A Dark-eyed Junco was re-captured for banding recently at Carpenter Nature Center near Hastings. The bird was banded previously in March of 2012, determined then to be more than two years old. It has since made three round trips from wintering in Hastings to nesting to the north, most likely Arctic habitat in Canada or Alaska. That's thousands of miles of travel, with loyal return to the same banding nets. For its species, size, and mileage, that Junco is an old bird.
Photo: Dark-eyed Juncos in dispute about food, ages unknown.
