April 1st – Flabbergastation!!

Australian King-Parrot - rare in Ontario at this time of year.

Australian King-Parrot – rare in Ontario at this time of year.


[One of the three following paragraphs is NOT true – an April Fool’s “gag” if you will. Try and guess which one it is.]

1/ I was flabbergasted, utterly flabbergasted when, upon making the bend from the River Trail up toward the cemetery, I spotted an Australian King-Parrot sitting about 5 meters up in one of the overhanging trees. As you can see from the picture, it had found the only patch of green deciduous foliage in the whole area – a stand of the rare subspecies of Garlic Mustard: Alliaria petiolata arborealis. My first thought was that it was an escapee from an aviary but captive birds tend to modify their call so that they sound more “North American”. This bird had a distinct down-under dialect suggesting it was a free-ranging bird – albeit a long way from home. The bird had been feeding on some nearby frozen grapes, remnants of last year’s meagre crop. They must have been fermented as the bird wavered unsteadily like an Aussie after a late-night Foster’s binge. After several minutes it decided it had had enough of my scrutiny and flew off down the river.

2/ I was flabbergasted, utterly flabbergasted, when, upon opening the door of the banding lab to welcome Carol for the start of the new Migration Monitoring season, I noticed that she was NOT carrying any freshly-made baked goods. Since the beginning of her involvement a number of years ago she has always started the season off with her delicious muffins and/or cookies. But today she was empty-handed and proffered only a lame excuse: “I thought so and so was going to be here and decided not to bother”. Not to bother?! A sad commentary on her fellow banders. Alas, it was to be a long hungry morning.

3/ I was flabbergasted, utterly flabbergasted, when, while checking out the river on census, I spotted a Common Murre winging its way north up the river. I couldn’t believe it – two wayward birds in one day. The murre flew by at a distance of only 75 meters and gave textbook views. I have seen a great number of them out at sea in the North Atlantic but never expected to see one this far inland and going by Ruthven Park.

Now, knowing Carol the way you do, I’m sure almost all of you chose #2. It just isn’t like Carol to leave her fellow banders in the lurch and hungry – it’s just not in her nature to do that. But if you did choose #2, you would be wrong.

Carol and Dave with the first banded bird of the 2015 Spring Migration Monitoring season - a Dark-eyed Junco.

Carol and Dave with the first banded bird of the 2015 Spring Migration Monitoring season – a Dark-eyed Junco.


We got off to a pretty good start: handled 39 birds (19 new bands; 20 retraps), got a good census done, and put up a bunch of nets (only 8, 9, and 10 are left to go and, of course 2’B’, Ben’s net, but he will have to put that up himself – we’re not a charity…..).
Today's "crew" - Dave, Carol and Marg. We handled 39 birds and put up 7 nets....and did a census.

Today’s “crew” – Dave, Carol and Marg. We handled 39 birds and put up 7 nets….and did a census.


Banded 19:
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 European Starling
2 Song Sparrows
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
12 American Goldfinches
Female Northern Cardinal with a big chip out of its bill - maybe a fight with a picture window?

Female Northern Cardinal with a big chip out of its bill – maybe a fight with a picture window?


Species Count: 37 spp.
Rick

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