King’s Court….a Court of Kinglets. Joanne Fleet suggested this phrase for a grouping of Kinglets (maybe she didn’t make it up; maybe that’s what it’s called…). Either way we had one this morning. This string of really horrible weather has put a stopper on migration and birds are backing up, waiting for a break so they can move on. Rick’s Rill, the creek that meanders through the property below nets 10, 2 and 6, has been backed up by the swollen Grand River and is now a small lake covering much of the lower part of the Carolinian Trail. The pond is also sheltered from the wind and provides a safe haven for emerging insects….and for the birds that feed on them. In this case, Golden-crowned Kinglets. The area below Net 6 was alive with these little birds, which seemed to be feeding on midges.

When I initially arrived there was a strong wind and it looked like rain so I just opened ground traps. But later in the morning the wind dropped somewhat, and the skies lightened (a little – maybe it was wishful thinking) so I opened a few of the more sheltered nets. This was a good move on my part as we netted 53 birds in just over 2 hours to add to the 35 we took out of the traps. Included in these were the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the year, our first banding of a Myrtle Warbler, and only the second banding of a White-throated Sparrow.

Banded 57:
1 Mourning Dove
31 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 American Robin
1 Myrtle Warbler
5 American Tree Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
9 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
3 House Finches
1 American Goldfinch

Retrapped 31:
1 Mourning Dove
3 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Black-cappeded Chickadee
4 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 American Robin
6 American Tree Sparrows
6 Song Sparrows
5 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 House Finch
1 Common Redpoll
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 43 spp.

Rick