It was a slow start to kick-off our 18th Spring migration monitoring season and there was no joking about the strong WNW wind and the snow squalls that blew in with a vicious bite!  Despite the bright sunshine and blue sky that was hidden by the squalls, it was a cold day!  There was no heat in the banding lab when the power in the lab cut out early, so it was a bit of a cold morning both inside the lab and out.

It was a morning to monitor the ground traps, walk the census route, and enjoy the company of volunteers/visitors who came to help with the banding as well as bringing food to eat! The highlights for new birds for the season that were observed on the census route included the Eastern Phoebe, the Golden-crowned Kinglet, and both yesterday and today flocks of Tree Swallows were feeding along the river.  Two more Sandhill Cranes flew over the lab – I love to hear their haunting wild call!!  The areas around the feeders were busy.  We continue to feed copious amounts of niger seed to the flocks of Common Redpoll’s.

Banded 3:
2 Mourning Dove
1 American Goldfinch

Retrapped 3:
1 Common Redpoll
2 American Goldfinch

ET’s – 30 spp

Nancy