[Tweeters] FOY Band-tailed Pigeon

[mary hrudkaj]

Back on 2008 two researchers from the USGS working out of UC Davis, CA came to western WA to put satellite transmitters of flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons from 4 areas around Puget Sound to track their migration to California in hopes of identifying over-wintering areas for future protection.  My flock (3 males banded and tagged) were tracked to the NW area of California.  Others went further south to inland areas north of San Francisco.   These birds migrated south pretty much following I5 while the flock from my place went out to the coast then followed the coast down to the mountains if NW CA.  Even they had no idea why some flocks migrated while others didn't.   Perhaps smaller flocks have enough resources in their local areas to support them throughout the winter while larger flocks (mine when it's time to head south again is usually 80 to 90 birds) need larger foraging areas.

It was a joy the following spring after banding/tagging to see one male show up on my deck with its flock.  The tagging program allowed people to follow the birds' migrations and over-wintering via the internet.  Two of the tagged birds went off-line, one during SB migration and the other during the winter in CA.  The satellite transmitters were held on by silk ribbon designed to fall off within about 2 years and they did not inhibit flight or other behavior.  Except possible the females wonder that wondered who this tagged male bird was going around sporting a 6-7 inch antenna out of its back.

Happy birding.

Mary Hrudkaj
Belfair/Tahuya


________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 8:52 PM
To: Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net>
Cc: Tweeters Tweeters Bird Chat <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY Band-tailed Pigeon

It is interesting that some of you report Band-tailed Pigeons as migratory. I have 6 to 12 + all winter and all year round! I have lived in the Twin Lakes area of Federal Way for over 30 years and have always had them. Many years ago I used to have as many as 25 or 30 but they have declined.

Good Birding!

Hans

On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 5:17 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t at comcast.net<mailto:benedict.t at comcast.net>> wrote:
On Feb 26, 2023, at 10:40, mary hrudkaj <mch1096 at hotmail.com<mailto:mch1096 at hotmail.com>> wrote:

Just had a first of the year (season) Band-tailed pigeon in the bird feeding area next to my house.  We had 4 inches of snow overnight and the area is shoveled and stocked with food so he should be able to handle the weather.

The flock that comes back to my place every year overwinter in NW California.  I know they had snow in Humboldt County the other day so I hope this guy wasn't trying to escape that weather only to end up in the snow field that is my yard this morning.

Mary Hrudkaj
Belfair/Tahuya

I meant to report this sooner, but I had a flock (20-25) of Band-Tailed Pigeons fly through about two weeks ago, and then last week I had at least one BTPI in the yard. I was surprised by the size of the flock. We routinely have 6-8 from spring through fall.

Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA

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--
Hans Feddern
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com<mailto:thefedderns at gmail.com>
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