‑breasted Chat, Brewster’s Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black‑throated Blue Warbler, and Blue Grosbeak (Table 1).

We aged 502 individuals as adults and 237 as juveniles during spring, and 761 as adults and 1,158 as juveniles during autumn (Table 1). For all migrants combined, corrected for netting efforts, capture numbers differed between seasons and by age class (X² = 169.86, P < 0.0001), with more captures of adults than juveniles during spring, and more juveniles than adults during autumn (Figure 1). For six species, sample sizes were large enough to assess differences in captures of age by season. There was no significant difference in captures between seasons or age classes for American Robin, Fox Sparrow, and Nashville Warbler (each X² < 0.50, P > 0.05). Gray Catbird (X² = 19.50, P < 0.0001), White‑throated Sparrow (X² = 14.05, P = 0.00024), and Ovenbird (X² = 17.11, P < 0.0001) had more captures of adults than juveniles during spring, and more juveniles than adults during autumn (Figure 1).

Total capture patterns over banding weeks qualitatively differed between spring and autumn (Figure 2). Total captures appeared to peak earlier during autumn than in spring (~5 weeks in vs. ~9 weeks into the season; Figure 2). During spring, captures for Gray Catbird, White‑throated Sparrow, and Ovenbird qualitatively peaked alongside the peak of all migrants at ~8‑9 weeks

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into the season (Figure 3). American Robin peaked earlier at ~4 weeks in, whereas Swainson’s Thrush and Magnolia Warbler peaked later at ~10‑11 weeks in (Figure 3). During autumn, the temporal patterns qualitatively differed from spring in that Swainson’s Thrush, Ovenbird, and Magnolia Warbler peaked at ~5‑6 weeks into the season alongside the peak for all migrants captured (Figure 3). American Robin and White‑throated Sparrow peaked later in autumn at ~11 weeks in and ~8 weeks in, respectively. Gray Catbird had two qualitative peaks in total captures during the autumn season: one at ~5 weeks in and one at ~7 weeks in (Figure 3).

Discussion In this study, our goal was to summarize patterns of migration between spring and autumn at Phillips Tract Research Area, a small woodland parcel mixed with prairie plots in east‑central Illinois, that may be important stopover habitat for migratory birds (Guo et al. 2024). We found that total captures and capture rates were higher during autumn migration than spring migration.

This pattern was also the case for 13 individual species of migrants. Seasonal differences in migration speed could have caused more birds to use Phillips Tract for stopover habitat during autumn than spring. During spring, competition for territories pressures birds to quickly arrive at the breeding grounds (Bauchinger and Klaassen 2005, Karlsson et al. 2012). As a result, birds often migrate faster with higher flight speeds (Nilsson et al. 2013) and may bypass stopover habitat or spend less time at stopover sites to accelerate arrivals at the breeding grounds (Gómez et al. 2017, Dossman et al. 2022). As such, it is possible that migrants passed over Phillips Tract altogether, which could reduce total spring captures compared to autumn.

The breeding pressures are relaxed during autumn migration (Newton 2011), such that migrants may rest and refuel in more stopover habitat sites (Schmaljohann 2018). This behavior could have increased capture numbers during autumn compared to spring, as more migrants could have opted to stop at Phillips Tract rather than pass over for more southerly stops.

In contrast to total capture patterns, we captured Studies

more House Wren, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Waterthrush, Brown Thrasher and Common Yellowthroat during spring migration than autumn. We also found equal capture numbers between seasons for Least Flycatchers and Wood Thrushes. House Wrens, Brown Thrashers and Common Yellowthroats breed at Phillips Tract, which could increase their numbers during spring as breeding pairs populate territories at the sites. At Phillips Tract, House Wrens appear to depart earlier than other migrants during autumn migration (J. Enos, pers. obs.), which could also lead to lower captures during autumn compared to spring. Fox Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos migrate through Illinois during late autumn (Nolan et al. 2020, Weckstein et al. 2020), such that our station simply may not have been open when large flocks were passing through. Some Fox Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco populations overwinter in Illinois (Nolan et al. 2020, Weckstein et al. 2020), which could also increase captures in spring compared to autumn migration if we captured birds that were overwintering and not actually migrating.

We hesitate to draw inferences on Northern Waterthrush, Least Flycatcher, and Wood Thrush patterns, as sample sizes were small for all three species during spring migration and results could simply be spurious. Anecdotally, our pattern of capturing more Northern Waterthrushes in the spring than in autumn does match those reported by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, a Midwestern banding station located on the shore of Lake Erie that has banded thousands of migratory birds annually since 1989 (Shieldcastle 2024, 2025). There could thus be biological meaning in these patterns, such as differential flyway use

by Northern Waterthrushes during spring versus autumn migration (e.g., Winker et al. 1992), but more research across multiple banding stations is necessary to investigate this possibility.

For all species combined, we captured more adults in spring and more juveniles in autumn. This pattern also occurred for Gray Catbirds, White‑throated Sparrows, and Ovenbirds. Survival rates differ markedly between adult and juvenile migrants, with fewer juveniles surviving their first migration

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Spring

Autumn

Species

Captures

Capture Rate

A

J

U

Captures

Capture Rate

A

J

U

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

1

0.42

0

0

1

4

1.70

2

2

0

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

2

0.83

0

0

2

12

5.09

6

6

0

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

10

4.17

6

1

3

15

6.36

11

4

0

Traill's Flycatcher (Empidonax spp.)

8

3.33

1

3

4

6

2.55

1

5

0

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

5

2.08

2

2

1

2

0.85

0

0

2

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

1

0.42

1

0

0

1

0.42

0

1

0

Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)

2

0.83

1

1

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

0

1

0

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

0

1

0

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

1

0.42

1

0

0

10

4.24

5

5

0

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

5

2.08

0

0

5

12

5.09

0

0

12

Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

69

28.74

2

11

55

36

15.27

19

12

5

Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)

2

0.83

2

0

0

7

2.97

0

0

7

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)

20

8.33

17

2

1

171

72.54

99

72

0

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)

16

6.67

13

2

1

55

23.33

38

17

0

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

28

11.66

17

7

4

6

2.55

2

4

0

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

54

22.49

36

11

7

134

56.85

52

82

0

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

3

1.25

0

3

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

11

4.58

10

1

0

59

25.03

17

41

1

Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)

12

5.00

7

2

3

53

22.48

16

36

1

Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

28

11.66

26

2

0

290

123.03

99

190

1

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

6

2.50

3

3

0

84

35.64

13

68

3

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

13

5.42

8

5

0

9

3.82

3

1

5

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

23

9.58

6

12

5

249

105.63

50

104

95

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

0

0.00

0

0

0

4

1.70

4

0

0

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

7

2.92

5

1

1

0

0.00

0

0

0

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

39

16.25

15

8

16

18

7.64

10

7

1

American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)

25

10.41

10

6

9

0

0.00

0

0

0

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

59

24.58

24

29

6

6

2.55

0

0

6

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

1

0.42

1

0

0

5

2.12

0

1

4

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

130

54.15

71

33

26

176

74.67

70

88

18

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

29

12.08

12

4

13

2

0.85

0

0

2

Lincoln Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

14

5.83

11

2

1

1

0.42

0

1

0

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

40

16.66

29

5

6

1

0.42

1

0

0

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

9

3.75

6

3

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)

1

0.42

0

1

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Table 1. Count of migratory passerines captured (Captures) parsed by adults (A), juveniles (J), and unknown (U) ages, at Phillips Tract Banding Station in Champaign County, Illinois, from 2019‑2024.

Capture rate represents birds/1000 net-hour (nh).

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Spring Species

Captures

Capture Rate

A

J

U

Autumn Captures

Capture Rate

A

J

U

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

3

1.25

2

1

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

44

18.33

26

12

6

194

82.30

63

130

1

Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)

33

13.75

25

1

7

11

4.67

6

5

0

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

1

0.42

1

0

0

3

1.27

3

0

0

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)

0

0.00

0

0

0

3

1.27

3

0

0

Brewster's Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

2

0.83

1

1

0

40

16.97

13

26

1

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)

7

2.92

4

3

0

29

12.30

4

25

0

Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)

1

0.42

1

0

0

8

3.39

5

3

0

Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)

10

4.17

5

5

0

35

14.85

14

21

0

Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis)

6

2.50

3

2

1

1

0.42

0

0

1

Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)

10

4.17

8

2

0

10

4.24

4

6

0

Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosus)

1

0.42

0

1

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

47

19.58

37

6

4

5

2.12

1

3

1

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

7

2.92

3

4

0

63

26.73

29

34

0

Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)

6

2.50

1

5

0

154

65.33

61

93

0

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

0

0.00

0

0

0

10

4.24

5

5

0

Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)

0

0.00

0

0

0

2

0.85

2

0

0

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)

1

0.42

0

1

0

7

2.97

3

3

1

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)

0

0.00

0

0

0

1

0.42

0

1

0

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

3

1.25

2

0

1

1

0.42

0

0

1

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

1

0.42

0

1

0

51

21.64

12

38

1

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)

3

1.25

3

0

0

3

1.27

1

2

0

Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)

13

5.42

3

8

2

17

7.21

5

12

0

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

0

0.00

0

0

0

4

1.70

3

1

0

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

2

0.83

2

0

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

2

0.83

2

0

0

1

0.42

0

1

0

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

18

7.50

14

4

0

1

0.42

1

0

0

Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)

1

0.42

1

0

0

0

0.00

0

0

0

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

39

16.25

15

20

4

0

0.00

0

0

0

Table 1 (continued). Count of migratory passerines captured (Captures) parsed by adults (A), juveniles (J), and unknown (U) ages, at Phillips Tract Banding Station in Champaign County, Illinois, from 2019‑2024.

Capture rate represents birds/1000 net-hour (nh).

Studies

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Figure 1. More adult migrants (black bars) were captured during spring migration, and more juveniles (white bars) during autumn migration at Phillips Tract Banding Station. This occurred for all migrants combined, Gray Catbirds, White‑throated Sparrows, and Ovenbirds. Data were collected in Champaign County, Illinois, from 2019‑2024.

and overwintering periods compared to adults (Rotics 2016, Buechley et al. 2021, Newton 2024).

More juveniles observed during autumn migration could be due to the large influx of fledged young from the breeding season (Dunn and Nol 1980), which would increase juvenile numbers but not those of adults. We found no difference between the number of adults or juveniles captured in spring versus autumn for American Robins, Fox Sparrows and Nashville Warblers. American Robins and Fox Sparrows are short‑distance migrants (Weckstein et al. 2020, Vanderhoff et al. 2020), such that the survival challenges of migration may not be as harsh on these species as they are for longer‑distant migrants that stopover at Phillips Tract (Sandercock and Jaramillo 2002, Newton 2024). Some American Robins and Fox Sparrows at Phillips Tract may instead overwinter, which could also improve survival and increase the higher numbers we observed. Indeed, it is possible these species have switched to resident status in parts of Illinois due to climate change (e.g., Brown and Miller 2016, Visty et al. 2017). For Nashville Warblers, because we were only able to operate nets once a week during the migration season, results may not reflect actual patterns of age‑specific migration. Juveniles tend to migrate later than adults (Stewart et al. 2002, Newton 2011, McKinnon et al. 2014), and in the spring only for a short 2‑3 week period of time compared to autumn (J. Enos, pers. obs.). If we missed key days to band, such as high‑traffic migration nights due to optimal weather forecasts (Richardson 1978, Horton et al. 2021), then our results could be due to missed data with little biological meaning.

Figure 2. Spring and autumn qualitatively differed in patterns of captures over time, with peak total captures occurring four weeks earlier into the season during autumn (black line) than during spring (gray line). Week 1 represents the first week of the banding season (spring: early March; autumn: mid- August), Week 5 the approximate midpoint (spring: mid-April; autumn: midSeptember), and Week 11 the latest date we banded each year (spring: late May; autumn: early November). Data were collected in Champaign County, Illinois, from 2019‑2024.

We found qualitative differences in timing peaks of total capture abundances between spring and autumn migration. These peaks could represent time windows when seasonally available food, such as insects, become more readily available in east‑central Illinois for migrating birds (Petit 2000, Strode 2015). Indeed, many species of migratory birds are known to time their migration and stopovers with locally available food resources (e.g., Deppe and Rotenberry 2005). Timing could also be related to species‑specific differences in migration distances, which would affect arrival dates in Illinois. For example, during spring

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migration, we noticed Swainson’s Thrushes and Magnolia Warblers, two long‑distant migrants that overwinter in Neotropical America (Dunn and Hall 2020, Mack and Yong 2020), both peaked in numbers later than Gray Catbirds and American Robins, which are short‑distance migrants that do not have to travel as far between breeding and non‑breeding grounds (Smith et al.

2020, Vanderhoff et al. 2020). We did not formally analyze these data to statistically compare peaks in timing across species due to small annual sample sizes (n = 5 years), but documenting temporal patterns is the first step to understanding the phenology of migration at Phillips Tract and other similar protected habitat patches in agricultural landscapes. Doing so will be important to assess how major conservation concerns, such as climate change and habitat loss, may negatively impact the timing and phenology of migration along inland flyways such as the American Midwest (Jonzén et al. 2006, Strode 2015).

Currently, we do not have the sample sizes, either by species or across all species, to assess seasonal patterns or timing of stopover habitat use by sex, which is important to consider for several reasons.

During autumn migration, juvenile males on their first migration may migrate later than adult males because they may spend time searching for future breeding territories (Patchett et al. 2022).

During spring migration, adult males tend to arrive at breeding grounds earlier than females to outcompete other males for better breeding territories (Kokko et al. 2006). Because young males and females are inexperienced, and thought to be sub‑par competitors and foragers, they cannot obtain fuel reserves as quickly as adults and thus arrive at the breeding grounds later (McKinnon et al. 2014). We therefore expect adults to peak in timing at Phillips Tract before juveniles during spring migration, along with males peaking in abundances before females. Additional years of data collection should allow us to test these hypotheses, especially by targeting common migratory species that can be reliably aged and sexed each season, such as Magnolia Warblers.

In conclusion, our data show that several migratory birds utilize Phillips Tract as stopover Studies

Figure 3. Captures over time of most common migrants captured at Phillips Tract Banding Station qualitatively differed each season. Gray Catbird (GRCA); Swainson’s Thrush (SWTH); American Robin (AMRO); White‑throated Sparrow (WTSP); Ovenbird (OVEN); and Magnolia Warbler (MAWA). Week 1 represents the first week of the banding season (spring: early March; autumn: mid-August). Data were collected in Champaign County, Illinois, from 2019‑2024. habitat during migration. This site, which is a small parcel providing mixed woodland and prairie habitat, is likely important to migrants crossing the agricultural “desert” of the American Midwest during migration (Guo et al. 2023, 2024). Documenting basic seasonal patterns is important for conservation efforts, as knowing which migratory species use stopover habitat like Phillips Tract can help support funding efforts to protect select patches of woodland, grassland, or mixed habitat in agricultural landscapes. We thus encourage more research on how and when migratory birds use inland protected woodlots as

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stopover habitat, as they undoubtedly support several migrants journeying to and from breeding and non‑breeding grounds annually.

Acknowledgments We thank the University of Illinois Committee on Natural Areas for site access and approval of our station research at Phillips Tract Research Area.

We also thank Jamie Ellis and Nathan Hudson for aid in site access and coordination of property use for our research. Banding and research efforts were approved under the University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Protocol 22150. We also thank the many volunteers that gave their time to help us with field work.

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Midwestern landscapes for the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds. General Technical Report. United States Department of Agriculture, St. Paul, MN. Vanderhoff, E. N., P. Pyle, M. A. Patten, R. Sallabanks, and F. C. James. 2020. American Robin (Turdus migratorius). In: P. G. Rodewald (ed.), Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. Van Buskirk, J., R. S., Mulvihill, and R. C. Leberman. 2009. Variable shifts in spring and autumn migration phenology in North American songbirds associated with climate change. Global Change Biology 15: 760‑771.

Van Doren, B. M., and K. G. Horton. 2018. A continental system for forecasting bird migration.

Science 361: 1115‑1118.

Visty, H., S. Wilson, R. Germain, J. Krippel, and P. Arcese. 2017. Demography of Sooty Fox Sparrows (Passerella unalaschcensis) following a shift from a migratory to resident life history. Canadian Journal of Zoology 96: 436‑440.

Winker, K., D. W. Warner, and A. R. Weisbrod.

1992. Migration of woodland birds at a fragmented inland stopover site. Wilson Bulletin 104: 580‑595.

Weckstein, J. D., D. E. Kroodsma, and R. C. Faucett.

2020. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). In: A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, (eds.), Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. West, A. C., and D. S. Swanson. 2024. Grasslands in the Northern Prairie region support a diverse assemblage of migrant birds and facilitate fattening during migratory stopover. Ornithological Applications 127: 1‑13.

Zurell, D., C. H. Graham, L. Gallien, W. Thuiller, and N. E. Zimmermann. 2018. Long‑distance migratory birds threatened by multiple independent risks from global change. Nature Climate Change 8: 992‑996.

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A Modified Potter Trap for Safe and Effective Capture of American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes Gary M. Santolo gmsantolo@gmail.com

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© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

Capturing small raptors and passerines for research and conservation requires methods that prioritize bird safety and minimize stress. Traditional traps, such as Bal-chatri traps, can expose birds to predators or environmental hazards post-capture. The trap described here, a modified Potter trap known informally as the “Magic Shrike/Kestrel Box” or “Santolo Trap”, was designed to address these concerns. It is placed directly on the ground in view of target species and offers immediate protection upon capture.

I have shared this trap design, and it was successfully used by the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program and the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) for roadside trapping. I have used the Santolo Trap for studies collecting kestrels and shrikes for banding as well as morphometric studies (Santolo 2013) and blood sampling for selenium studies (Santolo and Yamamoto 1999, Santolo et al.

2022). In 115 trapping days between 1995 and 2016, it facilitated the safe capture of 210 Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) and 160 American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), with no injuries or mortalities.

The design builds upon the classic Potter trap, developed by Jessica A. Potter in the early 20th Century and described in Lincoln (1927). Potter traps are known for their compartmentalized structure and vertically sliding doors, typically used for ground-feeding birds. The Santolo Trap modifies this concept to suit raptor behavior and field conditions, incorporating a spring-loaded trip mechanism and a dualcompartment layout.

Figure 1. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) captured using the Santolo Trap in open habitat.

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conditions and for particular avian species.

Assembly Instructions

Figure 2. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) enclosed in a Santolo Trap during roadside deployment.

Trap Design Overview The Santolo Trap consists of two integrated compartments designed to ensure both effective capture and the safety of target species. The bait compartment securely houses live bait, such as mice, in an enclosed space that prevents escape and minimizes harm. Adjacent to this is the capture compartment, which safely contains the bird once the trap is triggered, shielding it from predators.

The trap is constructed using durable materials, including ½” x ½” and ½” x 1” mesh hardware cloth, cage clips, a wooden dowel serving as a trip bar, a stiff wire release mechanism, and a calibrated spring. These components work together to create a reliable and humane trapping system.

Compared to the traditional Potter trap, which features a modular design with vertically sliding doors and multiple compartments intended for ground-feeding birds, the Santolo Trap introduces several key modifications tailored to kestrels and shrikes (see Fig. 3). These enhancements include a single-compartment capture design, a springloaded trip mechanism that replaces the vertical door, and a dual-compartment layout that isolates the bait to reduce stress and prevent escape.

Additionally, the trap is deployed directly on the ground in open areas, increasing visibility and accessibility for target species.

While preserving the Potter trap’s core principles of safe, compartmentalized capture, the Santolo Trap improves functionality under specific field Methods

Materials Needed • ½” x ½” mesh hardware cloth (for bait compartment) • ½” x 1” mesh hardware cloth (for capture compartment) • Cage clips • Stiff wire (slightly bent) • Wooden dowel (trip bar) • Small spring • Wire cutters and pliers 1. Construct the Bait Compartment • Cut a 24” x 2” strip of ½” x ½” mesh hardware cloth.

• Bend into a square shape (6” x 6”) and join the ends to form the sides.

• Cut a 12” x 12” square for the top (also serves as the bottom of the capture compartment).

• Cut a 6” x 2” panel for each side and attach to form a box.

• Ensure all edges are bent inward to avoid sharp protrusions.

• Attach a bottom door that overlaps the compartment by 1” on all sides.

2. Construct the Capture Compartment • Cut four side panels (8” x 12”) from ½” x 1” mesh.

• Cut top and bottom panels (12” x 12”) from the same mesh.

• Assemble into a cube using cage clips.

• Cut a door panel (approx. 8” x 8”) that overlaps the opening by 1” on three sides.

• Attach the door with hinges or wire loops.

3. Install the Trigger Mechanism • Insert a wooden dowel (trip bar) horizontally across the trap, resting against the cage wall.

• Notch the top of the dowel to hold the stiff wire in place.

• Weave the stiff wire through the mesh to secure the trip bar.

• Attach a spring with just enough tension to hold the bar in place.

• When the bird interacts with the bait or wire, the trip bar drops, releasing the door.

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Gary Santolo's Shrike and Kestrel Trap (Renamed the Magic Shrike/Kestrel Box by a GGRO volunteer) Cross section diagram through trap in set position

Stiff wire

Spring

Capture compartment

Door release "trip bar"

5"

6"

5 1/2 "

2"

Bait Compartment

3"

6"

3"

FigureNOTES: 3. Schematic of the Santolo Trap.

Notes(1) Release bar (wooden dowl) rests against wire a 12” x 12”wall, square, of 1/2” of cage heldmade in place by x 1/2” mesh • Release bar (wooden hardware cloth. pressure of springdowel) rests against wire of cage wall, heldbar in place by pressure of spring (2) Release has shallow round "notch" in top to hold stiff wire place • The side of the baitincompartment are each 6” x • Release barwire has shallow round (3) Stiff is slightly bent “notch” to right in top 2” made of 1/2” x 1/2” mesh hardware cloth.

(4) Spring is just tight enough to hold bar in place to hold stiff wire in place This can be formed of a single piece, 24” x 2”, If mice are used bait compartment, all bent the sides, top and6”bottom should • Stiff(5) wire is slightly bentin tothe right into a square on a side and joined at the be made 1/2"enough x 1/2" to mesh cloth to keep them from squeezing out.

• Spring is justof tight holdhardware bar in place open end.

(6) panels areinheld by cage clips • If mice are used the together bait compartment, all • The finished bait compartment is 6” x 6” x 2” the sides, top and bottom should be made of and is centered in the bottom of the trap so that 1/2” x 1/2” mesh hardware cloth to keep them the kestrel or shrike cannot approach the bait from squeezing out. animals too closely on the sides • Panels are held together by cage clips.

• The door of the bait compartment (on the • Cut wire ends are bent around edges of panels bottom) is made of 1/2” x 1/2” mesh hardware to hold the edges firmly and to avoid sharp cloth and should overlap the bait compartment edges protruding. door by an inch all around.

• The top of the bait compartment also serves as the bottom of the capture compartment and is • The door of the capture compartment is made 16

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Magic Kestrel Box Magic Magic Kestrel BoxKestrel Box Construction Detail Construction Detail Construction Detail 4 panels for sides of trap - 1/2" x panels for sides 41"panels sides of trap - 1/2"of x trap - 1/2" x mesh for wire4 1" mesh wire 1" mesh wire

8" 8"

12" 12"

12"

Top - 1/2" x 1" mesh Top - 1/2" x 1" mesh Top - 1/2" xsquare 1" mesh 12 inches 12 inches square 12 inches square

2" 2"

2"

Bottom - 1/2" x 1" mesh Bottom - 1/2" x 1" mesh Bottom - 1/2" x 1" mesh 12 inches square 12 inches square 12 inches square

4" 4"

4"

6" 6"

2" 2" 6"

8" 8"

2"

8" 2" 2"

2"

Opening to capture compartment Openingcompartment to capture compartment Opening to capture 10" 10"

8"

Opening to bait compartment Opening bait compartment Opening bait compartment 4"x4" andtocentered intobottom 4"x4" and centered 4"x4" and centered in bottom in bottom

10"

8" 8"

8"

4" 4"

4"

8" 8"

Capture compartment door Capture compartment door Capture compartment door 1/2" 8" x 1" mesh 1/2" x 1" mesh 1/2" x 1" mesh

Stiff wire to hold release bar in place.

Stiff release wire through to hold release Stiff bar in place.

Thiswire wireto is hold "woven" mesh tobar in place.

This wire is "woven" through mesh to This is "woven" through mesh to hold wire it in place hold it in place hold it in place Figure 4. Santolo Trap construction detail.

Methods

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of 1”x1/2” mesh hardware cloth and overlaps the opening by one inch on the three nonhinged sides Deployment and Use Place the trap on the ground in open areas where kestrels and shrikes are observed or known to forage. Visibility is key. Bait animals are placed in the bait compartment, which is centered to prevent birds from reaching them from the sides.

Once the bird enters and triggers the mechanism, the door closes, safely containing the bird (Fig 1 and 2). Birds should be promptly removed from the trap.

Santolo, G.M. 2013. Weights and measurements for American Kestrels, Barn Owls, and Loggerhead Shrikes in California. North American Bird Bander 38(4): 161-162.

Santolo, G.M. and J.T. Yamamoto. 1999. Selenium in blood of predatory birds from Kesterson Reservoir and other areas of California. Journal of Wildlife Management 63(4): 1273-1281.

Santolo, G.M., J.T. Yamamoto, and H.M. Ohlendorf. 2022. Use of site-specific data for modeling selenium bioaccumulation by terrestrial animals. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 83(4): 299-312.

Discussion The Santolo Trap is a practical evolution of the Potter trap, adapted for raptors and roadside environments. Its ground-based design and enclosed capture mechanism reduces risk to birds and simplifies field operations. The modular construction allows for easy transport and setup, and its proven success makes it a valuable tool for researchers and banders.

This trap aligns with Kridelbaugh (1982) emphasis on humane and effective trapping methods and contributes to best practices in avian field research.

Acknowledgments The author thanks J.T. Yamamoto for field assistance, GGRO for the illustrations, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under contract 9-CS20S00440 for the Kesterson Reservoir Biological Monitoring Program that supported this research.

All trapping was conducted under appropriate permits and ethical guidelines.

Literature Cited Kridelbaugh, A. 1982. Improved trapping methods for Loggerhead Shrikes. North American Bird Bander 7(2): 50-51.

Lincoln, F. C. 1927. Traps for bird ringing. British Birds 21(6): 134-150.

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Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), Gary Santolo.

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Inland Flyway Review: Spring 2024 Migration Report Compiled by Vernon Kleen vkleen@comcast.net

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

This is the ninth spring‑season summary for the Inland Flyway Review (IFR) Report. It includes information from 12 banding stations (two fewer than last year): four from Ohio, six from Illinois, one from Missouri and one from Alabama. Six regularly reporting stations (three from Michigan, one from Ohio and two from Tennessee) for a variety of reasons did not provide reports this spring. All were major losses – and the one from Lake St. Clair Metropark (LSCMP) was sadly terminated; their research permit for the season was not renewed, for no clear reasons, after 27 years of banding.

A replacement site is being pursued.

As usual, several stations reported that cold and windy weather were responsible for canceled or shortened days that were especially critical during the height of “warbler” migration. Strong northerly winds did not help. My own report reflected the lack of birds in May averaging fewer than 10 birds per day the last 10 days – hence, the comment, A SILENT SPRING. Five stations had initiated operations by mid‑March, two more by late March, two by early April and the remaining two by mid‑April. Banding continued at one station until 3 Jun, nine stations through late May and one each through mid‑May and mid‑April. Ten stations had 600 or more net-hours (nh), six of these surpassed 1000 nh (two of which were more than 6000 nh); the max number was 14,410 at SBBO. The largest daily catches ranged from 26 to 311 birds with five stations reporting at least one day of 100 or more birds. The most species captured on a single date ranged from 10 to 44 with all but two occurring in early May; NBS reported the most with 44 (on 14 May). The total species per site ranged from 34 to 97 with an average of 60.

At least 43 species made the Top 10 list at least once.

The White‑throated Sparrow was the most commonly banded species at four sites and in the upper five at seven additional sites. The next seven most commonly banded Flyway Reviews

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species in the Top 10 were Gray Catbird (9), American Robin (7), Common Yellowthroat (7) Northern Cardinal (7), Swainson’s Thrush (6), Northern Waterthrush (6) and Swamp Sparrow (6). The American Goldfinch which often ranks at or near the top of the list was only present on two lists. The remaining numbers in the Top 10 site lists were: five lists – one species; four lists – one species; three lists – six species; two lists – eight species and a single list – 18 species. It was interesting to note the “southern” species from the FMBS list and species that occur more frequently at eastern IBBA stations than at more central and western stations. The total number of banded birds in the Top 10 lists this spring was 6562 (ranging from 53% to 72% of each station’s total). These Top 10 totals accounted for 57% of the season’s reported 11,440 birds banded. The 2024 percentage is practically the same compared to the 58% for 2023; however, the total number of birds for 2024 was considerably lower than the 15,412 of 2023.

The next few paragraphs are brief accountings, organized by state, or those highlights. The full station reports follow these highlights.

Ohio: KI: This was the 29th year of spring banding on the island. This is also first time that the Rusty Blackbird has appeared on a Top 10 list. NBS: Since the start of daily operations in 1989, spring 2024 represents the third fewest birds banded in spring as well as the third lowest birds per net hour. There were notable highs for White‑throated Sparrows, Red‑winged Blackbirds, and Sharp‑shinned Hawks. There were considerable lows for Ruby‑crowned Kinglets, Magnolia Warblers, and Myrtle Warblers. Two significant returns were of Rusty Blackbirds, one banded in 2017 and another in 2012; the former had also been captured in 2023.

SMNP: This was the station’s 41st year of spring banding. PWE: Only three of the station’s top 10 species were transient migrants. The season was rather disappointing especially with a shortage of birds during

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the first 10 days of May and lowest ever for numbers of Hooded Warblers and Ovenbirds. A Broad‑winged Hawk was a new species for the station.

Illinois: SBBO: There were many returning birds from 2018 and 2019; the oldest was a Hairy Woodpecker from 2015. Another recapture was an Eastern Whip‑Poor‑Will banded by University of Illinois personnel last in August as part of a research study at the station. Unusual birds for Sand Bluff were two Blue Grosbeaks, a Solitary Sandpiper and the station’s first Ruby‑throated Hummingbird. Warblers came through in very low numbers. CSBBS: The station has been in operation for 27 years. This year, 17 hours of programing were provided for 395 participants. Notable returns this year included a Field Sparrow (banded in 2017) and Red‑bellied Woodpecker (2019). There also three interesting recoveries: an American Goldfinch (Texas), a White‑throated Sparrow (Tennessee) and a House Finch (Brookfield, IL). PTBS: This was the fourth season of spring banding; it included more recaptures than typical, especially the nine White‑throated Sparrows.

The station also recorded a decline in species diversity (such as only nine warbler species). IRCBS: The IRCBS is operated primarily for disease ecology research by students at Millikin University. Among the 45 returns this spring, 10 were from long‑distance migrants: 6 Indigo Bunting, 1 Great‑crested Flycatcher, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Red‑eyed Vireo and 1 House Wren.

Noteworthy bandings included 2 Pileated Woodpeckers – a species new for the station. LLCC BBS: This was the 11th spring season for the station. The season was dubbed “A SILENT SPRING.” This spring there were no new highs and only two tied records, both ties were of single birds. Only two species (Baltimore Oriole and Slate‑colored Junco) were actually banded in above average numbers. At the other extreme, there were 23 lows or ties for lows. For the kinglets, there was a total of only three birds for both species combined. May should have provided the greatest numbers; however, all 10 of the last 10 banding days recorded 9 or fewer birds.

There were no seasonal “highlights” (unless you count lowlights). JFBS: This was the fourth spring season for the station. This spring there were 73 returns. Of the 25 Gray Catbirds captured on 11 May, 11 were returns (eight had been banded in 2023, two in 2022, and one in 2021).

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Alabama: FMBS: The Fort Morgan Banding Station is located in coastal pine/scrub woodland within a State Historical Site. A notable capture this spring was a Black‑whiskered Vireo. Interesting recaptures included a Brown Thrasher banded in of 2020 and a Gray Catbird banded in Kalamazoo County, MI, in May 2023. There were ~350 visitors to the banding station.

OHIO Kelley’s Island – CMNH Jones Preserve (KI) Kelleys Island, Erie County, OH H. Thomas Bartlett, hthomas.bartlett@gmail.com Chief assistants: Paula Bartlett, Alexi Panehal, Chris Ashley, Shane Roberts, Leslie Brown This was the 29th spring banding on the island.

Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Navarre Banding Station (NBS) Lacarne, Ottawa County, OH Ryan Jacob, ryanjacob@bsbo.org Chief assistants: Annalise Bokenkamp, Lizabeth Held, Yvonne Thoma‑Patton Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) operated its Navarre Banding Station (NBS) for the 34th spring since daily migration operations began in 1989. The station is in the Navarre Marsh unit of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and is situated in remnant beach ridge habitat along the southwest shore of Lake Erie in Ohio. Netting efforts in 2024 occurred from 1 Apr to 3 Jun, with 7 days lost due to adverse weather. Constant‑effort mist netting was carried out using 23 nets for a total of 6,142 net-hours across 57 days. 5,125 birds were banded (long‑term average is 7,535) of 97 species for a total of 83 birds/100 nh (avg. 120.3). Since the start of daily operations in 1989, spring 2024 represents the third fewest birds banded in spring as well as the third lowest birds per net-hour. While much of the season was presented with warm, southerly winds ideal for migration, consistent days of these conditions as well as system blockages to the

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south may have spread nocturnal migrants across a broad front with ample opportunity to travel rather than being funneled to our location as has been the historical pattern.

Overall, many species were at or near their long‑term average, with notable highs from White‑throated Sparrow at 563 and 9.2/100 nh (avg. 483 and 7.4), and Red‑winged Blackbird at 199 and 3.2/100 nh (avg. 147 and 2.3). Although less frequently encountered and not one of the target species of this station, Sharp‑shinned Hawk had a record high season with 14 banded (avg. 4) including 4 in one day – its abundance possibly being influenced by higher wind speeds in April driving migrating birds lower and into capture range. Accounting for some of the overall low abundance and capture rate were species that are typically in high abundance. Most notably, 299 Magnolia Warblers were banded at 4.9/100 nh (avg. 606 and 9.3). To a lesser extent, Ruby‑crowned Kinglet was at 142 and 2.3/100 nh (avg. 206 and 3.2). Myrtle Warbler, too, was on the lower end at 329 and 5.4/100 nh (avg. 532 and 8). However, it is unknown as to how many Myrtle Warblers may have moved prior to the start of operations with a warmer winter. We had two foreign recoveries with a male Yellow Warbler originally banded in Jun 2022 on Lake Erie’s North Bass Island and a male American Goldfinch banded in Jan 2024, 274 km south of the station near Albany, Ohio. So far, one bird from this season has been recovered away from the station: a male Ruby‑throated Hummingbird banded 30 Apr 2024 was collected on 21 May, 40 km west in downtown Toledo during a Lights Out collision monitoring program.

Of the 181 return birds captured during the season (including one bird from 2016 and five from 2017), two Rusty Blackbirds stand out. A male Rusty Blackbird banded in Apr 2017 was captured 14 Apr 2024, and a female banded in Apr 2022 was captured 22 Apr 2024. This was the male’s second return in a row having been captured in April 2023 as well. Given the species’ vulnerable status, it seems pertinent to highlight the site fidelity of these individuals to a winter/stopover location.

Flyway Reviews

We would like to thank our dedicated corps of volunteers, interns, and techs whose service makes this project possible and successful. We would also like to thank Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for their continued support of this research and management of habitat throughout the region; Vistra’s Davis‑Besse Nuclear Power Station for their preservation of the incredible Navarre Marsh and their cooperation in allowing access to the area by numerous researchers; and Winous Point Shooting Club for their continued support in both research and tech housing.

Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve (SMNP) Springville, Seneca County, OH H. Thomas Bartlett, hthomas.bartlett@gmail.com Chief assistants: Paula Bartlett, Eric Mullholand, Vince Capozziello, Mark Joliat, Jane Riker This was the station’s 41st year of Spring bird banding at the marsh.

Palatial Woodland Estate (PWE) Bolin’s Mills, Vinton County, OH Bob Scott Placier, coturnicops@yahoo.com Chief Assistants: None This was the eighth Spring season of operation for the Palatial Woodland Estate (PWE) station, located in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio.

As usual, the most numerous species encountered were dominated by birds that returned to this area to nest, reflected in the 48 returnees from previous seasons captured. Only three of the top 10 species banded (Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and White-throated Sparrow) were transient migrants, although some of the Wood Thrushes were probably migrants as well. Overall it was a disappointing season. A number of mornings were lost or truncated by rain and there were some unseasonably cold mornings with heavy frost the last week of April. To add to the problem, there

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was a strange lack of birds during the first 10 days of May. Messages from other banders indicated that they, too, were not catching many. Numbers of Hooded Warblers and Ovenbirds were the lowest ever. Despite the low number of birds, the number of species was typical. And the capture of a Broad‑winged Hawk was a new species for the station, even though they nest in the vicinity.

ILLINOIS Sand Bluff Bird Observatory (SBBO) Rockton, Winnebago County, IL Mike Eickman, redtail15@aol.com Address: 11114 Harrison Road, Rockton, IL 61072 Chief Assistants: two dozen (+) Sand Bluff Bird Observatory’s (SBBO) 2024 spring banding season was shortened compared to 2023 due to unpredictable weather. Even though there were fewer banding sessions, 1,505 new birds of

85 species were banded. There were three days when 100 or more birds were banded, with 131 on 11 May the largest. The season’s total recaptures was 715, of which 220 were returns from previous years. Many of the returning birds were from 2018 and 2019, with the oldest a Hairy Woodpecker from 2015. Another recapture was an Eastern Whip‑Poor‑Will banded by University of Illinois personnel in August last year when conducting a study at the station. Unusual birds for Sand Bluff were two Blue Grosbeaks (1 male and 1 female), another Solitary Sandpiper, and the station’s first Ruby‑throated Hummingbird to grace the nets.

Warblers came through in very low numbers; it seems they either passed us over or went by a different migration route.

Much of the station’s success can be attributed to the work of “the team of volunteers” who put in many hours checking nets and processing data.

Camp Sagawau Bird Banding Station (CSBBS) Lemont, Cook County, IL Leslie Decourcey, leslie.decourcey@cookcountyil.gov, Lorrie Ward Chief assistants: Mike Konrath, Laura Brown, Wes Wallace, Alexia Lopez

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Mary Clausen.

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The Camp Sagawau Bird Banding Station, an Environmental Learning Center of the Cook County Forest Preserves system, provides field‑based, environmental education during the spring, summer, and fall. Sagawau’s 24.3 ha are comprised of a range of habitats including a high‑quality dolomite canyon, morainal woodlands, restored tall grass prairie, oak savannah, a rare dolomite prairie, a graminoid fen and a stream. Grass trails divide much of the habitats creating extensive edges. 58 species of birds have been confirmed as nesting at Sagawau.

The bird banding station has been in operation for 27 years and has delivered programs for many schools, special interest groups and the public.

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This spring, programs were given to 3 high school groups for 65 students, 5 primary schools for 163 students, 2 home schools for 57 students, 1 adult special interest group for 20 participants, and 2 public programs for 90 participants – a total of 17 hours of programing for 395 participants. Any time banding is being conducted at Sagawau, the public is welcome to observe.

There were some notable returns this spring. A Field Sparrow, originally banded 13 May 2017 as an AHY was recaptured twice this spring (18 Apr 2024 and 24 Apr 2024) making it (a minimum of) 9 years old. A Red‑bellied Woodpecker, originally banded 25 Jun 2019 as an SY, was recaptured 15 Apr 2024 and 7 years old. Recoveries for this spring: a female American Goldfinch, banded at Sagawau on 15 Oct 2021 as an AHY was recovered in Harden County, Texas, on 17 Jan 2024. A White‑throated Sparrow, banded at Sagawau on 10 Oct 2023 as an AHY, was recovered in Benton County, Tennessee, on 25 Jan 2024. A House Finch, banded at Sagawau on 13 Oct 2022 as a HY, was recovered in Brookfield, Illinois, on 12 Mar 2024.

Phillips Tract Banding Station (PTBS) Urbana, Champaign County, IL Tara Beveroth, beveroth79@gmail.com Chief Assistants: Mike Avara, Janice Enos This was the fourth season of spring banding for the PTBS. The banding site is a 52.6 ha (130 acre) former farm that continues to have cyclic prairie burns and invasive plant removal. The area contains reconstructed prairie, old field, agricultural fields, rotating 1‑ to 5‑year‑old successional old field plots, and old field/successional woods (released about 1970). Bush honeysuckle dominates the understory of most successional woods; however, it continues to be removed from the banding site, especially during the winter. This removal has opened more of the understory, especially around the perimeter of the banding area. Birds continue to use the brush piles made from the invasive species removal and it is felt that these Flyway Reviews

brush piles have added to the habitat quality. The site also includes many hawthorn, cherry and paw paw trees. This spring there were more recaptures than any previous spring season. Although most recaptures were of resident birds, they did include nine White‑throated Sparrows. Surprisingly, a first for a spring season was that more captures were of ASY (64%) birds than SY (36%) birds. The station also recorded a decline in species diversity this spring (such as only nine warbler species) and it was wondered if the unusual weather patterns affected habitat use/stopover. Several species normally captured were missed.

Volunteers consisted primarily of university staff and graduate students although a few traveled more than 1 or 2 hours to occasionally assist. There were also weekly visits by University of Illinois Wildlife Society members. Given the lack of really busy days and lower numbers, that provided opportunities to train and teach newer volunteers.

Illinois Raptor Center Banding Station (IRCBS) Decatur, Macon County, IL Travis Wilcoxin, twilcoxen@millikin.edu, Jacques Nuzzo Chief assistants: Delaney Haubner, Sophie Dorgan, Felicity Hunt, Aleyda McPherson, Tabbytha Spyrison The IRCBS is operated primarily for disease ecology research by students at Millikin University with blood samples collected from most birds (approximately 75%) for that purpose. Among the 45 returns this spring, 10 were from long‑distance migrants: six Indigo Bunting, one Great‑crested Flycatcher, one Common Yellowthroat, one Red‑eyed Vireo and one House Wren. Noteworthy bandings included two Pileated Woodpeckers – a species new for the station. Visitors were welcome and regularly attended banding days; on three special educational days there were 52 visitors from three separate groups: the Environmental Educators Association of Illinois, employees

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from the University of Illinois, and the Decatur Audubon Society. Unfortunately, six planned banding days (18.75%) were canceled due to an off‑site arm injury to the Master bander.

Lincoln Land Community College Bird Banding Station (LLCC BBS) Springfield, Sangamon County, IL Vernon Kleen, vkle­en@comcast.net, Anthony Rothering Chief assistants: Melissa Blood, Trent Driver, Joe Gardner, Lewis Hakam, Natalia Maass, Jim Mordacq, Angie Muhs, Carlo Potts, Nancy Redman, Sam Reif, Alex Walsh, Sue Ellen Weitekamp This was the 11th spring season for the LLCC BBS. The station is an entity of the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders (LLABB), a local Springfield‑area group, and its location and operations remained the same as in seasons past including the locations of the net lanes. This spring from 11 to 25 mist nets were used on 42 mornings between 13 Mar and 30 May. However, there were two significant modifications to this year’s operations. First, the schedule was changed from six banding days per week (Mondays through Saturdays) and approximately 50 banding days for the season, to four banding days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) with 42 banding days; and second, changing those days with 60 or fewer net-hours from full days to half days. Therefore, of the 42 actual banding days, 23 were considered full days (61 or more net-hours) and 19 were considered half days (60 or fewer net-hours) leaving a season

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), Kellie Hayden.

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total of 311/2 banding days. The primary reasons for half days were due to a reduced number of nets in operation (because of insufficient assistance, low bird activity, inaccessibility to nets because of flooding, or early furling because of wind or projected rain). The new schedule also permitted Tuesdays and Fridays to be possible make up days for “bad‑weather days.”

Even with the new schedule (2/3 as many banding days), seven scheduled banding days were canceled because of rain and/or high winds. Typically, there would be five or fewer such cancellations. With the new schedule there were 3209 net-hours of operation (400 fewer than the previous low of any past spring); the lower‑than‑usual number would be expected.

The 2024 season began extremely well; on the third and fourth banding days a combined total of 130 birds were banded. Of those, 87 (77 of which were juncos) were banded on 20 Mar – the highest one‑day total the entire season. The 67 on 1 May was the only other day with 50 or more banded.

For the 11 banding days from 15‑30 May, the 16 birds on 15 May was the only day with double figures, and for two of those, there were either one or no birds banded. Season‑wise, there were 8 days (twice as many as usual) in which five or fewer birds were banded. This was easily the poorest species total since spring banding was initiated in 2013. The season was dubbed: A SILENT SPRING. Typically, there are a number of new high totals as well as tied records; however, this spring there were no new highs and only two tied records, both ties were of single birds. Only two species (Baltimore Oriole and Slate‑colored Junco) were actually banded in above average numbers (and 77 of the juncos were captured on a single day); a third species, the Swamp Sparrow, was precisely average. At the other extreme, there were 23 lows or ties for lows. Four species regularly caught each spring were totally missed; 20 species were represented by single birds; and seven others by just two birds. For the kinglets, there was a total of only three for both species combined (4.7% of an average year). May should have provided the greatest numbers; however, during May there were only 349 birds banded and only one day with 50 or more. All 10 of the last 10 banding days

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recorded 9 or fewer birds. There were no seasonal “highlights” (unless you count lowlights). This year’s average of 28.2 birds per day (under the new system) turned out to be the precise average of the past seven years. However, if based on the actual 42 days of banding, that figure would have been considerably lower (20.6 birds per day). It really was A SILENT SPRING. Highlights of the season’s 67 returns were a House Sparrow from the spring of 2016, a Red‑winged Blackbird from the spring of 2017, Northern Cardinal from the fall of 2017, and a chickadee from the fall of 2018.

Nearly half (31 birds of 12 species) were returning migrants.

MISSOURI

Of course, the backbone of the station’s operations is its volunteers. During the spring season there were at least 22 individuals who volunteered one of more days, 13 of whom volunteered on five or more days. Many thanks to them all.

Fort Morgan Banding Station (FMBS) Gulf Shores, Baldwin County, AL Lianne Kocur, lianne@alaudubon.org, Scott Rush Chief assistants: Mercedes Maddox, Eric Soehren

Jubilee Farm Banding Station (JFBS) Springfield, Sangamon County, IL Anthony Rothering, arothering94@gmail.com Chief assistants: Jim Mordacq, Samantha Reif, Grace Norris, Lee Boblitt, Matt Hayes, Stevie Emmons, Lewis Hakam, Natalia Maass, David Park, Melissa Blood, Nancy Redman, Trent Driver This was the fourth spring season for the Jubilee Farm station, and the seventh migration banding season. The JFBS is located on a 64.7 ha (160 acres) parcel owned by the Dominican Sisters within which the tillable portion has undergone restoration in efforts to re‑establish native vegetation. Ten nets were operated ‑ six within riparian corridors and four along the prairie/ woodland corridor edge. This spring there were of 123 recaptures (73 returns and 50 repeats). The recapture rate this spring (29%) was significantly higher than previous spring seasons (average = 21%). One interesting recapture on 11 May, of the 25 Gray Catbirds caught, 11 were returns (eight had been banded in 2023, two in 2022, and one in 2021). The total number of birds banded this spring (296) was just shy of the spring season average (306).

Flyway Reviews

Tyson Research Center (TRC) Eureka, St. Louis County, MO Samantha Matchefts, birdbanding@worldbirdsanctuary.org Chief Assistants: Colleen Crank, Valerie Geile, Linda Tossing, Angie Banning No written report was provided for this station.

ALABAMA

The Fort Morgan Banding Station is located in coastal pine/scrub woodland within a State Historical Site. The State Historic Site is on a peninsula that extends into Mobile Bay with mixed woodland including xeric/dry scrub areas and small wetlands surrounded by estuarine areas on three sides. The total area sampled by station is approximately 3.4 ha. A notable capture this spring was a Black‑whiskered Vireo. There were at least two other unbanded individuals in the area over the course of the week. Interesting recaptures included a Brown Thrasher that was banded at Fort Morgan in the fall of 2020 as an AHY and a Gray Catbird banded in Kalamazoo County, MI, in May 2023 as an SY. The total number of captures was less than in 2023 (538), but more than 2022 (255).

There were ~350 visitors to the banding station over the course of the week.

This banding effort is a collaboration among Alabama Audubon, Mississippi State University, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Fort Morgan State Historic Site. Additional support was provided by Bon Secour NWR, Alabama Tourism Department, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, Saunders Yachtworks, and Bill Barnhill.

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North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

WTSP 563

GRCA 422

MYWA 329

MAWA 299

AMRE 283

COYE 221

RWBL 199

SWTH 187

TRFL 176

RCKI 142

SWTH 78

MAWA 61

AMRE 57

RCKI 49

HETH 44

RWBL 42

YBFL 38

WTSP 31

COGR 29

INBU 27

456

56%

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Sum of Top 10 Banded Species

Top 10 Percentage of Total

56%

2581

NBS

KI

60%

68%

148

EATO 6

SOSP / NOWA 13

248

BLJA 8

NOCA 9

OVEN 9

HETH 9

INBU 10

HOWA 10

SWTH 13

WTSP 33

WOTH 41

PWE

GCKI 16

RUBL 17

COYE 18

AMRO 18

NOCA 19

SWTH 23

SWSP 29

GRCA 38

WTSP 44

SMNP

54%

150

NOWA 4

HOWR 7

AMRO 8

RBGR 9

ATSP 9

DOWO 9

AMGO 10

WTSP 12

WCSP 37

BHCO 45

CSBBS

54%

816

COYE 42

GCKI 42

FISP 48

SOSP 51

SWSP 57

FOSP 86

AMRO 84

SCJU 101

GRCA 132

WTSP 173

SBBO

62%

143

COYE 7

AMRO 7

SWSP 8

NOWA 8

GRCA 10

OVEN 12

INBU 12

HOWR 13

WTSP 28

SCJU 38

PTBS

72%

220

AMRO 10

SWSP 11

BHCO 12

SCJU 12

NOWA 15

GRCA 17

SWTH 19

INBU 32

NOCA 38

WTSP 54

IRCBS

Table 1. Banding statistics for reporting stations in the 2024 Spring Inland Flyway Review.

Top 10 Banded Species

Flyway Reviews

71%

634

COYE 19

NOCA 20

COGR 22

NOWA 28

AMRO 44

WTSP 46

SWTH 54

GRCA 55

SWSP 64

SCJU 282

LLCC BBS

53%

156

SWSP / BHCO 9

SCJU 9

BRTH 9

RBGR 10

AMRO 10

AMGO 14

NOCA 16

SOSP 16

COYE 19

GRCA 35

JFBS

71%

756

OVEN 21

NOCA 22

NOWA 23

GRCA 35

RCKI 37

GCTH 42

SWTH 78

NAWA 114

WTSP 115

TEWA 269

TRC

70%

254

GCFL 7

RBGR 8

COYE 8

YBCU 11

WOTH 11

SUTA 16

HOWA 17

NOWA 21

WEVI 25

GRCA 130

FMBS

Flyway Reviews

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

27

17 Mar 26 May 13

23 1 Apr

311

7 Apr 30 May 3 Jun 57

1 - 16

18 106

Nets Used

Start

End

15% 44

21% 27

Common Species Percent

Date most species

Most species

3 dates 14 May

46

22

Common Species Number

12 May

18

16%

13

GRCA

AMRE

SWTH

Commonest on Largest Day

Largest Day

4 May

80

22 May 14 May

Large Day Catch

Days open

10 - 15

50.1

83.4

Birds/100 nh

47

824

6142

1736

Net-Hours

Species

57

34

635

Repeats 97

67

181

Returns

66

413

5125

819

Birds Banded

SMNP

NBS

KI

29 Apr

10

54%

14

WOTH

28 Apr

26

28

23 May

10 Apr

11 - 15

12.7

1728

43

17

48

219

PWE

2 dates

13

35%

13

WCSP

11 May

37

14

31 May

23 Mar

5 - 13

71.9

278

34

23

210

CSBBS

11 May

36

11 May

131

39

23 May

7 Mar

11 - 40

10.4

14,410

85

230

220

1505

SBBO

2 May

19

17%

9

OVEN

2 May

53

10

23 May

7 Mar

5 - 12

36.3

631

43

19

40

229

PTBS

Table 2. Banding statistics for reporting stations in the 2024 Spring Inland Flyway Review.

1 May

22

15%

10

GRCA

1 May

65

19

21 May

21 Mar

5 - 18

51.2

600

59

90

45

307

IRCBS

2 May

19

89%

77

SCJU

18 Mar

87

42

30 May

13 Mar

11 - 25

27.6

3209

66

197

67

887

LLCC BBS

11 May

23

19%

14

GRCA

3 May

74

10

23 May

15 Mar

11

51.9

570

54

50

73

296

JFBS

1 May

29

38%

56

TEWA

1 May

148

26

12 May

12 Apr

10 - 12

77

1385

71

159

44

1067

TRC

17 Apr

25

47%

48

GRCA

17 Apr

102

6

20 Apr

15 Apr

16

39

912

49

19

18

363

FMBS

Atlantic Flyway Review: Spring 2025 Migration Report Compiled by Aaron Given agiven@kiawahisland.gov

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

The Atlantic Flyway Review (AFR) is divided into 4 regions: Northeast (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York), Mid-Atlantic (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia), Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida), and Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador).

We received reports from 5 banding stations from the Northeast, 5 from the Mid-Atlantic, 1 from the Southeast, and two from Canada. Across all regions, these 13 banding stations reported banding 16,051 birds and accumulating 66,062 net-hours (nh) this spring. Many stations across all regions reported fewer birds banded compared to last spring or lower numbers than their seasonal averages. Appledore Island in Maine was the exception reporting one of their best spring migrations in recent years. Weather appeared to impact many stations in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions spring, causing them to close down for multiple days due to rain and high winds.

If you would like to have your banding station featured in the fall or spring Atlantic Flyway Review, email Aaron Given at agiven@kiawahisland.gov. We would be happy to include your report in the next AFR. NORTHEAST REGION Appledore Island Migration Station (AIMS) Appledore Island, York County, ME Sara Morris, sara.morris@unh.edu www.appledorebanding.org Banders: Peg Ackerson, Rebecca Esch, Lindsey Herlihy, David Holmes, Sara Morris, Lyss Nowicki, Becky Suomala, Andy Thiede The Appledore Island Migration Station (AIMS) has been operating during most of spring migration seasons on Appledore Island, Maine since 1990.

Our nets have been consistently located in the same locations over that time. However, because 28

NA BB

there is no regular habitat management (other than the trails on the island), the vegetations has grown perceptibly over the last several decades.

Our nets are located in areas of scrub/shrub habitat that also includes some deciduous trees. In the 2024 AFR, we described some changes to the vegetation that have impacted our work, as well as some logistical shifts in our operations. We did not lose any entire days to weather. However, we had six days where we had to delay opening the nets, missing some of our most productive early morning hours.

The 2025 spring season was one of our best in recent years. The 2,520 birds banded was almost two standard deviations above our 10-year average (2,078 ± 234). In addition, it was our highest spring season in more than a decade and was even above our 35-year average of 2,370. While we had 17 days with fewer than 50 birds captured (three of which were in single digits), we also had eight days with at least 100 birds captured, including four 200+ bird days. On 17 May we banded 395 birds which was our 5th highest number of captures in our history. Our capture rate of 74.5 birds/100 nh was above our 10-year average of 67.9 and very close to our 35-year average of 74.3. Additionally, our 72 species was slightly above both our 10-year and 35-year averages of 68 and 71, respectively.

Over the last 36 years, we have had substantial annual variation in individual species captures, leading to relatively few species occurring in numbers well outside their averages. Only two species were captured in significantly higher than average numbers: Black-billed Cuckoo (2025: 5; 35-year average: 1.8 ± 0.7) and Black-and white Warbler (2025: 172; 35-year average: 92.0 ± 37.1). Several species were captured in higher numbers than recent years including Northern House Wren (2025: 6; 35-year average: 3.3 ± 2.3, 10-year average 2.5 ± 0.9), Ovenbird (2025: 95; 35year average: 74.5 ± 35.1; 10-year average: 62.0 ± 31.4), Northern Waterthrush (2025: 68; 35-year average: 47.8 ± 15.9; 10-year average: 40.4 ± 13.9),

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Northern Parula (2025: 98; 35-year average: 67.7 ± 28.0; 10-year average: 68.4 ± 22.2), Blackpoll Warbler (2025: 81; 35-year average: 71.0 ± 27.1; 10year average: 51.8 ± 16.5), Common Yellowthroat (2025: 707; 35-year average: 495.2 ± 151.0; 10-year average: 397.0 ± 95.9), and Wilson’s Warbler (2025: 19; 35-year average: 16.0 ± 7.7; 10-year average: 11.9 ± 5.5). Although no species were captured in numbers significantly below average, three species were captured in substantially lower than typical numbers, including Red-eyed Vireo (2025: 97; 35-year average: 128.3 ±49.7), American Redstart (2025: 132; 35-year average: 171.5 ± 64.6), and Canada Warbler (2025: 21; 35-year average: 51.0 ± 29.2), each of which is in our long-term top 10 species captured in the spring. The Redpoll we captured on 19 May was a new species for the station, which is extremely unusual given the longevity of our operations. Other exciting captures included Sharp-shinned Hawk (2), White-eyed Vireo, Orchard Oriole, Blue-winged Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warbler.

The Appledore Island Migration Station is pleased to continue to study spring landbird migration.

Our work has shown some substantial changes in migration over our 36 years. We also combine our work with that of other stations and other researchers. We continue to collect recordings of flight calls to add to our ornithological contributions. This year, AIMS director, Sara Morris, received the Margaret Morse Nice medal from the Wilson Ornithological Society in June and presented her plenary lecture “Lessons from Appledore: Insights into migration and stopover ecology from a long-term banding station.”

AIMS is regularly visited by students and visitors to the Shoals Marine Lab. Each spring, we host the students in Field Ornithology and this year we also supported the students in Biological Illustration.

We are pleased that so many visitors to Appledore are interested in visiting the station, learning more about birds, banding, and bird conservation. Our work is supported financially by an anonymous benefactor, a dedicated endowment, and a number of additional financial donors. A dedicated crew of banders and band-aides volunteer their time and knowledge to run the station. We are grateful to the staff of the Shoals Marine Lab, who support our work and field schedules.

Flyway Reviews

Crown Point Banding Association Crown Point, Essex County, NY Ted Hicks, TedHicks61@gmail.com Banders: Gordon Howard, Gary Lee, Bob Wei, Tom Barber, Wendy Burkowski Monica Przyperhart The Crown Point Banding Station opened on 3 May with daily banding operations conducted through 17 May. This banding station was established in 1976 by J.M.C. “Mike” Peterson at the Crown Point State Historic Site on the Lake Champlain peninsula of the same name, and the 2025 banding session was the 50th consecutive year that this station has been in operation there. The banding station operates under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement (VSA) with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and is very competently and enthusiastically supported by the Crown Point State Historic Site Manager and staff.

The habitat is primarily hawthorn thicket, and upon our arrival the hawthorns had not yet leafed out. By the end of the first week, they were pretty much in full foliage. The weather for this session was closer to normal for the region and season compared to the previous three years, and day/ evening temperatures remained slightly cooler compared to seasonal averages.

We opened on 3 May, and this was a busy day with 115 birds of 19 species banded. The preceding overnight conditions showed that a cold front moved through with light northeast winds. Apparently, birds were migrating, and there happened to be heavy overnight rain which put them to ground. This scenario repeated for the overnight conditions on 10 May, and we had another good day on 11 May with 109 birds banded. All in all, we had some rainy days and lost about 1.5 days of net hours. But even with the reduced nets opened during these times, we had good activity.

Our totals for the two-week session were 687 birds banded of 57 species. The total number and species count are close to the previous ten-year station average.

Historically, Yellow-rumped Warbler is our most numerous warbler species and often our most numerous species overall. This year they came in at number two on the list behind Blue Jay. There

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were no real surprises this season with no new species and most of the usual suspects. Rubythroated Hummingbird numbers were up for the third year in a row with 11 banded, compared to 9 in 2024. They even made the Top 10 list this year.

Overall, the top five species in number were Blue Jay (188), Yellow-rumped Warbler (143), Whitethroated Sparrow (62), Gray Catbird (50), and Common Yellowthroat (25).

Joppa Flats Education Center Plum Island Bird Banding Station Newburyport, Essex County, MA Ben Flemer, bflemer@massaudubon.org Banders: more than a handful

For returns and repeats, there is nothing exciting or noteworthy to report. We had 21 returns of 10 species with a Rose-breasted Grosbeak being the oldest at six years old. No foreign recaptures were caught. We did have 43 repeats which is about average for the site.

The station opened in 1998 and operates 19 nets (17 - 12m and 2 - 6m) in April/May and September/ October. The banding station is sited on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge located on Plum Island, a coastal barrier island that is between the Merrimack River and the confluence of Parker and Ipswich rivers. Habitat consists of coastal dune shrub and forest dominated by highbush blueberry, winterberry, bayberry, Japanese honeysuckle, buckthorn, pin cherry, serviceberry, gray birch, quaking aspen, and red maple.

With the celebration for our 50th consecutive banding session, we had visitor groups scheduled for all but two days of the session. We set a visitation record with well over 300 visitors, and all who wanted one left with a commemorative tee shirt.

We are grateful to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Massachusetts Audubon Society for their continued support of the banding station. In addition, 43 volunteers donated 1030 hours to help with all aspects of running the station during the spring season. THANK YOU!

The banding station participated in the Bird Genoscape Project (BGP) for a sixth consecutive year. We know that many neotropical migratory bird species are declining in numbers across the Western Hemisphere, but conservation efforts have been stalled by the inability to assess where migrants are most limited – the breeding grounds, migratory stopover points, or tropical wintering areas. This project is a cooperative avian genetics project between researchers at the University of California-Los Angles and Colorado State University.

Manomet Observatory (MBO) Plymouth, MA Evan Dalton, edalton@manomet.org www.manomet.org Banders: Sarah Duff, Amy Hogan, Grace Whitten, Michelle Winfield This was the 56th official year of spring banding at Manomet. After clearing the net lanes, the banding team erected our 50 nets through the coastal scrub, bluffs and wetlands of our field station. From 14

The Crown Point Banding Association wishes to thank the staff at the Crown Point State Historic Site for its gracious hospitality and support. Site Manager, Sam Huntington, continued a very strong support effort for this project and once again was extremely helpful and supportive of the banding station. Additionally, and equally, we would like to thank the site maintenance staff for their enthusiastic support and assistance with the myriad day-to-day needs including the initial site preparation. Their efforts allow us to easily focus on banding birds and public interaction/education and makes the season a great experience for all.

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North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum), Gabriel Runyon.

Flyway Reviews

April to 11 June, we sampled the birds migrating through the area to build upon our standardized dataset of bird migration in the northeast.

Weather patterns this spring began with a midApril cold spell that brought snow to parts of the state. Late April winds gave way to early May rain before giving way to favorable net operating conditions. Winds from a rare late May nor’easter brought down several trees and decimated many local Piping Plover nests.

Of the 72 species captured, many neotropical migrants occurred in numbers well below the previous 10-year average with the most dramatic decreases seen in Yellow Warbler (-77%), Wilson’s Warbler (-57%), Eastern Towhee (-52%), Blackand-white Warbler (-48%), Ovenbird (-39%) and Common Yellowthroat (-28%). Notable misses included Wood Thrush and Red-eyed Vireo, a novel miss for spring at our station.

For the second year in a row, first wave (peaking in mid to late April) species moved through our station in relatively high numbers. Mild winter temperatures in the Southeastern U.S. may have contributed to higher survival rates of these shortdistance migrants. We banded 19 Brown Creepers which was our highest spring total since 1972. This season’s 75 banded Hermit Thrushes were over three times the ten-year average; a number not exceeded since we captured 247 in 1989. We also saw abnormally high numbers of Eastern Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Brown thrasher and (Yellow) Palm Warbler.

Our two busiest days occurred on 27 and 28 May, with 109 and 114 birds captured respectively. A surprise busy day with 90 birds captured occurred on 15 April, our second day of netting. Notable returns to our lab included a seven-year-old Yellow Warbler and a six-year-old Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, and Song Sparrows. Unusual captures for this season included early and unexpected Worm-eating Warbler and Hooded Warbler, both on 24 April. Four Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in mid-April was quite unusual; we had only banded a grand total of 5 spring sapsuckers in the previous 55 years. A Nelson’s Sparrow on 2 June was the first since 2016. The most excitement came from a second-year Kentucky Warbler that was banded on 1 May and subsequently set up territory along our net lanes singing almost constantly for the Flyway Reviews

remainder of the season. Succeeding captures showed a developing cloacal protuberance and no buildup of subcutaneous fat. Many visiting birders looking for their lifer Kentucky Warbler got to practice differentiating his rollicking song from the local Carolina Wrens.

This spring, Manomet hosted over 1,300 visiting grade-schoolers, university students and bird club members as part of formal education programs on-site. As always, we are indebted to the many Manomet donors and volunteers as well as the Devonshire and Dorr Foundations for helping ensure the continuation of our banding operation.

Wing Island Banding Station Sue Finnegan, suefinnegan@comcast.net Barnstable, Brewster County, MA Facebook: Wing Island Bird Banding Station, Instagram: wing_banders Banders: Sue Finnegan, Mike Babcock The Wing Island Bird Banding Station is affiliated with the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, MA. It is located on a tidal island located behind the museum. Wing Island is 49 ha and consists of 5 ha of Cape Cod Bay beach, 13 ha of upland (mainly shrubs, pitch pine and oak trees, and a meadow), and 31 acres of tidal saltwater marshland. The banding station was opened in 2000 by Master Bander Sue Finnegan. After many years, the town has once again mowed the eastern half of the island, so it will be interesting to see what impact that has for us in the years to come.

Prairie Warbler numbers have already increased this spring.

Our 25th spring season began on 14 April and ended on 13 June. We operated nets for 31 days.

It was a cold, wet, windy spring, which is par for the course on Cape Cod. A range of 31-35 nets was used for a total of 4,555 net-hours for a capture rate of 19 birds/100 nh. We banded 442 new birds, recaptured 336 birds and had 176 returns of the following species: 8Y- Common Yellowthroat (1); A6Y- Common Yellowthroat (1); 6Y- Gray Catbird (3), Common Yellowthroat (2), 1 each of Northern Cardinal & Song Sparrow; A5Y: Common Yellowthroat (3), Song Sparrow (1); 5Y- Gray Catbird (6), Common Yellowthroat (6), American Goldfinch (3), Yellow Warbler (2),

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Black-capped Chickadee (1); A4Y- Common Yellowthroat (8), Yellow Warbler (4), American Goldfinch (1), Northern Cardinal (1); 4Y: Gray Catbird (5), Common Yellowthroat (2), Song Sparrow (2), 1 each of Yellow Warbler, American Goldfinch, and Northern Cardinal. The rest of the birds were younger than 4Y. Our best day was 13 May with 67 birds of 16 species netted. We had the most species on this day as well.

We banded no new species this spring, although we heard a Yellow-throated Warbler singing most of the morning one day and had we caught him, it would have been a new species for Wing Island.

Notable captures included our first spring Bluegray Gnatcatcher, the third Blue-winged Warbler since 2008, and an Indigo Bunting. Barn Swallow, Brown Creeper, Least Flycatcher, and Swainson’s Thrush were all 4th ever spring captures. There were instances where the observed counts exceeded two standard deviations from the average: Brown Creeper (2; 0.2 ± 1.0), Golden-crowned Kinglet (10; 0.84 ± 4.27), Red-winged Blackbird (23; 5.56 ± 10.66), Saltmarsh Sparrow (2; 0.44 ± 1.42), and Yellow Warbler (48; 16.72 ± 27.73). We had higher numbers than average of Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

We had a lower-than-average number of Blackcapped Chickadee and Song Sparrow.

We hosted a group of 11 middle school students on 16 May, one of whom has now joined our banding team!

Manomet captured one of our Gray Catbirds in May that we first banded in August 2023.

We very much appreciate the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History for hosting our banding station and raising much needed funds. Many thanks to the French Foundation and the Cape Cod Bird Club for monetary support. A big thank-you to bander Mike Babcock who spent most of the season with us and all our regular volunteers Lucy Wightman, Paula Pariseau, Reenie Dwyer, Michele Burnat, Brandi Sikorski and others who helped for a few days this spring season. Thanks also to Doug Fellows, Mike Harnett, and Dick Thomley for maintaining the net lanes.

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MID-ATLANTIC REGION Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO) Chestertown, Queen Anne’s County, MD Maren Gimpel, mgimpel2@washcoll.edu https://www.washcoll.edu/fbbo https://www.facebook.com/ForemansBranch https://www.instagram.com/foremansbranch Banders: Maren Gimpel, Meghan McHenry, Natalie Donofrio, Matt Hixson, Phillip Mercier FBBO, part of the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College, began its 28th year of banding with the spring 2025 season. The station has nets in a mix of habitats including fallow fields, second growth forests, mature woodlands and over a lake with mud flats. While the variety of habitats has remained mostly the same over the years, we have been working to restore scrubshrub areas that have become consumed with tall saplings.

We lost an unusually high number of banding days due to poor weather and there were many days when the radar looked promising for heavy flight, but few birds were on the ground. Despite that, the spring total of 3,541 birds was about average, while the species total of 96 was slightly below average. However, our capture rate of 25.1 birds per 100 net-hours was well above average.

We banded three species in record high numbers that were 2SD above the long-term average: Solitary Sandpiper, House Finch, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Several species were captured in notably low numbers, including Eastern Towhee which was 2 SD below the long-term average, and Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, and American Robin, which were all record lows, but not significantly below average. We missed Prairie Warbler entirely for only the second time in 20 years.

One highlight of the season was the second ever spring capture of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on 19 May. The most remarkable capture of the season was a station first Swainson’s Warbler banded on 27 May. The BBL reported that while data from before 1960 is not digitized, there are 18 banding records of SWWA in Maryland between 1960-1988. This was the first SWWA banded in Maryland since 1988. These records are all from within the historical breeding range of the species on the lower portion of the Delmarva Peninsula,

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which is well south of FBBO. Two birds from FBBO were recaptured at banding stations in Québec this spring including a Whitethroated Sparrow banded 7 Oct 2024 that was captured at Rimouski Banding Station on 9 May 2025 (nearly 1,200 km northeast) and a Common Yellowthroat banded at FBBO on 10 May that was recaptured at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area on 24 May 2025 (965 km northeast).

Encounters of FBBO birds during the season included a Northern Saw-whet Owl found dead in a barn in Maine, and a Brown-headed Cowbird whose band was identified through photographs in Connecticut. The most interesting encounter was an Indigo Bunting banded in October 2024 that was found dead in Anguilla (2,661 km away) in May 2025. The finder said that the bird had collided with a glass balcony and died.

Our 778 returns were comprised of 48 different species. There were 22 birds older than 6 years old.

The oldest bird was Blue Jay #1352-38412 which was 10 years and 11 months old at the time of its last capture. Five of the 10 Wood Thrush we tagged last season also returned and were recaptured.

Collaborations this season included tagging additional Wood Thrush as part of the continental effort by Sarah Kendrick and continuing to test bird-friendly glass in partnership with the American Bird Conservancy. We also began collecting feathers for the Bird Genoscape Project.

We are most grateful to Dr. Henry Sears for his years of support, our Washington College interns Mia Carado, Justin Looper, and Sarah Martin, as well as to 15 volunteers who gave over 212 hours of their time.

Meadowlands Bird Banding Station (MBBS) Lyndhurst and North Arlington, Bergen County, NJ Cailin O’Connor, coconnor@kean.edu Instagram: @nj_par Banders: Cailin O’Connor, Drew McQuade, Erica Mueller The Meadowlands Bird Banding Station historically operated under a different banding team from 2008-2015. The station was reopened in Flyway Reviews

the fall of 2019 as a migratory and MAPS banding station on roughly half the footprint of the original banding site and was expanded to include most of the original site in the summer of 2021. The expanded banding site contains saltmarsh, mudflat, and mid-successional shrub/scrub habitats, as well as a capped landfill historically used for dumping industrial waste. One portion of the station follows a narrow strip of land between a tidal marsh and an impoundment while the landfill is mid-successional habitat dominated by mugwort and Phragmites with sparse Eastern Cottonwood stands. The sites have undergone some ecological restoration efforts in the past.

Only the saltmarsh section was utilized during spring migration in 2025.

The Meadowlands Bird Banding Station operated 13 mist nets during the spring 2025 season on the saltmarsh site only. We operated on 12 banding days from 4 April – 13 May 2025. In total, 524 individuals of 45 species were banded for the spring season, including a station first Lesser Yellowlegs. The number of individuals banded was about average for spring at MBBS. Least Sandpipers are uncommonly banded at the station so it is notable that this species made the top 10; they are common around the station so this higher-than-average number banded is simply a coincidence of a banding date coinciding with a tidal change conducive to them flying past one of our nets. Fourteen species were represented by a single banded individual this season, including Wilson’s and Prairie Warblers, Spotted and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Chipping, Field, and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

This season’s results are mostly in line with frequency averages across spring seasons for these species though there were considerably fewer Yellow-rumped Warblers than average historically (avg. = 120), as this is usually the most common species we band in both spring and fall. There were also double the number of Common Yellowthroats than average (avg. = 65), though the species is always comfortably in our top three and was also the top banded species of the spring in 2023. There were also many more Swamp Sparrows than average this spring and considerably fewer than average Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows.

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There were 49 recaptures this season, of which 29 were returns and 20 were repeats, including the same Common Yellowthroat recaptured three times and a Song Sparrow twice. The returns consisted of 11 species, mostly Red-winged Blackbirds (n = 7), Song Sparrows (n = 6), and Gray Catbirds (n = 4).

were toward the end of the month; the mostspecies days of 10 were on 13 April and three days in May).

Thank you to New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority for use of their land for the banding station and funding and to our volunteers and interns for the season, especially Michael Turso, Olivia Haas, Ken Wilson, and Nalla Patricia Bagon.

Thank you to Kean University and Bergen County Audubon Society for their financial support.

We recaptured several “older” returning birds including Northern Cardinals from 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021, White-throated Sparrows from 2022 and 2023, a Carolina Wren from 2021, and a Common Yellowthroat from 2017.

Potomac River NWR Complex, Occoquan Bay (OCCO) Woodbridge, Prince William County, VA Suzanne Miller, suz.miller@cox.net Banders: Paul Napier, Janet Martin, Mary Scala, Brian Rademacher, Dana McCoskey Prior to becoming a National Wildlife Refuge in 1998, these 237 ha were the US Army’s Harry Diamond Laboratory. The refuge is one of the last large undeveloped grassland areas in Northern Virginia, located 32 km south of Washington, DC, at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. The bird banding station was established

by Dr. Joseph Witt, refuge wildlife biologist, on 8 April 2001, on 5 ha of narrow, wet and steep wooded tract on the southern shore, along Marumsco Creek. 2025 is the 24th year of spring migration banding (we were not open in 2020).

This spring was the worst season we’ve had since last spring. We banded 274 birds which is about half of the average number of birds banded during the spring. The species count of 39 is our lowest ever and well below our average of 55. No new species were added to our cumulative list which remains at 103. OCCO was open on 22 of the 29 scheduled days which include Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We had a total of 211 visitors this spring.

On 9 April we only banded for two hours but had OCCO’s 12,000th bird; fittingly a White-throated Sparrow. This species represents 15% of bandings over the years. The “big” days of 33 and 24 birds 34

Some species highlights include Winter Wren, Lincoln’s Sparrow (first on in six years), and the 5th ever Yellow-throated Warbler.

The word for this season was “disheartening” from a numbers standpoint but we are a smaller station and interacting with visitors is very important.

Their unabashed wide smiles when releasing a wild bird perfectly matches BBL’s recent note that “engaging the public in these (bird banding) activities can be an enriching experience.” One visitor, just on a bird walk break, happened upon us while a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was being processed. She said she that the experience “felt like she was in a science project.” The variety of birds here and the history behind a returning bird emphasizes how interconnected it all is.

Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC) Rector, Westmoreland County, PA Annie Lindsay, LindsayA@carnegiemnh.org https://powdermillarc.org/ Facebook: @PowdermillNatureReserve Instagram: powdermillnaturereserve1956 Banders: Annie Lindsay, Mallory Sarver, Ashlyn Rogers, Luke DeGroote Powdermill Avian Research Center (PARC), part of Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental field research station, is a longterm bird monitoring station that has operated a continuously run, year-round banding station that opened in June 1961. Spring 2025 marks the 63rd spring banding season.

The spring migration banding season at PARC begins in early April and continues through 31 May, during which PARC operates 63 mist nets that are grouped together into various net lanes that are spread across a 10-hectare banding area.

The habitat is primarily early successional but

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also contains a field that is mowed once a year during the non-growing season, and four ponds, the largest of which is roughly 4.5 m deep. The banding area is in a valley between the Laurel and Chestnut Ridges, which are oriented roughly northeast to southwest, and is surrounded by forested land.

PARC’s nets are open five days per week during the migration season. This spring, the weather was unusually windy throughout much of the season which prevented banding, or forced early closure, on several days. On three days when the wind became too strong to continue operating the nets, we supplemented with seven arrays of Potter traps.

The first-of-season arrivals for most species averaged “on time,” although three species set early banding records for Powdermill: Canada Warbler on 22 April, Bay-breasted Warbler on 30 April, and Black-billed Cuckoo on 1 May. A Mourning Warbler on 1 May was the second earliest banding record for that species at Powdermill.

We banded 1,784 new birds, processed 870 recaptures, and left four birds unbanded, totaling 100 species during the spring 2025 season. Of the 870 recaptures, 67 individuals were returns from previous years. However, all of these birds were either winter residents that had not yet begun migrating north (e.g., White-throated Sparrow), year-round residents (e.g., Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal), or breeding residents that returned to PARC during the migration banding season. The initial capture of many of the returns was more than a year prior to the 2025 spring season. Most notable are a Red-eyed Vireo that was banded in May 2018 as an AHY (DCB), a male Eastern Towhee that was banded in September 2019 as an AHY (DCB), and a White-throated Sparrow that was banded in December 2019 as an AHY (DCB). On 29 May, we caught a Tree Swallow that was banded as a nestling on 12 June 2024 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, nearly 20 km from PARC. We had several species with noteworthy (± 2 standard deviations) above average captures including Solitary Sandpiper (n = 13; avg. 4.36 ± 2.94), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (n = 2; avg. 0.44 ± 0.77), Blue-headed Vireo (n = 6; avg. 1.96 ± 1.72), Golden-crowned Kinglet (n = 41; avg. 14.72 ± Flyway Reviews

11.23), Yellow-breasted Chat (n = 3; avg. 0.76 ± 0.97), and Red-winged Blackbird (n = 109; avg.

39.32 ± 31.85). Interestingly, most of these species are early-season migrants. Although there were no noteworthy below average captures this spring, many species totals were lower than average.

There were several season highlights this spring including a season record high total for Solitary Sandpipers (n = 13), the returns of three Wood Thrushes that were tagged in 2024 as part of the Wood Thrush Party project, our biggest spring banding day in several years with 246 birds banded, and three Yellow-breasted Chats, a species that has not been banded or encountered at PARC since spring 2019. Two of the chats remained as a breeding pair and both were recaptured in breeding condition in June.

In conjunction with the banding program, the avian research staff at PARC collaborated with outside researchers and facilitated in-house projects during the spring 2025 migration season.

Projects included partnering with researchers from the University of Illinois to examine how blood metabolite levels reflect migration strategies and body condition during the migration seasons, collecting fecal samples for a researcher at Oberlin College to study changes in diet throughout the year, continuing to collect feathers for the Genoscape Project, and continuing our partnership with the American Bird Conservancy to test avian

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), Annie Lindsay.

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perception of glass.

We welcomed 397 visitors to the banding station and provided on- and off-site outreach programs to the public and school groups. In addition, we held an advanced bird banding workshop for 10 participants and a Motus workshop for 12 participants in May. The research and outreach that we do at PARC would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of Powdermill’s banding crew, staff, and volunteers. Their help is vital and central to all that we do. Powdermill’s bird banding operation is funded through the generosity of the Colcom Foundation, the Laurel Foundation, and numerous private donors who have supported PARC since its inception.

Rushton Woods Banding Station (RWBS) Newtown Square, Chester County, PA Alison Fetterman, avf@wctrust.org https://wctrust.org/bird-banding/ Banders: Lisa Kiziuk, Alison Fetterman, Blake Goll, Michelle Eshleman, Aaron Coolman This spring marked the 15th year of songbird migration banding at Rushton Woods Banding Station (RWBS). Between 10 April and 8 May 2025, our team ran 16 nets, three days a week, for a total of 11 banding days. Persistent rainfall forced closures on six mornings, resulting in the lowest number of operational days since the station’s founding.

RWBS is located on a 34.8 ha preserve owned and managed by Willistown Conservation Trust, located just 24 km west of Philadelphia.

The site encompasses a diverse landscape of mature deciduous forest, meadows, early-to-late successional shrub-scrub hedgerows, and 2.4 ha of organic agriculture. Banding operations are distributed across these habitats, with songbird migration and Northern Saw-whet Owl banding concentrated in the hedgerows, and a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) station established in the mature forest.

During the spring season, we banded 155 new birds of 34 species, yielding a capture rate of 21.5 birds per 100 net-hours. We also welcomed back 36

31 returning birds and recorded 16 repeats. The largest single-day catch occurred on 1 May, when 29 new birds of 12 species were banded. No new species were added to the station list this year, keeping the cumulative spring migration total at 81 species.

As in previous years, Gray Catbird, Whitethroated Sparrow, and Common Yellowthroat were the top three species captured. However, capture rates for all three remain among the lowest in station history. Notably, Magnolia Warbler was not captured this spring, the first absence of this species since the station began operations. These patterns, along with the lowest overall capture rate, align with a long-term downward trend in spring migration captures at RWBS since 2010.

While the number of new captures was low, we recorded a noteworthy 31 returning birds from 14 species. Among these were three male Common Yellowthroats originally banded in spring 2021, making them at least five years old and demonstrating site fidelity and longevity.

In addition to banding, RWBS continues to serve as an important hub for education and outreach.

This spring, the station welcomed over 100 visitors, including university classes, local elementary and high school students, and members of the public. Ongoing collaborations with graduate researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware further extend the scientific value of the station’s work.

Finally, we recognize and thank the dedicated volunteers who make long-term data collection at RWBS possible. Their commitment, many contributing year after year, ensures the continuation of this important monitoring effort.

Annual songbird banding reports are available at: wctrust.org/research.

SOUTHEAST REGION Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station (SIBBS) Sullivan’s Island, Charleston County, SC Sarah Harper (Diaz), sullivansislandbirds@gmail. com Facebook Page: Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station

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The Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station (SIBBS) has operated under Sarah’s permits since Spring 2020. The station had additional seasons under a prior master bander in 2015 and 2016. SIBBS is located within a 61 ha conservation easement adjacent to the beach dune line. Nine 12 m mist nets were opened each morning. Temperature, wind speed and wind direction dictated which nets could be opened and how long they could stay open. Most of the net lanes are in early successional scrubland habitat with a low canopy.

Dominant shrubs include wax myrtle, Carolina cherry laurel, toothache tree, poison ivy and Eastern red cedar. Many invasive plants are also well-established at the station, including Chinese tallow tree, rattlebox, Japanese honeysuckle, and Chinese wisteria.

The station opened for a total of 24 days between 23 February and 23 May 2025. We banded twelve more days than last spring due to fewer inclement weather days. Three trained volunteers assisted on a regular basis and seven additional volunteers assisted on an irregular basis. We had a total of 30 visitors, including local birders and visitors from an Earth Day event. A total of 199 birds were banded this season across 24 different species.

Three Eastern Towhees that were banded in late fall of 2024 were recaptured in the spring which brought our total number of species this season to 25. Highlights of this season’s captures include an Orchard Oriole, a Savannah Sparrow, a Wood Thrush, and a Yellow-breasted Chat. The capture rate was 46 birds/100 net-hours, which was higher than the capture rate last spring (28 birds/100 nethours). We banded 106 Yellow-rumped Warblers this spring which was notably higher than the 16 that were banded during the spring of 2024, but substantially lower than the 216 banded in the spring of 2023.

Recaptures from 2025 indicated that some Yellowrumped Warblers demonstrate site fidelity to their wintering grounds. We recaptured 9 Myrtle Warblers that were originally banded in the same location in prior years, including one from 2020, two from 2021 and three from 2022. One Painted Bunting originally banded as an ASY on 21 April 2020 has been recaptured every spring for the last 5 years! He was recaptured a total of 9 times demonstrating clear site fidelity to his breeding Flyway Reviews

grounds.

SIBBS is a volunteer-based organization that relies on regular trained volunteers for setting up and taking down equipment, extracting birds and scribing data. We would like to thank all of our volunteers and donors that make this research possible! SIBBS is a program of the Carolina Avian Research Program, a 501c3 nonprofit.

CANADIAN REGION Tadoussac Bird Observatory (TBO) Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, QC Alexandre Terrigeol, Direction.oot@explosnature. ca https://ootadoussac.ca/en https://www.facebook.com/observatoire.oiseaux. tadoussac https://www.instagram.com/oot_tadoussac/ Banders: Sarah Delisle, Francis Bordeleau-Martin Spring migration monitoring at Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area is coordinated by Explos-Nature Corporation’s Tadoussac Bird Observatory. This important conservation project, initiated in 2015, received exceptional support this year thanks to a contribution from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, despite overall limited funding.

The research area features a rich mosaic of habitats, including perennial herbaceous fields bordered by shrubby hedgerows, dense to open alder thickets, riparian hardwood forests, and a variety of wetland ecosystems. The project began in April, running from 23 April to 4 June. Nets were fully deployed on just 3 of the 44 operational days, with most closures caused by natural conditions such as inclement weather or the presence of predators.

It was a very low season, marking our lowest spring numbers to date, with only 2,323 birds banded across 74 species – well below the 2023–2024 average of around 4,000. Migratory conditions were generally poor throughout the season, followed by a brief period of ideal conditions that likely allowed many birds to fly directly to their breeding grounds without stopping. This spring was exceptional for marsh species, with first-time

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captures of Virginia Rail, Wilson’s Snipe, American Woodcock, and five Solitary Sandpipers. In total, 1,867 net-hours of banding resulted in a capture rate of 138 birds/100 net-hours.

We recorded two foreign recaptures this season.

One was a particularly exciting surprise: a male Common Yellowthroat originally banded at Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory just two weeks earlier. We also recaptured a Veery and a Song Sparrow, both banded at Cap-Tourmente in 2019.

Due to reduced funding this year, we had to scale back our public interpretation activities, which led to fewer visitors. Nonetheless, 299 people visited the station this spring, and public outreach remains a core objective of the project.

We continued our collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, collecting R3 rectrices from approximately twenty species for stable isotope and contaminant analysis.

Many thanks to our incredible team of over 30 volunteers and to the Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area staff for their invaluable support and dedication in the field.

Tadoussac Bird Observatory (TBO) Les Bergeronnes, QC Alexandre Terrigeol, Direction.oot@explosnature. ca https://ootadoussac.ca/en https://www.facebook.com/observatoire.oiseaux. tadoussac https://www.instagram.com/oot_tadoussac/ Banders: Jessé Roy-Drainville, Francis BordeleauMartin Spring migration monitoring at Tadoussac is led

by Explos-Nature Corporation’s Tadoussac Bird Observatory. This project, which began in 2014, was initiated primarily to gather more information about Neotropical migrants and to complement the reverse migration monitoring conducted at the Tadoussac Dunes. Although the program receives little or no consistent funding, we were pleased to count on the support of Bird Protection Quebec 38

this year.

The banding station is located beside a river, ranging from 0 to 30 m above sea level, at the Maison de la Mer—our home base and primary workstation. The dense shrubs along the river typically attract a rich diversity of bird species, both for breeding and as a stopover site for resting and feeding.

This season started on 13 May, and nets were fully deployed on 12 out of 24 days. However, their operational capacity varied depending on location, with several nets closed for extended periods due mostly to high winds. For the first time this year, we also launched a project targeting Evening Grosbeaks. After completing the standard banding protocol, we equipped several individuals with transmitters to better understand their migratory behavior. In addition, we began developing a protocol to improve the monitoring of avian diseases.

It was a relatively low season in terms of numbers, with a total of 600 birds banded across 50 species.

Over 1,284 net-hours resulted in a capture rate of 47 birds/100 net-hours. No foreign recaptures were recorded, but we did recapture an American Redstart, likely breeding locally, that was banded in 2019.

Our protocol also includes standardized visual observations, and this year yielded exceptional sightings—including a Fork-tailed Flycatcher and three Trumpeter Swans that flew directly overhead.

We continued our outreach and education efforts, welcoming three school groups during the season.

Our field team was primarily composed of interns from both college and university programs.

Many thanks to our fantastic crew of five interns, as well as Junior Tremblay from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Stéphane Lair’s team, for their invaluable help in the field.

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Flyway Reviews

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336 70 1881 29 44 803 16

442

199

3541

524

274

1784

155

2323

600

Wing Island

Sullivan’s Island

Foreman’s Branch

Meadowlands

Occoquan Bay

Powdermill

Rushton Woods

Cap-Tourmente NWA

Les Bergeronnes 93

133

282

Joppa Flats

1148

141

1854

Crown Point

Manomet

43

687

Appledore

58

112

31

67

24

20

778

10

176

93

50

21

0

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

147

2520

Station 45

Number of Number of Number of Foreign Repeats Returns Returns

Number of Birds Banded

50

74

34

100

39

45

96

25

51

78

67

57

72

1284

1867

721

11583

1826

546

24714

748

4555

7992

3201

3642

3383

Number Effort of Species (nh)

47.0

86.0

21.5

22.8

18.7

96.0

25.1

46

19

19.1

57.92

0.2

74.5

Capture Rate (b/100 nh)

15

17

16

63

17

13

75

9

31-35

50

18

20

9

Number of Nets

13 May - 6 Jun

23 Apr - 4 May

10 Apr - 8 May

1 Apr - 31 May

23 Mar - 1 Jun

4 Apr - 13 May

3 Mar - 30 May

23 Feb - 23 May

14 Apr - 13 Jun

14 Apr - 11 Jun

1 Apr - 31 May

3 May - 17 May

7 May - 8 Jun

Operational Dates

24

44

11

46

22

12

77

24

31

40

41

15

33

Operational Days

Table 1. Banding statistics for reporting stations in the 2025 Spring Atlantic Flyway Review. “nh” signifies “net-hours, and “b/100 nh” signifies birds per 100 net-hours.

40

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CHSP (10) 4 species tied (8) Occoquan Bay WTSP (45) GRCA (39) SWSP (30) NOCA (25) COYE (20) SOSP (8) ACFL (7) CARW (7) EATO (7) 3 species tied (7)

OVEN (95)

BLPW (81)

Meadowlands

COYE (129)

SWSP (74)

GRCA (43)

RWBL (38)

WTSP (36)

YPWA (34)

MYWA (26)

SAVS (13)

SOSP (13)

LESA (12)

9

10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

RCKI (13)

WTSP (123)

6

RTHU (11)

COYE (25)

GRCA (127)

5

REVI (97)

GRCA (50)

AMRE (132)

4

8

WTSP (62)

BAWW (172)

3

WPWA (13)

MYWA (143)

MAWA (236)

2

NOPA (98)

BLJA (188)

COYE (707)

1

7

Crown Point

Appledore

AMGO (40)

GCKI (41)

RTHU (45)

TRFL (46)

MAWA (60)

SWSP (60)

GRCA (96)

RWBL (109)

RCKI (141

CEDW (390)

Powdermill

BTBW (73)

AMRE (78)

MAWA (83)

RCKI (87)

HETH (98)

OVEN (99)

BAWW (120)

GRCA (124)

WTSP (234)

COYE (395)

Joppa Flats

FISP (3)

BAWW (3)

NHWR (4)

AMGO (5)

AMRO (7)

NOCA (9)

HETH (9)

COYE (16)

WTSP (19)

GRCA (41)

Rushton Woods

NOCA (25)

BAWW (34)

SOSP (35)

SWSP (36)

COYE (63)

AMRE (69)

HETH (75)

MAWA (82)

WTSP (101)

GRCA (272)

Manomet

WIWA (42)

CSWA (48)

SOSP (62)

LEFL (69)

TRFL (76)

COYE (115)

WTSP (117)

AMRE (134)

MAWA (151)

RCKI (686)

Cap-Tourmente NWA

PRAW (9)

NOCA (9)

GCKI (10)

SOSP (11)

WTSP (19)

RWBL (23)

AMGO (36)

COYE (44)

YEWA (48)

GRCA (132)

Wing Island

YEWA (19)

MAWA (22)

WCSP (22)

AMGO (28)

WIWA (29)

AMRE (31)

MYWA (39)

NOWA (40)

TRFL (45)

PUFI (46)

Les Bergeronnes

NOWA (3)

WEVI (4)

MODO (4)

DOWO (4)

HOFI (5)

PABU (9)

COYE (9)

BRTH (9)

GRCA (18)

MYWA (106)

Sullivan’s Island

Table 2. Top 10 banded species for reporting stations in the 2025 Spring Atlantic Flyway Review.

CHSP (81)

AMGO (91)

NOCA (94)

COGR (96)

SWSP (108)

HOFI (137)

WTSP (245)

GRCA (318)

COYE (490)

RWBL (792)

Foreman's Branch

Help Needed for a Neotropical Migratory Bird Tick Collection Project Danielle Kaschube dkaschube@birdpop.org

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

The Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, is asking for banders to collect ticks from any migratory bird species they capture in 2026 and beyond and send them in.

The problem: Many bird species migrate across continents, and these migratory journeys can also transport parasites, such as ticks, which may then become established in new regions, particularly as the climate warms. These ticks can carry infectious diseases that are harmful to both migratory birds and other wild and domestic animals. Some of these diseases may also be harmful to humans, such that this transport of ticks by migratory birds can serve as a means of establishment for emerging infectious diseases into new environments. A recent example of this is happening in Europe, as long-distance migratory birds have brought southern-hemisphere species of ticks with them, carrying the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Virus (CCHV), a newly established disease, into more temperate climates. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in collaboration with the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), and as part of a One Health Initiative, are interested in identifying these types of ticks, the diseases they carry, their hosts, and potential pathways in North America, before they have a chance to establish.

We need information on the types of ticks that are hitching rides on birds! If banders see any ticks on the birds they are handling, we request that you remove the ticks and send them to us. Usually, these ticks are readily seen near the eyes, bill, or head of migrating birds, as these are the locations on the body where birds are not able to effectively preen. If your station regularly encounters ticks on birds during banding efforts, please contact the address below to obtain tick collection kits and instructions for safely shipping tick samples.

avian influenza, West Nile virus, and migratory connectivity and demography of birds across North America. For further information on any of these projects, or more details on this one, please contact Ryan Harrigan, Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA, La Kretz Hall, Suite 300, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Tel: (310) 206 6234; Email: iluvsa@ ucla.edu. Happy (tick) hunting!

Protocol 1. While processing a bird, look closely on both sides of the head and especially the ocular region (the parts with little or no feathers) for ticks. If you see any, proceed to the next step.

2. Using the supplied tweezers (or tweezers of your choice), carefully squeeze the tick between the head and body. Pull directly away from the bird without twisting.

3. Drop the tick into one of the supplied collection vials, and write the band number of the bird on the vial side and cap. If there is not enough room, just write the last 6 digits.

4. If there is more than one tick on the bird you are sampling, put those additional ticks into the same vial. One vial per bird.

5. Maximum of 10 ticks per vial. If there are more than this on a single bird (yikes!) you can remove them, but no need to collect these into the vial.

6. Assemble vials into the boxes provided as you proceed, and each station will ship these boxes when they are filled.

Your help would be much appreciated, and will continue a long collaboration between UCLA and IBP to better understand our connection to migratory birds and our environment. Former and current projects include investigations into Short Communications

NA BB

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

Figure 1. Using tweezers, grasp the tick between the head and the body. Pull the tick directly up from the bird without twisting.

41

Species Snapshot: Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) Steven Gabrey swgabrey@inlandbirdbanding.org This is the 19th installment in our regular feature presenting a brief synopsis of the banding and encounter records submitted to the Bird Banding Lab for a particular species. Each installment will feature a new species; suggestions for species to be covered or data to be presented are welcome.

Space limitations of NABB prohibit any in‑depth analysis of the data and these notes are not meant to show any trends in population parameters such as population density or growth rate, geographic distribution, etc. and should not be viewed as a definitive analysis of the status of the species.

Although the banding program began in the 1920s, the currently available digital records for banding data include only those records from 1960 to the present (pre‑1960 banding data are available in other formats, however). All encounters, including those of birds banded before 1960, are available in digital format. This summary includes only those birds banded in the United States and Canada between 1960 and Jun 2025.

Banded birds Numbers and Age and Sex Categories – Since 1960, 4,208 Common Gallinules have been banded in the United States and Canada (Table 1). Sex was identified (either at banding or upon encounter)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), Greg Sabin.

42

NA BB

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

for 11% (n = 467); of these, 48% were males (n = 225) and 52% were females (n = 242). Forty‑eight percent of the males were aged as “first year” (HY, L, or J; n = 108; age code J represents an obsolete BBL code for “juvenile” and most likely corresponds with HY), 51% were aged as “adult” (AHY, SY, ASY, TY, or ATY; n = 114), and 1% were aged as U (n = 3). Forty‑nine percent of the females were aged as first year (n = 118), 51% were aged as adult (n = 123), and <1% were aged as U (n = 1).

Forty‑five percent of the 3,741 gallinules for which sex was not identified were aged as first year (n = 1,673), 31% were aged as adult (n = 1,175), and 24% were aged as U (n = 893).

Geographic distribution Common Gallinules have been banded in 35 US states (n = 2,443) and in 4 Canadian provinces or territories (n = 1,765; Figure 1). The top 4 states (Louisiana, n = 483; Michigan, n = 463; Florida, n = 270; and New York, n = 269) accounted for 61% of all gallinules banded in the United States. Ontario (n = 1,284) and Quebec (n = 468) together accounted for 99% of all gallinules banded in Canada.

Seasonal distribution Overall, 53% of all Common Gallinules were banded in Summer (May‑Aug; n = 2,248), 35% in Fall (Sep‑Oct; n =1,463), 6% in Winter (Nov‑Feb; n = 245), and 6% in Spring (Mar‑Apr; n = 252; Table 2). Of the gallinules banded in the United States, 54% were banded in Summer (n = 1,317) compared to 26% in Fall (n = 641), 10% in Winter (n = 242), and 10% in Spring (n = 243). Of the gallinules banded in Canada, 53% were banded in Summer (n = 931), 47% in Fall (n = 822), <1% in Winter (n = 3), and <1% in Spring (n = 9).

Encounters Numbers and Age and Sex Categories. – There have been 73 encounters of Common Gallinules in the United States and Canada between Jan 1960 and Jun 2025, all of which were encountered once (Table 3). No encounters occurred on the same

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

Species Snapshot

Figure 1. Number of Common Gallinules banded in the United States and Canada between Jan 1960 and Jun 2025 (n = 4,208).

Table 2. Number and seasonal distribution of Common Gallinules banded in the United States and Canada between Jan 1960 and Jun 2025.

Country

May - Aug

Sep - Oct

Nov - Feb

Mar - Apr

Total

United States

1317

641

242

243

2443

Canada

931

822

3

9

1765

Total

2248

1463

245

252

4208

Species Snapshot

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

43

day as banding and no encounters indicated age or sex mismatch errors. Sex was identified for 11% (n = 8) of the encountered gallinules, of which 75% (n = 6) were males and 25% (n = 2) were females (Table 1). Three of the males were aged as HY and 3 were aged as AHY at banding, while 1 female was aged as HY and 1 as AHY (Table 1). Of the 65 gallinules for which sex was not identified, 42% were aged as first year (n = 27), 23% were aged as adult (n = 15), and 35% were aged as unknown (n = 23, Table 1). Five of the 73 encountered gallinules had a minimum age at encounter (MAE) of 4 yr 1 mo or greater, 4 had a MAE between 3 yr 1 mo and 4 yr 0 mo, 8 had a MAE between 2 yr 1 mo and 3 yr 0 mo; 16 had a MAE between 1 yr 1 mo and 2 yr 0 mo, and 40 had a MAE of 1 yr 0 mo or less or no MAE estimated. The oldest gallinule overall, and the oldest known male was banded as a HY‑M in Sept 2017 in Ontario and found dead (how obtained = 0) in Oct 2023 in Ontario (MAE = 6 yr 4 mo). The oldest known female gallinule was banded as an AHY‑F in Mar 1971 in Florida and encountered (how obtained = 45) in May 1971, also in Florida (MAE = 0 yr 11 mo). The oldest gallinule banded as a L was a L‑U banded in Sep 1969 in Quebec and encountered in Aug 1971 in Saskatchewan (MAE = 2 yr 2 mo).

Geographic distribution Forty‑nine of the 73 Common Gallinules (67%) were encountered in the same state or province in which they were banded (Table 3). Six of the 73 encounters were 1,501 km or more from the banding location, 7 between 1,001 and 1,500 km, 4 between 501 and 1,000 km, and 7 between 101 and 500 km. The remaining encounters were within 100 km or less of the banding location, or had no distance reported. The greatest distance between banding and encounter locations for any gallinule was 2,377 km for a HY‑F banded in Sep 2016 in Ontario and encountered in Oct 2016 in Texas. The greatest distance for a known male gallinule (and the 10th greatest overall) was 1,215 km for an AHY‑M banded in Mar 1971 in Florida and encountered in May 1972 in Maryland. The greatest distance for a gallinule banded as L (and 5th greatest overall) was 1,743 km for a L‑U banded in Aug 1962 in New York and encountered in Sep 1962 in Florida.

Birds banded before 1960 There have been 142 encounters, representing 128 44

individuals, of Common Gallinules banded before 1960. Sex was unknown for 127 of the 128 and included 5 aged as AHY, 18 as J or HY, and 104 of unknown age. Sex was identified for 1 gallinule, banded as a J‑F. The first gallinule to be banded and later encountered was banded as a HY‑U on 18 Oct 1925, in Massachusetts and encountered the following day at the same location. The oldest gallinule banded before 1960 (and the oldest on record) is 9 yr 10 mo for an individual banded as an U‑U in Feb 1931 in Louisiana and encountered in Dec 1940 at its banding location (this individual had also been encountered at the same location in Nov 1939). The oldest gallinule banded as a HY before 1960 was 6 yr 2 mo for an individual banded as a HY‑U in Aug 1926 in New York and encountered at the same location in Aug 1932. The greatest distance between banding and encounter locations for a gallinule banded before 1960 is 2,401 km for an individual banded as U‑U in Nov 1939 in Louisiana and encountered in Sep 1941 in Manitoba. The greatest distance for a gallinule banded as HY is 1,919 km for an individual banded in Aug 1955 in Ontario and encountered in Nov 1955 in Louisiana. One permit (2030) was responsible banding 96 of the 128 gallinules eventually encountered (comprising 108 of the 142 encounters). These birds were banded near Delcambre, Louisiana, between 1931 and 1941.

All but one were banded between September and March, and all but four were encountered in Louisiana and less than 170 km from the banding location. One of the four encountered outside of Louisiana was encountered in Manitoba (the distance record above), one in Iowa (1,432 km), one in Florida (1,140 km), and one in Kansas (962 km). Eleven of the 142 encounters occurred between April and August (i.e., breeding season), including the Iowa and Kansas encounters. This permit was also responsible for banding 4 of the 5 oldest gallinules banded before 1960, and the 3 oldest ever (9 yr 10 mo, 8 yr 9 mo, and 8 yr 3 mo).

Acknowledgments I thank the more than 200 permit holders who have banded Common Gallinules over the years, all the individuals who reported encounters, and staff at the Bird Banding Lab for supplying the data.

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

Species Snapshot

Table 1. Number of Common Gallinules banded and encountered in the United States and Canada between Jan 1960 and Jun 2025 by age at banding and sex (either sex at banding or sex updated upon encounter).

Banded Birds

Male

Female

Unknown

Total by age

First Year

108

118

1673

1899

HY

106

108

977

1191

L

2

9

690

701

J

0

1

6

7

Adult

114

123

1175

1412

AHY

111

120

1129

1360

SY

3

3

43

49

ASY

0

0

1

1

TY

0

0

1

1

ATY

0

0

1

1

Unknown

3

1

893

897

Total by sex

225

242

3741

4208

Encountered Birds

Male

Female

Unknown

Total by age

First Year

3

1

27

31

HY

3

1

11

15

L

0

0

16

16

J

0

0

0

0

Adult

3

1

15

19

AHY

3

1

14

18

SY

0

0

1

1

Unknown

0

0

65

73

Total by sex

6

2

65

73

Table 3. Banding region and encounter region of Common Gallinules banded in the United States and Canada between Jan 1960 and Jun 2025 (n = 73).

Band Region

Same as Banded

Cuba

FL

DE

0

FL

2

IA

0

LA

5

MA

1

MI

3

MO

1

1

NY

1

1

OH

0

1

ON

29

PA

1

QU

5

SC

1

TN

0

VT

0

Total

49

Species Snapshot

Dom. Rep / Haiti

IN

MD

NJ

NY

OH ON

PA

SC

TN

TX

VA

1

Total

1 1

1

4

1

1 5 1

2

4

1

1 1

5 3 2 1

1

2

1

2

1

1

37 1

1

6 1

1

1 1

1

4

1

1

1

2

3

1

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

1

1

4

1

1

2

73 45

A Message from the President of the Eastern Bird Banding Association Aaron Given agiven@kiawahisland.gov During my time as President of the Eastern Bird Banding Association, I worked to support EBBA’s mission of advancing bird banding science, collaboration, and education across the region.

I was proud to help guide the organization through a successful annual meeting and quarterly Council meetings, while supporting the dedicated volunteers, officers, and committees that make up the backbone of EBBA. I would like to thank our officers, council members, committee members, and volunteers that have contributed their time, energy, and insights. Your commitment to EBBA makes me honored to have served as your President. Serving as President has been a rewarding opportunity to give back to the bird banding community, and I am grateful for the trust, support, and friendships that I have made.

As with any volunteer-led organization progress can be slow, but we have made some great strides over the past year. One of the most obvious being the revamping of the EBBA logo. Not only is the new logo aesthetically pleasing, but its more modern design also makes it more versatile to be used across multiple mediums. If you would like to proudly display your support for EBBA please visit our online bonfire store at the link below, and you can

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put our new logo on just about anything. A small portion of the proceeds from any merch purchased goes back to EBBA. https://www.bonfire.com/ store/eastern-bird-banding-association/ As part of our Research Grants program, we helped to fund an undergraduate research project studying Great Black-backed Gulls nesting on Appledore Island in Maine. Our Finance Committee has taken steps to help secure EBBA’s financial resources and find new ways to use profits that will benefit members and give back to the banding community.

This has led to the discussion of a banding fellowship program and an increase in the amount of money awarded for Research Grants. The communications team has worked tirelessly to update our website, be more active on social media, and are brainstorming new engagement ideas such as a regular newsletter to members. If you have ideas or suggestions on how we can help EBBA be a better resource for you, please let us know.

I am excited to welcome our incoming President, Annie Lindsay, and our new Council members.

Together, you will continue to advance EBBA and our collective work for bird science and conservation.

Eastern Bird Banding Association Annual General Membership Meeting Clifford Berek clifford.berek@gmail.com

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

Save The Date! The EBBA Annual General Membership Meeting will be held 2-3 April 2027 at the Chauncey Conference Center in Princeton, New Jersey. We are returning to the Garden State where EBBA was originally incorporated as a nonprofit in 1923. Next year’s meeting will be hosted in the beautiful rolling hills just outside of historic Princeton, near many institutions of higher education and research. Join us for ornithological presentations, workshops, posters, field trips, and our wildly popular raffle in the spring of 2027!

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North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

News and Announcements

Western Bird Banding Association Call for Grant Applications Adam Hannuksela ahannuk@gmail.com

WBBA offers up to two $500-1,000 grants each year, research & monitoring, for individuals and/or organizations engaged in projects in the western United States and Latin America using marked birds. Preference will be given to projects taking place in the WBBA regional area.

The research grant should help test a hypothesis, while the monitoring grant is intended to help individuals or institutions establish or continue monitoring programs that investigate changes in bird populations. Students (graduate & undergraduate), tribal wildlife departments, as well as organizational interns are encouraged to apply. ​ Grant awardees will be asked to submit results of their grant projects for publication in future issues of North American Bird Bander, as well as to present results at a future WBBA annual meeting(s) and as part of our webinar series.

Applicants for these grants should submit a project proposal and two letters of reference attesting to the qualifications of the applicant. Proposals must include:

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• A description of the research or monitoring project.

• The methods used.

• Objectives of the project and how it contributes to our body of knowledge and monitoring goals.

• A budget showing how requested funds will be used. Applicants may increase their chances by having smaller project budgets or detailing the use of requested funds for larger projects. ​ The proposal constitutes the application and should be limited to no more than three typed pages, including full contact information. No additional forms are required. ​ Proposal and letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically by 6 September to Adam Hannuksela (ahannuk@gmail.com), AND Diana Humple (dhumple@pointblue.org) with “WBBA Grant/Awards” in the subject line. ​ Successful applicants will be notified at the WBBA annual meeting in September, and funds will be available from the Treasurer soon after.

Request for Assistance: Banders Who Utilize Color Bands Scott Johnson sjohnson@towson.edu

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

The Association of Field Ornithologists, owner of Avinet Research Supplies, is interested in talking with individuals who are applying color plastic leg bands to birds that take size 3A federal bands or larger. The AFO is interested in learning more about techniques used for applying and sealing bands, difficulties with birds removing bands, and other issues. If you would like to engage with the AFO on this matter, please contact the AFO Secretary, Scott Johnson, by email sjohnson@towson.edu.

News and Announcements

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

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Summary of the North American Banding Council Annual General Meeting Annie Lindsay LindsayA@carnegiemnh.org The North American Banding Council held its Annual General Meeting on September 6-7, 2025 in Cape May, New Jersey.

Each year, the meeting agenda includes reports from committees and taxonomic working groups, updates from the U.S.’s Bird Banding Lab and Canada’s Bird Banding Office, breakout sessions to have in-depth conversations about new or continuing topics, and other business like financials, awards, and elections.

This year, Council focused on the revitalization of the Raptor and Hummingbird working groups.

The Raptor committee will be co-chaired by Mike Lanzone and Dave Brinker and will focus on recruiting new members, revising the raptor manual, building community, and promoting NABC raptor certification.

Similarly, the Hummingbird working group is in need of a chair and committee. Several people expressed interest in reforming the committee in the coming year, working with hummingbird banders to coordinate trainings and certifications, and determining how NABC as an organization can help with training new hummingbird banders.

Council officially approved adding Programmatic Certification as an additional pathway to Passerine

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certification at the assistant and bander levels.

The NABC certification process for Passerines has historically occurred during a multi-day certification session, where trainers and candidates gather at a banding station to complete the practical exam. Recently, Trainers have recognized that there can be challenges to this kind of testing and proposed an alternative path, called “programmatic certification.” In the programmatic certification, trainers and trainees work together throughout one or more field seasons to hone skills, and candidates are tested on each skill as they feel ready.

Each year, nominations are accepted for awards that recognize outstanding service and contribution to NABC. This year, Claire Stuyck and Mauricio Ugarte Lewis were honored with the James Henry Fleming Award for their impact as Trainers and Josée Rousseau was honored with the Glen Woolfenden Award for her service to Council. Congratulations, Claire, Mauricio, and Josée!

The meeting concluded after a financial report, elections, and brief discussion about NABC’s plans for the year ahead.

To express interest in becoming active in NABC or a committee/working group, please email chair@nabanding.net.

NABC Council Ian Ausprey, Chair • Claire Stuyck, Vice Chair • Annie Lindsay, Secretary • Andrea Patterson, Treasurer Directors-at-Large: Asher Gorbet • Sarah Harper • Jason Kitting • Annie Lindsay • Andrea Patterson • CJ Ralph • Tricia Rodriguez • Yuly Lorena Caceido Ortiz • Daniela Ventura Trainers-at-Large: Eric Demers • River Gates • Emily Patterson Organizational Representatives: Jared Wolfe (AOS) • Ian Ausprey (AFO) • Dave Brinker (EBBA) • Mark Shieldcastle (IBBA) • Norm North (OBBA) • Claire Stuyck (WBBA) • Mike Lanzone (RRF) • Stu MacKenzie (SCO) • Kristen Covino (WOS) Ex-officio: Tony Celis-Murillo (BBL) • Lesley Howes (BBO) 48

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

News and Announcements

Summary of the 2025 Western Bird Banding Association Annual Meeting Danielle Kaschube dkaschube@birdpop.org

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

The Western Bird Banding Association (WBBA) held its 2025 annual meeting in two parts. The inperson meeting was held 29 July - 1 August 2025, in Ogden, UT, as a symposium of the Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO), and an online member meeting was held on 14 August 2025. The in-person four-day meeting started with workshops, including a banding workshop hosted by WBBA; it included several mornings and evenings of expeditions, including a final day of field trips after the meeting led by Pitta tours; three days of talks, with a plenary speaker each morning; an evening poster session; and several social occasions, including a wrap-up banquet.

“From the Hooded Grebe Project to the Patagonia Program: Scaling Up Conservation efforts through Flagship Species.” The scientific sessions spanned three days and were grouped into categories of bird banding (a symposium hosted by WBBA), military lands, avian health, annual cycles, the Great Salt Lake, and several other topics. The evening poster session showcased more research with 25 posters presented. Three student awards were given during the conference: Best Poster Presentation – Rachel Stone, Salisbury University; Best Oral Presentation – Will Harrod, Utah State University; and Best Oral Presentation Honorable Mention – Matthew Gilbert.

The Ogden meeting started with two workshops, one on Snowy Plovers and a banding workshop led by WBBA’s President Danielle Kaschube. The banding workshop was attended by over 20 people, but only four birds. The weather was very hot and dry, which did not encourage bird movement. Three Black-chinned Hummingbirds were captured: an adult male, an adult female, and a young bird.

None of these could be banded, but it led to indepth discussions on proper handling, ageing, and sexing techniques for hummingbirds. A Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) was also captured and banded. It was aged and sexed as an adult female.

While there were no birds in hand, presentations and discussions were held on molt and plumage strategies, WRP codes, and band removal using a bird model. Though time was not spent intensively banding, a lot of learning was accomplished.

In addition to the scientific portion of the program, there were plenty of opportunities to socialize and see the bird communities of the Great Salt Lake area. Many connections were made, catch-ups were enjoyed, and science was discussed over lunches, during the welcome at Ogden’s historic Union Station, and during the banquet. Tours led by Pitta Tours included highlights of Uintah Mountain and the Great Salt Lake, as well as visits to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Antelope Island, Farmington Bay, and special evening tours to see Flammulated Owls. A total of 75 species were observed across all tours combined.

Each morning of the conference, AFO showcased plenary talks which included: Mark Hauber speaking about “Learning from the birds across six continents: species recognition in brood parasitic cuckoos, cowbirds, and their hosts,” Gail Patricelli speaking about: “Robots, telemetry, and the sex lives of wild birds: using technology to study courtship and conservation,” and Kini Roesler speaking about News and Announcements

Several mitigating factors led to low turnout at the inperson meeting, so an online member meeting was held afterward to connect with WBBA members.

During the online meeting, the annual reports were presented (these are available on the WBBA website), the new logo was announced, a report on the status of the BBL was given, and the WBBA 2026 meeting was announced. The WBBA 2026 annual meeting will be held 21-23 August with the title, “2026 Western Canada Bird Banding Conference and Workshop” in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. All banders are welcome to attend!

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

49

Tribute to Bob Pantle Proclamation by Andrea Patterson Compiled by Maren Gimpel

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WHEREAS: The Eastern Bird Banding Association recognizes as honored members, individuals who have made outstanding contributions to ornithology or to the Association, and WHEREAS: Bob Pantle has, after first being elected to Council in 1973, dedicated 53 years of service and leadership to the Association including two distinguished years as President; and WHEREAS: He has, during his 37 years as the Production Coordinator and 40 years as the eastern division’s Editor of the North American Bird Bander, ensured the consistent and professional dissemination of scientific knowledge; and WHEREAS: He has, with gentle reminders, tireless persistence, and the occasional unapologetic appeal, sustained the North American Bird Bander as a premier source of bird banding articles by bringing it to the digital generation and by encouraging submissions that highlight new techniques and methods; that involve new technologies; and that come from different geographies; and WHEREAS: He has contributed to avian research by starting a Breeding Bird Survey route in 1967 and continuing it for over 40 years; by participating in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s nest card program commencing with seven records in 1963 during the inaugural year of the program; by documenting rare birds for the New York State Ornithological Association including banding the state’s first Anna’s Hummingbird; and by contributing to the Atlantic Flyway Review his findings as the master bander of Northview Sanctuary; and WHEREAS: He has been an exemplary member of EBBA in all ways – offering help and guidance when needed, recognizing the need to grow and change while still preserving the important values of years past, and generously giving of his time and wisdom for the betterment of the Association; and Now therefore, be it resolved on this day, the 31st of January, 2026, that the Eastern Bird Banding Association commends and honors Bob Pantle with our deepest gratitude for his unwavering dedication, his sustained service, and his enduring legacy.

Thank you, Bob, and congratulations on your retirement!

EBBA Annual Meeting in Ithaca, NY, 2017. Bob is in the front row, second from the right.

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North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

News and Announcements

I met Bob Pantle many, many years ago in the 1960s at an EBBA Annual Meeting. Chan Robbins’s Operation Recovery banding program was a popular topic of discussion at the time. I was running an OR program at the time at the Vischer Ferry Wildlfe Management Area in Saratoga County, New York and Bob being an avid “backyard bird bander” in New York was eager to be affiliated with Operation Recovery.

Bob came to Vischer Ferry for weekend Fall banding that ultimately included Spring banding as well.

Then, both of us joined the big-time ranks of Operation Recovery banding at Island Beach State Park at South Seaside Park New Jersey. One of my fondest memories of Island Beach is visiting Bob in his net lane while he tuned in Rush Limbaugh on a portable radio at is banding table.

Few EBBA members have an appreciation for the job Bob has done over these many years producing copies of North American Bird Bander for the three organizations that support its being. He and his wife Rita (before her passing) spent endless hours tending to the details of organizing each issue’s content, communicating with editors and treasurers of the sponsoring associations, securing address labels and dealing with the many vagaries of the U. S. Postal Service, all the while trying to meet production deadlines for each issue.

For your efforts to coordinate this challenging process, THANK YOU BOB. EBBA, IBBA and WBBA owe you a deep debt of gratitude.

–Bob Yunick, 11 Jan 2026

Bob Pantle joined EBBA in 1962 and became involved in Operation Recovery at Island Beach State Park, NJ, an EBBA staffed operation looking for evidence of coastal overland migration. I joined the project in 1971 for 10 years. I was impressed that at EBBAs 50th Anniversary Meeting in 1973 at IBSP, Bob and Rita brought their infant son, Steve, and to every meeting since. Bob in his diplomatic manner served on financial, membership and publishing committees, helped with the formation of NABB, was President in 1979 - 1980, then Editor for both EBBA and NABB since 1986. Before internet days, Rita typed in the manuscripts. I both published and reviewed papers.

Bob with his ‘can do’ attitude was helpful; he really wanted authors to get published!

–Hannah Suthers News and Announcements

Forty years of service and support for bird banders— an extraordinary act of devotion. You edited an untold number of manuscripts, some surely inspiring daydreams of escape to a remote tropical isle, yet you stayed the course. Then came 35 years of producing NABB: savoring the smooth, trouble-free issues and gritting your teeth when text, layout, fellow editors, or the publisher seemed determined to test your patience. Your diligence and dedication are truly awe-inspiring.

–Kay Loughman, WBBA Editor, v. 25:4 – v.31:4

Bob Pantle was very influential for me as I was becoming a bird bander. He was a regular bander at Island Beach State Park when I was training under Bob Yunick there. I was fortunate to spend time with Bob P. in his net lane there where I learned so much about songbird identification, as well as how to determine age and sex. He patiently answered my incessant questions and walked me through his thought processes on how to operate a mobile banding operation. His willingness to share his experience so I could more quickly become proficient was truly appreciated. When I applied for my own Master permit, Bob was a reference on my behalf.

I was also fortunate to join him a time or two raptor trapping in western New York. One memorable experience with him and Bob Y. was when we had three Rough-legged Hawks all standing on the same Bal Chatri trap at the same time. We thought for sure we were going to catch all three, but as we approached the trap, all three flew away! Very disappointing, but we shook it off and we went on to have a good day.

Regarding Bob’s service to EBBA, his faithful dedication to coordinating and producing NABB has been exemplary and truly inspiring. I do not know what it takes to carry out his role, but I am sure it is not easy. Having deadlines to meet, collecting content, and making it all fit in a single publication with data tables, charts, graphs, and photos all correctly located, must have been challenging and stressful. Bob has always been reliable and trustworthy in meeting these challenges to the great benefit of EBBA and all who read NABB. My sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for all you have done Mr. Pantle! May your mist nets, Bal Chatri traps, bow traps, Hall traps and Seargent traps forever be full!

–Ted Hicks, 13 Jan 2026

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

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Taking Flight with North American Bird Bander Kellie Hayden NABBProductionCoordinator@gmail.com

NA BB

© 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

After decades of Bob Pantle’s incredible dedication to this journal, I am honored to take up the mantle as the next Production Coordinator of North American Bird Bander. I am a fairly new face to the world of bird banding, and my path to get here has been unorthodox.

banding is. It is difficult to process at times how fortunate I am to have scrolled across a Facebook event advertising a banding demonstration; that I was not working that day and could attend; and that someone leading the demonstration allowed newcomers to join his small operation.

I graduated with a BFA in writing one year before I saw my first banding demonstration. During that banding demonstration, master bander Rick Schmid allowed me to release an American Goldfinch after he banded and processed the bird.

When that tiny finch took off, a switch flipped in my head; banding had to become a part of my life. I needed to learn everything about these wonderful creatures and help answer important questions about them. As volunteers put away mist nets and shook out used holding bags, Rick politely listened to my 20 questions. How should I get started with training? What kind of licenses did I need? Is this something I needed a degree for? What classes should I take?

I now manage the raptor banding program at Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa through a sub-permit to band raptors. With a second sub-permit to band passerines and nearpasserines, this February I found myself banding countless American Goldfinches on the very same patio where I first held an American Goldfinch eight years ago, waiting for her to take flight.

Rick’s response changed the trajectory of my life: “Do you just want to volunteer with us?”

Banding opportunities in my permitted states (Nebraska and Iowa) are very few. Many people in the Omaha metro are not aware of what bird

Kellie banding a Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), Madeline Eggink.

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The banding mentors, NABC trainers, researchers, and environmental science and biology instructors who have offered knowledge and advice (and who have tolerated my late-night emails asking odd questions) have, without dispute, driven me to become a better bander, scientist, and avian advocate. As I enter the stage of my banding journey where I begin to mentor others, playing a role in NABB’s success feels like another way I can give back what the banding community has given me, so that future newcomers to avian conservation, too, can take flight from patient, steady hands.

Kellie about to release a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Katie Gooby.

North American Bird Bander, Vol. 51, No. 1

News and Announcements

North American Bird Bander

A Publication of the Eastern, Inland, and Western Bird Banding Associations

Eastern Bird Banding Association

Front Cover: White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), Annie Lindsay North American Bird Bander (NABB) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly publication of the Eastern, Inland, and Western Bird Banding associations. This journal welcomes original papers on research on marked birds, molts, plumages, morphometrics, capture techniques, telemetry, and notable bird captures or encounters.

Archived issues are included in the Searchable Ornithological Research Archive (SORA): https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/nabb/ Production Coordinator Kellie Hayden Omaha, NE

nabbproductioncoordinator@gmail.com

Literature Review Editor Claire Stuyck Tukwila, WA clairestuyck@gmail.com

Production Assistant Daniel Zmoda Pen Argyl, PA robinanddanielz@gmail.com

easternbirdbanding.org

President Annie Lindsay LindsayA@carnegiemnh.org

1st Vice President Clifford Berek Clifford.berek@gmail.com

Past President Aaron Given agiven@kiawahisland.gov

Secretary Maren Gimpel Maren.Gimpel@gmail.com

2nd Vice President Margaret Rohde margaret@wissahickontrails.org

Past Past President Ariane Giudicelli Arianeg01@hotmail.com

Treasurer Andy Thiede easternbirdbanding@gmail.com

3rd Vice President Cailin O’Connor cailin.oconnor@kean.edu

Membership Orion Metheny waterfowler98@yahoo.com

Councilor Class of 2027 Steffanie Munguía Lena Usyk Maggie MacNeil Gigi Gerben

Councilor Class of 2028 Grace Muench David Brinker Medha Pandey Dan Zmoda

Councilor Class of 2029 Alison Fetterman Nick Liadis Todd Alleger Orion Metheny

1st Vice President Tony Rothering tony.rothering@llcc.edu

Nominating Committee Chair Tom Bartlett hthomas.bartlett@gmail.com

Secretary 2nd Vice President Steven Gabrey Scott Rush swgabrey@inlandbirdbanding.org scott.rush@msstate.edu

NABB Council Representative Mark Shieldcastle markshieldcastle@bsbo.org

Inland Bird Banding Association EBBA Editor Annie Lindsay Ligonier, PA LindsayA@carnegiemnh.org

IBBA Editor Peter Lowther Chicago, IL plowther@fieldmuseum.org

WBBA Editor Walter H. Sakai Thousand Oaks, CA DanauSakai@aol.com

President Paula Cimprich paula.cimprich@gmail.com

Atlantic Flyway Coordinator Aaron Given Charleston, SC agiven@kiawahisland.gov

Inland Flyway Coordinator Steven Gabrey Van Buren, AR swgabrey@inlandbirdbanding.org

Western Flyway Coordinator VACANT Contact Danielle Kaschube if you would like to volunteer for this role.

Treasurer & Membership Mike Eichman Redtail15@aol.com

Past President David Cimprich

2026 Board of Directors Erik Johnson (2nd term) erikjohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu

2027 Board of Directors Mike Bishop (2nd Term) bishop@alma.edu

2028 Board of Directors Roger Everhart (2nd Term) Roger.everhart@gmail.com

Linda Tossing (1st Term) ltossing@aol.com

Amy Wilms (2nd Term) wilmsab@gmail.com

Richard Keith (1st Term) warblerrke@iserv.net

President & Treasurer Danielle Kaschube dkaschube@birdpop.org

1st Vice President C.J. Ralph cjralph@humboldtl.com

Membership Coordinator Julie Hovis jahovis711@gmail.com

Secretary Cyndi Smith cyndi.smith9@gmail.com

2nd Vice President VACANT Contact D. Kaschube to volunteer

Board Members at Large Adam Hannuksela ahannuk@gmail.com

Allison Nelson nelson.allison@gmail.com

Claire Stuyck clairestuyck@gmail.com

Jason Kitting jason1991.bnow@gmail.com

Tania Romero t41romero@gmail.com

Colin Woolley

Caribbean Flyway Coordinator Daniela Ventura de Puerto Havana, Cuba dvpuerto19@gmail.com

Caribbean Flyway Coordinator Zoya E. A. Buckmire St. George’s, Grenada zoya.buckmire@gmail.com

Inland MAPS Coordinator Steven Gabrey Van Buren, AR swgabrey@inlandbirdbanding.org

Submitting Your Work to NABB

inlandbirdbanding.org

Western Bird Banding Association

You do not need to be a member of the North American Bird Banding Associations (EBBA, IBBA, or WBBA) to contribute to North American Bird Bander (NABB). Anyone can contribute their work to NABB if the focus of the work is on bird banding with bird species from North America, including Canada, Greenland, Mexico, the United States, Central America to the Isthmus of Panama, and the Caribbean. Work done outside this region may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Publication in NABB is free. We do not charge submission or printing fees for accepted articles.

Studies, Methods, Notable Sightings, News, Announcements, and Short Communications should be sent to the NABB editor that oversees the region in which the corresponding editor resides. Banding regions are divided into 3 groups for North America (refer to the map on the back interior cover). If the corresponding author resides outside of this range, email the manuscript to NABBProductionCoordinator@ gmail.com. Station reports for Flyway Reviews and ideas for Literature Reviews should be sent to the respective coordinators or editors listed above.

For complete requirements for publishing in NABB, please refer to: https://easternbirdbanding.org/Submit-to-NABB ISSN-0363-8979

Webmaster Amy Wilms davidcimprich@inlandbirdbanding.org wilmsab@miamioh.edu

westernbirdbanding.org

colin.woolley@birdconservancy.org

Geographic coverage of Eastern, Inland, and Western Bird Banding Associations is shown on the map to the left. Send membership applications, subscription inquiries, manuscripts to the association representing your region.

Change of address? Inform the Treasurer or Membership chairperson

of your region’s banding association as soon as possible, or at least six weeks in advance of a planned change of address. The post office will not forward your paper copy of North American Bird Bander automatically.

A copy cannot be guaranteed unless changes of address are received promptly. © Copyright 2026 Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inland Bird Banding Association, and Western Bird Banding Association. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents FEATURE ARTICLES 1 Documenting patterns of spring and autumn bird migration at Phillips Tract Research Area, a stopover site in the American Midwest Janice K. Enos, Michael R. Avara, Tara A. Beveroth 14 A Modified Potter Trap for Safe and Effective Capture of American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes Gary M. Santolo INLAND FLYWAY REVIEW 19 Spring 2024 Migration Report Compiled by Vernon Kleen ATLANTIC FLYWAY REVIEW 28 Spring 2025 Migration Report Compiled by Aaron Given SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 41 Help Needed for a Neotropical Migratory Bird Tick Collection Project Danielle Kaschube SPECIES SNAPSHOT 42 Species Snapshot: Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) Steven Gabrey NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 46 A Message from the President of the Eastern Bird Banding Association Aaron Given 46 Eastern Bird Banding Association Annual General Membership Meeting Clifford Berek 47 Western Bird Banding Association Call for Grant Applications Adam Hannuksela 47 Request for Assistance: Banders Who Utilize Color Bands Scott Johnson 48 Summary of the North American Banding Council Annual General Meeting Annie Lindsay 49 Summary of the 2025 Western Bird Banding Association Annual Meeting Danielle Kaschube 50 Tribute to Bob Pantle Proclamation by Andrea Patterson; compiled by Maren Gimpel 52 Taking Flight with North American Bird Bander Kellie Hayden

Jan-Mar 2026 Vol. 51 No. 1