White-throated Sparrow: as soon as the temperatures rise and the winds assume a southerly component, these lovely birds will come pouring through. -NRF
Winter has been holding on….but it won’t be here much longer. The cold has had an impact on our banding though. The average number of birds banded in the first 10 days of 2015, ’16, and ’17 was 26, 25.7, 25.8 – pretty consistent. But this Spring we’ve managed only 12 birds per day in the first 10-day period. Slow going for sure.
Here’s Nancy on yesterday’s action:
April 9th
Still waiting for seasonal temperatures but it wasn’t a bad day, with light winds and a bit of sun to help make it feel a little warmer. By mid day, the Tree Swallows were feeding a long ways up, catching insects that we were starting to see in small clouds. A good crew of people helping today. Thanks everyone!
Nancy was cleaning out the Tree Swallow boxes and disturbed this Deer Mouse – a common user of these boxes. -NRF
Banded 22:
1 Mourning Dove
3 American Robin
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
3 Slate-colored Junco
1 Common Grackle
1 House Finch
11 American Goldfinch
ET’s: 33 Species
Nancy
Today was much the same – if it wasn’t for Song Sparrows and Goldfinches it would have been a bust.
Nancy teaching a class of JK/SK’s about the wonder of birds. -N. Campbell
Banded 17:
1 American Robin
6 Song Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
7 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 33 spp.
Rick