Abstract
Banding activities were carried out on the lower reaches of the Mogami River, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture (Japan Sea side of northern Honshu) from July to November of 1989, 90, 91 and 93. A total of 384 birds, representing 7 families and 24 species, were captured in mist nets and banded with Japan Environment Agency rings. The majority of the banded birds were buntings of the genus Emberizidae. Black-faced Buntings (E. spodecephala) and Reed Buntings (E. schoenicls) were especially numerous. Black-faced Buntings were recovered during the autumn migration period, from mid October to early November. Reed Buntings were observed breeding, but were neither captured nor observed from early September to early October. This may suggest that the breeding Reed Buntings left after the breeding season was over, and were replaced by different birds during the autumn migration period. Reed Buntings banded at Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture (southwestern tip of Honshu Island) and Kahokugata, Ishikawa Prefecture (Japan Sea side of central Honshu) were recaptured at Sakata. These records suggest a migration course along the Japan Sea side of Honshu.
