[va-richmond-general] Dutch Gap Prothonotary Project Update

Through today, 455 Prothonotary Warbler nestlings have been banded at Dutch Gap 
this season.  24 new adults have been banded, and 94 returned adult breeders 
have been captured at their nest boxes as well.  Many of the returned adults 
were once nestlings in the Project's boxes.  3 new breeders have been captured 
that were originally banded as nestlings in prior years at the Deep Bottom 
project site (4-mile Creek) which, together with the Presquile NWR project 
site, is now run by VCU's Dept. of Environmental Studies ( following the 
retirement of VCU's Charlie and Leann Blem.)  In addition, some dispersing 
juveniles are now being captured that were banded as nestlings earlier in the 
season (part of the 455) as well as some unbanded juveniles that were raised in 
natural cavities.  The Dutch Gap project has 131 nest boxes in all.  103 (78%) 
of those had one or more Prothonotary Warbler clutches, and 9 had incomplete 
Prothonotary Warbler nests in them.  Thus 112 of the 131 boxes (85%) had 
Prothonotary clutches or nest activity.  11 boxes were used exclusively for 
Tree Swallow clutches, and 4 were used exclusively for Carolina Chickadee 
clutches. Only 2 boxes (both new) were completely unused.  At present, there 
are still 12 unbanded young in the boxes and 72 eggs.  So we're not done yet!  
What a season, and what a boon Dutch Gap has become for this beautiful 
neotropical migrant.

Bob Reilly

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