April 20th – Grade 7’s

The highlight of today was a visit by an enthusiastic class of Grade 7’s from Caledonia. Loretta and I were glad to have enough birds to give them a detailed banding demonstration. Even though we only handled 20 birds, half of them were caught during the group’s hour-long visit to the lab. This was the first school visit for the spring banding season – we have 13 scheduled in total! Thanks to a grant from TD’s Friends of the Environment Fund, the park has been able to cover the bussing costs for these groups who will also have the chance to go on a nature hike, see the park’s snake hibernaculum, and learn about invasive species and species at risk.

Loretta also spotted two new birds for the season on the census – Barn Swallow and House Wren.

Banded 9:
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Tree Swallow
4 Brown-headed Cowbirds
2 Red-winged Blackbirds

Retrapped 11:
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Dark-eyed Junco
4 Song Sparrows
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Northern Cardinal
1 American Robin
1 Blue Jay
1 Red-winged Blackbird

ET’s: 33 spp.

Christine

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