How Are the Birds Doing?

Wrentit: stable

Wrentits remain relatively common at Palomarin, despite long-term habitat change and climate change.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Song Sparrow: declining

Song Sparrows were once one of the most common species at Palomarin, but their numbers have declined locally, thought to be a result of the long-term habitat change.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow: declining

Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrows have declined dramatically as the local vegetation has shifted from open scrub and grassland to dense coastal scrub and Douglas fir forest.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Spotted Towhee: stable

Spotted Towhee populations remain relatively stable at Palomarin.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

California Scrub-Jay: stable

California Scrub-Jays are infrequently caught in our mist-nets, in part because they are larger than most of the species we catch and are more easily able to get themselves out! Capture rates are low but steady.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Wilson's Warbler: mixed

Wilson's Warbler numbers have declined slightly in our forested mist-netting area, even though the number of nesting territories has increased in other parts of our study area.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Swainson's Thrush: mixed

Swainson's Thrush numbers have remained steady in our forested mist-netting area, even though the number of nesting territories has increased in other parts of our study area.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Fox Sparrow: stable

Fox Sparrows are relatively steady, except for an unusual spike in their numbers in 2013, possibly the result of an extremely productive nesting season in Alaska.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Golden-crowned Sparrow: declining

Golden-crowned Sparrows have been slowly declining, but with a bump in their numbers in 2013 similar to Fox Sparrow, possibly the result of an extremely productive nesting season in Alaska.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.

Hermit Thrush: declining

Hermit Thrushes have declined slightly over the years.

Annual capture rates at the Palomarin Field Station, 1979-2018.