While we didn’t have a significant influx of new birds we did have an influx of ‘new’ people: Marie-Pier Laplante is visiting for a month (at least) from Bishop’s University and Christine Madliger and Chris Harris have returned from the University of Windsor to do another field season for Christine’s doctorate on Tree Swallows. Marie-Pier expressed an interest in raptors and, lo and behold, we had at least 5 eagles go over today (possibly 7). We had a great view of 4 of them – 2 adults and 2 immatures – soaring overhead at the same time. Were these migrants? Hard to say. And then Christine and Chris, after checking all the nest boxes in the vicinity of the Mansion, reported that there were 6 active Eastern Bluebird nests in this small area alone. In fact, the box by the corner of the parking lot has 3 young birds in it already! Although a couple of the Tree Swallows have started to build nests, most are still waiting.

After yesterday’s drubbing, it was nice to catch a number of birds today: we banded 27 and retrapped 22. And we had pretty good variety – 54 species encountered, including the first Black & White Warbler of the year.

Banded 27:
5 Mourning Doves
1 Tree Swallow
1 Hermit Thrush
2 American Robins
3 Chipping Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
5 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Common Grackle
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
5 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 22:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Tree Swallows
1 Eastern Tutfted Titmouse
12 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Hermit Thrush
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow
3 Song Sparrows
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Red-winged Blackbird
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 54 spp.

Rick