Despite a 22% increase in net-hours, the number of new birds banded dropped 26% from 1977. The decrease was noted in each month and was spread among all of the commonest species, including summer residents, winter residents, permanent residents, and transients. The greatest declines were in Scarlet Tanager (84%), Blue Jay (78%), Red-eyed Vireo (67%), Gray Catbird (62%), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (60%}, Mrytle Warbler (56%), Gray-cheeked Thrush (55%), Wood Thrush (44%0, Cardinal (38%), and White-throated Sparrow (30%).
Of these species, only the Scarlet Tanager and Myrtle Warbler had been banded in unusually large numbers in 1977. Partly offsetting the decreases were a few increases: Veery (from 4 to 22 birds), Black-and-white Warbler (3 to 12), and Ovenbird (15 to 34).
The four species that had been singled out for mention last year as being victims of the severe winter weather in 1976-77 - the Winter and Carolina Wrens and the Golden- and Ruby-crowned Kinglets - fared no better in 1978. The first three were banded in almost identical nnmbers to 1977, and the Ruby-crown dropped again as indicated in the first paragraph.
