Zuma Canyon Bird Banding

=====================================================================

I have been maintaining a bird banding station in Zuma Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains since the spring of 1995. Our banding cycle is approximately every two or three weeks, with some adjustments in the schedule to accommodate our other commitments. The objectives of this station is not only to learn about the bird species in the Santa Monica Mountains but also to train our students in the techniques of bird banding. Thus, bird watching experience is helpful but not necessary. Even though most of our present "help" consists of our present and former SMC students, almost everyone is welcome to participate. We do have some limit in the number of participants on any give day, but have not had to enforce this policy thus far. There is an minimum age limit (not stated) as children often do not have the manual dexterity and patience to remove a bird seemingly hopelessly tangled in a net. Physical fitness is helpful, as there is often quite a bit of walking to the nets and back to the parking lot where we do the actual banding.

We have 13-17 permanent net lanes that we use and maintain. As of 2008, we have changed our banding protocol.  We will no longer band on Friday afternoons.  Banding will be on Saturday only from sunrise for six hours. Since sunrise changes with the seasons, the exact starting times vary. One can get the sunrise/sunset times for your area by going to the Naval Oceanography Portal.   There are a variety of weather portals.  Weather predictions have become fairly accurate over the years.  The only caveat I have is that it can be pouring rain at "home" but dry in Zuma Canyon.  In general, I have gotten away from phones & voicemail, and use the internet to communicate banding information.  I check my email regularly (sakai_walter@smc.edu; DanauSakai@aol.com). It is also important to email me and check in as we sometimes reserve certain dates for "class only," and schedules may change.

We have only one general rule, which is that you arrive at the beginning of the day's activities, when we open nets, and stay until the end of the day's activities, after we close nets and have packed up.

• The work is being conducted in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area under the direction of National Park Service.  Special thanks also goes to Bonnie Clarfield of the NPS for her enthusiasm and support of our work.
• This work has been supported by a grant from the Southwest Parks and Monument Association to Norm Hogg and Walt Sakai, by the donation of bird banding equipment by AVINET, Inc., and a grant from the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society.

=========================================================

Tentative Fall, Winter and beyond Schedule

Jan 21
Feb 04
Feb 18
Mar 03
Mar 17
Mar 31

There will be intermittent trips up into the Angeles Crest in the evenings to try to catch and band small owls (Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Flammulated Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl).  If interested, contact me.  Well, the Station Fire has wiped out this study area.  We have been going up into the Angeles National Forest to band owls via Sunland and Tujunga Canyon and working the upper reaches where the fire did not touch.
    Well (again), it seems portions of the Angeles Crest are open again.  The small owl monitoring is slowly getting back in gear.  We'll go up at least once later in October.

Walter H. Sakai, Master Bander Permit No. 22030

Jim Serikawa, Subpermitee   - contact at serikawa_jim@smc.edu   

2010 Zuma Canyon Bird Banding Report
Table 2 of report - summary of 2010 banding
Table 3 of report - summary of 1995-2010 banding

Back to Bird Banding Page                            

HOME     

Last Updated on 10 January 2012 by Walter H. Sakai