2024 report

La Verne Banding Station, 2024 Report

In 2024, a record number of birds was caught: 1355 captures, of 57 species (previous highs: 1099 captures in 2023, 54 species in 2020). Calliope Hummingbird was a new species for the site. Below are the results for the past six years:

There were sizeable decreases for Phainopepla (an often erratic species), Scaly-breasted Munia, White-crowned Sparrow (the new location for the bird feeder doesn’t attract many Munias or Sparrows), Hermit Thrush, and California and Spotted Towhees (no known reason).

All-time highs were recorded for many species:

Allen’s Hummingbird

Hutton’s Vireo

Oak Titmouse

Bushtit

Wrentit

California Thrasher

Swainson’s Thrush

Lesser Goldfinch (boosted by a flock of 50 in July)

Hooded Oriole

Orange-crowned Warbler

Western Tanager

Black-headed Grosbeak

We had many visitors and helpers: Aaron, Alexander, Avery, Cadeo, Chris, Cira, Clara, Crystal, Curt, Destiny, Diego, Elena, Garrett, Hannah, Jake, Jamie, Janel, Jasmin, Jenna, Jennifer, Jolee, Karina, Michelle, Molly, and Nicole.

About the site

The La Verne Bird-Banding Station is in the Marshall Canyon Conservation Corridor in the northern part of La Verne, CA. About 100 net sites are scattered over a 1.1 kilometer length, generally between 34.130 north, -117.770 west, and 34.137 north, ‑117.762 west (see last page for satellite view). The elevation of Marshall Creek is 380 meters above sea level at the southwest end of the banding area, about 410 at the northeast end. Most net sites are in the drier hills, 15 to 25 meters above the creek. All mist nets are 12 meters long, 2 meters high. Most have 30 mm mesh; occasionally a 36 mm mesh or a monofilament net is used.

Most net sites are in old-growth chaparral or shrubland. Prominent species are California scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), golden currant (Ribes aureum), white sage (Salvia apiana), black sage (S. mellifera), and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).

Banding at this site began in 2017, but the first two years were exploratory and not comparable with subsequent years. Starting in 2019, eight net sites were used for a MAPS station in summer; the MAPS results provide the most consistent effort and the best way to compare one year with another. For details on the MAPS program and its results, consult the report posted at sites.google.com/view/birdbanding/summer2024. Banding effort varied during other seasons and for other net sites. The primary goal at this station is to catch birds over a wide geographic area, which requires frequent moves. That and other factors make it impossible to keep effort exactly the same year to year.

Michael Morrison

Satellite view of banding area
A gray curving line near the west edge of the forested area marks the public trail that runs along Marshall Creek. Net sites in use are shown with yellow lines. Green lines show sites used in previous years but are now abandoned, usually because of low capture rates. The large white rectangle in the lower left is a city water storage facility. A dirt road and firebreak run through part of the study area; a gravel road is in the northern part but is more difficult to see. Both roads are closed to public vehicles but are open to hikers, bikers and horses.