2007 Operations Report

Prepared by Sam Orr, Marlene Miller and Gene Biglin
Data Compiled by Marlene Miller

The 2007 Banding Season was our 41st year of operation. 3153 birds were banded making this the fourth year in a row with an increase in the number of birds banded. The most significant operational impacts to our project included the unavailability of the East Station and the re-opening of the Mag Site Station.

Operating Period

The North Station operated from September 2 through December 1. Far North opened September 16 and closed on November 24. Pond Creek was in operation from September 16 through November 10.

The Mag Site Station was re-opened after being closed a number of years. It was closed to allow for a land reclamation project designed to rehabilitate the area from the industrial impact of the Magnesite Plant that operated there for some time. Jute matting was placed over the earth to hold things in place. We had to wait until the matting had decomposed/disintegrated sufficiently to allow us to set up traps and nets. Operations began on September 15 and closed on November 10.

Interns

The Project was once again fortunate to have a research assistant for the 2007 season. Nova Mackentley was on site from mid-September through mid-November. Nova came to us with quite a bit of experience in field research and raptor banding. She did an excellent job of providing support to the banding operation, giving banding demos and banding. We really appreciate the good work and wish her well as she returns to Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. Nova was provided with free housing and a stipend for their time. The cash stipend for the internship was made possible through a generous private donation.

NORTHERN HARRIER

We caught and banded 124 Harriers which is greater than our 10 year average of 101 and 5 year average of 95. The Mag Site has once again proven itself as an NOHA magnet with 56% of the Harrier capture rate.

ACCIPITERS

Sharp-shinned Hawk: As usual North captured the most Sharpies (51%). The total of 980 caught this year is slightly higher than last year's 956, but still below the 10 year average of 1095 and 5 year average of 1049.

Coopers Hawk: The Coop capture rate of 1326 is slightly lower than last year's 1389, but still higher than the l0 year average of 1017 and 5 year average of 1211.

Northern Goshawk: The 18 Goshawks caught this year was a significant improvement over last year's single capture. As would be expected, 50% were caught at the North station.

BUTEOS

Red-shouldered Hawk: We banded 12 Red-shouldered Hawks which is above our 10 year average of 10 and 5 year average of 9, but less than last year's capture of 16.

Broad-winged Hawk: 5 Broad-winged Hawks were banded this year which is the best capture rate in 5 years and is higher than both the 10 & 5 year averages.

Red-tailed Hawk: This was the best red-tail year since 1999. 328 banded this year is a significant improvement over last year�s 197. It blows away the l0 year average of 210 and the 5 year average of 181. Judging by the daily sheets, having coverage later in the year for late moving Red-tails really improved the numbers.

Swainson's Hawk: No Swainson's Hawks were caught once again this year.

Rough-legged Hawk: The last Rough-legged Hawk caught in 1999.

FALCONS

American Kestrel: Kestrel numbers continue to decline. This year's rate of 7l is the second lowest ever banded at the Point. It's much better than the 35 caught in 2004 but, as the 10 year average of 175 and 5 year average of 148 shows, the decline continues.

Merlin: Merlin numbers have held pretty steady over the last 3 years. The total of 190 banded this year is still lower than the 5 & l0 year averages.

Peregrine Falcons: The 96 Peregrines banded this year is the second highest ever, beaten only by 1990's incredible 120. Interestingly enough, 56% were captured at the Mag which has in the past proven to be a very good Peregrine station.

EAGLES

Golden Eagles: No Golden Eagles were captured this year.

Bald Eagles: One Bald Eagle was captured at Pond Creek.

OWLS

Barred Owl: Who would have ever thought -capturing Barred Owls in bow traps!!
Congratulations to Jeff Ott and Alexis Smoluk who each caught one at the North station. The first ever caught was by Sam Orr at the North in 2002. We've added them to the annual species list hopefully we're seeing the start of a new trend.

2007 Owl Project

Katy Duffy and Patti Hodgetts conducted the Owl Project in Cape May Point State Park for 27 nights from October 15 until December 14. We employed an audiolure consisting of the spring song of a male Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) broadcast each night that nets were operated.

A total of 195 NSWOs were banded.

Peak capture night was November 8th when 50 NSWOs were captured and banded.

Katy and Patti thank everyone who helped with the owl project, especially Charlie Roberto, Alexis Smoluk, Nova Mackentley, Arthur Nelson, Sam Orr, Peter Deahl, Lauren Deahl, David Deahl and Richard Crossley. Charlie Roberto also provided a location for processing captured owls and helped to set up nets.

Foreign Re-traps and Returns

We had five Cooper�s Hawk returns for the season. Three of them were originally banded by Arthur Nelson, one by Brian Smith and one by Bob Studholme.

Foreign recaptures included two PEFA�s, two COHA�s, one SSHA and one AMKE.

Please see the banding data tables for more details.

Banding Demos

Regularly scheduled banding demos were given at the state park on Saturdays and Sundays, conditions permitting, from mid-September through October.

Website

A website was developed for CMRBP, Inc. during 2007. The site was developed through the gracious volunteer effort of France Dewaghe.

Acknowledgement and Thanks

Mr. David Rutherford continues in his support of our Raptor Banding project. We thank him for allowing us to use the North Station.

Thanks to Emelia Olsen for graciously providing housing free of charge for our intern.

We thank Bill Maher for allowing us to use the Far North.

Thank you to Bobby Hulburner for use of the Pond Creek Station and for allowing us to store the Mag Site blind on your property.

We thank the New Jersey Division of Fish and Game, Bureau of Land Management, Lee Widjeskog and David Golden. Thank you for the use of Hidden Valley, for allowing us to re-open the Mag Site and for allowing us to store our equipment at your facility.

Thank you to Alin Grier for helping with cutting all of the fields and for transporting the Mag Site blind to and from the Mag Site.

Thanks to our intern Nova Mackentley for all of her help.

Thanks to Marlene Miller for all of the work managing and maintaining our banding data.

Thanks to all of the banders.

Thanks also to all of the other individuals that helped assist with the banding operations but are not listed here.

2007 CMRBP Totals

2007 Days of Operation

Cape May Returns

Foreign Recaptures