Although migrants continued to move through the area in good numbers from October 1^st – 10^th, activity was somewhat low-key for the start of October compared to previous years. In all, 82 species were recorded in the official count area and 300 birds of twenty-seven species were banded in 350 net-hours, for an average capture-rate of 0.86 birds/net-hour. By comparison, in 2006, more than 450 birds were captured from the 7^th – 10^th in just eighty-one net-hours (5.6 birds/net-hour), and in 2005, 716 birds were captured during the same ten-day period in 298 net-hours (2.4 birds/net-hour). The daily species count during this summary period ranged from a high of 59 on October 1^st to a low of 35 on the 4^th. Just three fall ‘firsts’ were tallied compared to twelve during the previous summary (September 21^st – 30^th).

The month started off on an active note, with 59 species recorded on October 1^st and 73 individuals of twenty species banded in forty-five net-hours (1.62 birds/net-hour). A nice variety of birds were on hand including eleven warbler species, three flycatcher and vireo spp., and all four catharus thrushes (Veery, Swainson’s, Gray-cheeked, and Hermit), among others. It was rainy on the 2^nd and there wasn’t much of note on the bird front apart from the first migrant Swamp Sparrows of the Fall and a slight increase in numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows. The 3^rd was reasonably active, with 43 species documented including seven warbler spp., 57 Blue Jays, and smaller numbers of Red and White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, both kinglet spp., and Wood Thrush.

Strong southwest on October 4^th made for a fairly quiet morning but the 5^th was busy, especially for raptors, with a nice variety of birds noted in small numbers on the morning census including 18 Turkey Vultures, 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 Ospreys, 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Peregrine Falcons and 1 Merlin and American Kestrel. Forty-eight species were tallied the next day including some more raptor activity, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a good push of Golden-crowned Kinglets (101 DT), ones-and-twos of five warblers species, including a somewhat late Northern Waterthrush, and 35 White-throated Sparrows.

The wind finally shifted to the north on October 7^th and the tempo picked up considerably, with good numbers of 46 species reported during the official count period including 252 Blue Jays, 69 and 29 Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, respectively, 18 Hermit Thrushes, and up to 400 blackbird spp., including a few Rusty Blackbirds. The 8^th was busy as well, with 54 species documented and 63 birds of fourteen species captured in 45 net-hours (1.4 birds/net-hour). Highlights included four woodpeckers spp., 10 Tree Swallows, 22 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 15 Winter Wrens, 136 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 7 warbler spp., and 5 sparrow spp. The final two days of the summary period saw a drop off in activity although there were still some migrants around including similar numbers of kinglets, Blue Jays, a station-high 33 Red-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pine Warbler, and a late American Redstart.

PIBO’s next summary will be posted on October 22^nd.