Mist Netting & Bird Banding; Right or Wrong?

[John Chardine]

Indeed they are waterproof Axel. They are "potted" in epoxy. The really small loggers have only a thin layer and are more prone to failure in salt water. I will be using some slightly bigger ones on kittiwakes this summer as part of a large North Atlantic-wide study of where these birds go in the winter (they are declining in several areas). They have a thicker layer of epoxy and will last for years on the bird (attached to the band/ring). I purchased mine from British Antarctic Survey for about $200, which is not cheap for the average individual. I'm putting on 20 and hope to get 10 or more back in 2010. By the way, the electrical download contacts on these devices are made of 24 carat gold and the software in the package records when the contacts are shorted out by salt water. In this way you can tell how much time the seabird spends in the water as well as where it is.

 

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Indeed they are waterproof Axel. They are "potted" in epoxy. The really small loggers have only a thin layer and are more prone to failure in salt water. I will be using some slightly bigger ones on kittiwakes this summer as part of a large North Atlantic-wide study of where these birds go in the winter (they are declining in several areas). They have a thicker layer of epoxy and will last for years on the bird (attached to the band/ring). I purchased mine from British Antarctic Survey for about $200, which is not cheap for the average individual. I'm putting on 20 and hope to get 10 or more back in 2010. By the way, the electrical download contacts on these devices are made of 24 carat gold and the software in the package records when the contacts are shorted out by salt water. In this way you can tell how much time the seabird spends in the water as well as where it is.

Thanks, John! That is more expensive than I thought. I'm sure the data you will get is much stronger than in the past with 'low tech' solutions. Is there a good hypothesis why the number of kittiwakes declined, toxins?

 

[John Chardine]

Not sure why yet but we are looking at wintering distribution from the loggers to see if changes in food abundance or oceanography may be a factor. Kittiwakes can't dive very deep for their food so if their favourite prey moves down the water column because of changes in sea surface temperatures, it's as if their food disappeared.

 

[Matthew Pontiff]

John Chardine summed up my thoughts perfectly. I started to respond to one of the things on his list because it struck a nerve with me since it cannot possibly be true but what would be the point? It wouldn't solve anything..

10.5 birds per tower per year is extremely conservative. Back when you could actually go walk around the towers, one could have days that dozens of dead birds were found under them. And don't forget glass skyscrapers, outdoor cats, vehicles, power lines, pollution, using resources, etc, etc, etc.

My point is isn't fair for researchers to blame photographers and photographers to blame researchers because we all have a negative influence, even if you don't directly see it happening and it's outside of the scope of what you're doing.

Matt

 

[Arthur Morris]

I re-read this with interest today, 2 FEB 2025. Not much has changed. In the intervening years, uncaring, unimaginative, inept managers have ruined two photographic crown jewel refuges, Ding Darling and Bosque del Apache. The former because the manager, a guy named Lou (sp?) Hinds, loathed photographers. Birders and researchers continue to harass bird photographers while disturbing large number of birds, often mercilessly.

I do agree that the human race is doing a great job of destroying the planet.

with love, artie in Homer, AK