22 June 2018
This morning, the 1,000th banding of a bird at SpruceHaven took place, an auspicious event indeed.
No. 1,000 was a ten-day old baby Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), from nest number 28, one of five healthy young in that nest, and it now bears the band number 2631 97104.
It seemed especially appropriate that Heather, having her first session banding nestlings (under Kevin's careful supervision), was able to get a day off work to permit her to do this. As we all expected she handled it like the true pro she is.
Sandy got up early to witness the event and here is a picture memorializing the occasion.
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| Kevin, Heather, Sandy
We have enjoyed a remarkable period of success at SpruceHaven and it sometimes is hard to believe that we have only been involved in this venture for two and a half years.
Our thanks go out to Dave Westfall, and Jamie and Sandy Hill; without their consent nothing could take place. Kevin Grundy, our master bander continues to inspire us all with his professionalism, dedication and consummate skill, to say nothing of his depth of knowledge about birds and his ability to age and sex species often without referring to the text.
I know that he has been an inspiration and a fine mentor to Heather and Daina. Unfortunately, Daina was unable to be with us today (she is out of town doing field work) but she was with us in spirit and we acknowledge the wonderful contribution she has made to everything we do.
A morning spent with Kevin, Heather and Daina is a delectable experience, the likes of which few people get to enjoy. I am lucky that I get to do it all the time.
Josh Shea has been out to help us several times and we acknowledge his good humour, helpful manner and willingness to pitch in and assist where needed.
Debbie Hernandez is the newest member of our group and comes out to learn whenever she gets a chance.
Ross Dickson has always been willing to help when called on and provided yeoman service filling in for Kevin when he had the nerve to take a vacation during banding season!
This year, for the first time, David Lamble and Merri-Lee Metzger operated the nets on a couple of occasions mid week when others were working.
Before returning No. 2631 97104 we took a couple of final pictures.
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May he/she return to SpruceHaven next spring and have a long and fruitful life thereafter. He/she has already brought much joy to OUR lives.
Here's to the next 1000............
ReplyDeleteHola David, me encantan las golondrinas. Gran trabajo, enhorabuena para todos/as, sois un equipo maravilloso. Besos.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching a milestone. The wee bird is a cutie and hopefully it will grow up and make many visits. You have a wonderful group of people doing some great work.
ReplyDeleteThank you all!
1000! Congrats on your successful job, David!
ReplyDeleteI do hope all these birds return to their birthplace and will do their own nests.
Happy weekend!
Wow that is a lot of banding. I used to help my boss back in Rhodesian days with banding at the local lake, I wonder how many we did, must have been a lot, but as sadly my boss is with us no more I have nobody to ask.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend Diane
Then you can invent whatever outrageous number you wish!
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ReplyDeleteI bet you celebrated that with a coffee and sticky bun?
I thought that Sandy would bring a magnum of Champage, but no such luck. I had to be content with a coffee and one of Miriam’s blueberry bran muffins.
DeleteFabulous ringing David.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations (and thanks) to all.
ReplyDeleteThe 1,000th banding of a bird at SpruceHaven … yes, that is indeed a special and auspicious event indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell done to all
All the best Jan
how wonderfup to be able to work with this tiny little bird. Hope the parent was not too alarmed :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteI hope this works for you, David. It does not seem to be working for me even after I followed all the "rules".Let me know if you get this as an incoming email- dianakos1@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of bird banding over time..
ReplyDeletei think i would enjoy being involved in this work, i must check and see if they have something similar in my area!!
ReplyDeletethat's an amazing number of birds to be banded!!
Cape May probably has an abundance of bird banding stations.
Deletethanks david, i am sure cape may does, but that is a 2 hour ride for me and i can't drive. but thank you!!
DeleteThen you will just have to be devious again and not tell your husband where you are really going!
DeleteMånga krävande arbetstimmar för att märka 1.000 fåglar! Människor kan nästan flytta berg när de känner att de har en viktig uppgift att fylla, jag är imponerad av ett sådant arbete.
ReplyDeleteGlädjande att se att ni säkrar återväxten och för kunskapen vidare till den unga generationen.
Thanks, Gunilla. Heather and Daina are the best!
DeleteCongratulations to the first 1000th, David. Such a job you do.
ReplyDeleteHello, congrats on the 1,000 banding. It is a special event. The baby swallow is adorable.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day and weekend.
Congrats.. The chick is really cute.. Cheers
ReplyDeleteMay not beat Miriam's Rhubarb Cake but less sticky, especially by dunking.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bramblehouse.net/product/mcvities-rich-tea-biscuits/
Ah, digestive cookies. I have had those and they are very good.
DeleteCongratulations on the 1,000 banding. Cute little fellas.
ReplyDeleteHi David - that's some achievement ... 1,000 bandings - a good number to hopefully see once again, sometime, somewhere. You have got a merry bunch of friends and birders sharing so much that brings birding to life - and I certainly enjoy hearing about your exploits and seeing your sightings ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThat's a spectacular achievement for the operation, David. However, I found my rather odd first reaction was - I wonder if anyone has calculated the total weight of bands this represents, followed by - are they plastic or metal?
ReplyDeleteMy love to you both - - - Richard
The bands are metal, Richard, but now you have me thinking about their weight. It is very little indeed. I will see if the scale we use is fine enough to measure it and let you know.
DeleteBased on the measurement we get on our scale .075g, certainly less than 0.1 of a gram. An average Barn Swallow weighs around 18 grams.
DeleteThat is quite a milestone for the 1000th ring with a bird to do :-)
ReplyDeleteI also hope that all these birds will have a long life and will also cause a lot of angina.
You are doing a very good job!
Dear hello, Helma xxx
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteA well done to all concerned on the 1000th banding, I see you still managed to celebrate with a blueberry muffin.
Super post.
All the best, John
If ever I make it back to your place, John, we’ll have to celebrate with a little more than a blueberry muffin. A nip of single malt sounds about right!
DeleteThat's a definite, but I think more than a nip.
DeleteJohn
Well, if you twist my arm.......
DeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteThis work demands perseverance. I don't have to tell you that this work is very valuable in order to understand more about the way the birds live and migrate.
Greetings, Kees
Nice number to reach - I recall a number of summer days ringing Blue, Great and a few Coal Tit chicks from boxes on the nature reserve I used to work on. They were hard but good days. You should try wader ringing if you ever get the chance - huge number of birds!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
It can be tiring, but very satisfying.
DeleteWell done on ringing the 1000th bird. So much information can be gained in this way and you are all doing a superb job for conservation.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. That is so impressive and I admire you loads!
ReplyDeleteGood example of dedicated citizen scientists. I was involved with a similar bat project, but you couldn't do the banding unless you had rabies shots.
ReplyDeleteWonderful work. Bird watching is one of my favorite pastimes and about the only time that I haul out the real camera. Well, that and staring at and capturing the moon. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, this is a great job. Baby is sweet. Thank you for kind words with me. Regards
ReplyDeleteFelicidades David y a seguir sumando!
ReplyDeleteyou are doing a great work. Congrats and all the very best .
ReplyDeleteThat bird is very tiny.
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congratulations to 1000 ringed birds :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching a milestone! So cute little chicks <3!
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