2005 Band Totals: Pretty Much A Bust (Except For Hummingbirds)

Except for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the 2005 banding season at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History wasn't very spectacular. To view the annual summary, the banding totals, and photos of a few bird species we captured, please visit the 22-31 December 2005 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" by clicking on the title above.

With the photo essay we also include the final week's banding results and a miscellaneous nature note.

Happy (New Year) Nature Watching!

BILL

15th Annual York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count (2005)

The 15th annual York-Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count was held on Monday, 19 December 2005, and that's the topic for the latest installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." To read about the count, view photos of some birds seen, and examine a table of results, please visit the photo essay for 15-21 December 2005 by clicking on the title above. Along with totals for each species, the table now shows 15-year averages and number of counts on which each species has been seen.

As always we include a list of birds banded around Hilton Pond, as well as miscellaneous nature notes for the period.


Happy (Holiday) Nature Watching!

BILL

Mistletoe: Friend Or Foe?

For years we've been wanting to write about the mistletoe that grows at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, but never had good opportunity to photograph this unusual plant. "This Week at Hilton Pond"--just in time for the holidays--we finally crafted a mistletoe photo essay for the period 8-14 December 2005. It's viewable by clicking on the title above.

As always we include a tally of birds banded, as well as miscellaneous notes about local nature happenings.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

Perdita: The "Lost" Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbirds have been appearing in the eastern U.S. with increasing regularity, and one of them is ESPECIALLY regular. A female rufous banded in 2003 and retrapped in 2004 was caught again this week in Rock Hill, SC--far from the species' "normal" wintering grounds.

This supposedly "lost" hummingbird is the topic of our "This Week at Hilton Pond" essay for 1-7 December 2005, available on-line by clicking on the title above. We include a series of photos showing just how much this bird has changed since we first captured her three years ago.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL