I found Bernd Heinrich's Winter World to be very helpful. While it deals to a great extent with small animals it also contains an interesting section on survival of Golden-crowned Kinglets in the Maine Woods. Though it has been some time since I read this book, I remember being especially impressed with him instructing his biology students to violently shake some conifers where GCKIs (oops) appeared to be feeding and being surprised at what they found. If you are still a bit squeamish about the science of banding birds you might want to go easy into Heinrich's approach to scientific investigation. But for those who may not have years of experience to fall back on it may help ones understanding in this Wonderful World of Birding.
BTW thanks John for posing some thoughtful questions and Allen, your reply was helpful for me as well.
The Book is: Winter World by Bernd Heinrich (C)2003, HarperCollins Publishers Inc. New York, NY10022
Bill Rinehart
Bloomdale Oh
Southern Wood Co

Amateur Bird -Watcher (65 years)
Semi-retired banding volunteer-Hawk Watcher
Summer(MAPS) Oaks Openings
Spring & Fall Navarre Marsh Songbird Migration (8 years)
Spring Hawk Watch volunteer on Lake Erie Marshes (12 Years)

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