Hilton Pond 12-22-08 (2008 Banding Totals)
Now that 2008 has ended, it's time for our annual Hilton Pond bird
banding summary--complete with a tally of all species and individuals
banded, photos of some of them, and an analysis of what was different
about our just-finished "below average" year. For the first time we
also include info about our 2008 "Yard List," which includes birds
observed but not banded at the Center.
To view our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 22-31 December
2008, please visit
<<http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek081222.html>>
There's also a photo of our first tick-infested bird of the winter
and a comment about the scarcity of White-throated Sparrows.
NOTE: "This Week at Hilton Pond" is a FREE education outreach
initiative of Hilton Pond Center. Please consider supporting it and
our other non-profit programs with your tax-deductible contribution.
You can send a check by U.S. mail or contribute on-line via PayPal
or the "Network for Good" as outlined within each weekly installment.
With the arrival of 2009, we begin our tenth year of "This Week at
Hilton Pond" photo essays that describe natural happenings in the
Carolina Piedmont and beyond. We hope these musings--of which there
are now 423--have provided information and enjoyment for our Web
site visitors.
Our first installment of the year deals with something we've been
hearing a lot about lately--an irruption of Pine Siskins that have
been mostly absent from the Carolinas for a decade or more. To view
the 1-7 January 2009 edition, please visit
<<http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek090101.html>>
As always we include a tally of birds banded or recaptured during the
period--including a mug shot of a bright yellow species one might not
expect to find in a trap baited with sunflower seeds.
Happy (New Year) Nature Watching!
BILL
(Note that the Hilton Pond Web site has a Search Engine
accessible from most pages. Please check it first if
you have questions.)
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"This Week at Hilton Pond" is written & photographed by:
BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road
York, South Carolina 29745 USA
803-684-5852