Capture Success Rates of the Western Yellow-breasted Chat in the South Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, from 2005 through 2007

Since 2001 Environment Canada has color-banded the endangered population of the Yellow-breasted Chat (lcteria virens auricollis) in the south Okanagan valley, British Columbia, as part of a study of habitat selection and reproduction. During 2005 to 2007, we kept detailed records of chats banded in the breeding territories in the south Okanagan valley and determined capture success rates between 19.4 and 52.9 chats per 100 nethours for the three years. These high capture rates can most likely be attributed to consistency in banding personnel, knowledge of study sites, territories, behavior of the species and, in some instances, location of the nest. We had mixed results with active mist netting. During 2005 and 2007, no chats were caught with active mist netting and males did not react to the male chat playback call. However, during 2006, 175 chats per 100 nethours were captured with active mist netting. Males had a higher capture rate before a nest was located, while females were more often caught after a nest was located and while chicks were in the nest.