April 28th-30th- Whew! Trying To Catch Up

It’s been a very hectic three days with a lot packed into them.

Friday, April 28th

Ruthven:
Not a bad day, though quieter than expected. Several visitors and a few helpers.

A handful of Mourning Dove. -L. Oldfield

Birders from both ends of the age spectrum. -L. Oldfield

Banded 19:
3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 American Robin
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
1 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 American Goldfinches

ETs: 45 spp. (Including new for the year at Ruthven: Lincoln Sparrow, Blue-winged Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Chimney Swift)
Mike

Fern Hill Oakville:

The go-to guy at Fern Hill Oakville – Chris Hincks, sporting the new look in banding attire. -K. Paveley

Unlike Ruthven, it was a much busier day here than expected. And what great timing! It was Grandparents’ Day at the school and we caught birds throughout the morning and the afternoon – so we had plenty for every demonstration. We ended up handling 54 birds, 33 of which were new bandings.

A wonderful young scribe, Sabriya, with a Common Grackle – a real handful. -K. Paveley

Banded 33:
1 Tree Swallow
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 American Robins
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Song Sparrow

1 of 2 White-crowned Sparrows banded on Friday at Oakville. -K. Paveley

2 White-crowned Sparrows
14 Red-winged Blackbirds

A bright male Red-winged Blackbird – one of 14 banded. -K. Paveley

4 Common Grackles
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 House Finch
5 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 31 spp.(including a Northern Rough-winged Swallow)
Rick

Saturday, April 29th

The “Baggers” – a fine group of young people.

There were actually 3 parts to the day: regular banding, a visit by the Young Women in Science group (which essentially was an extension of the daily banding), and, in the afternoon HBO’s (Haldimand Bird Observatory) AGM.
Young Women in Science:

Women scientists finishing a net round. -I. Turjansky

Tessa, one of our Baggers, teaches other young women about handling and measuring birds. -I. Turjansky

Katherine teaching a young scientist how to hold an American Goldfinch. -I. Turjansky

Releasing a goldfinch. -I. Turjansky

Budding scientist. -D. Green

Two more scientists/ornithologists. -D. Green

We took full advantage of the goldfinches – a good bird to introduce new banders to. -D. Green

Banded 22:
1 House Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 American Robin

One of my favourites: Yellow Warbler. -E. Gosnell

1 Yellow Warbler
1 Field Sparrow
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow. -M. Gibson

2 Swamp Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows
1 White-crowned Sparrow
11 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 51 spp. (including the first Warbling Vireo and Indigo Bunting of the year).

Fred Smith captures the first Indigo Bunting near his feeders. (We saw our first the next day.) -F. Smith

AGM:
AGM’s can be pretty tedious affairs but we were fortunate to have two very interesting speakers: Stu Mackenzie from Bird Studies Canada who talked about the new Motus tracking system (which is showing some amazing results) and Bill Read from the Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society, who talked about pesticides and nest box trails. Here’s some pictures from the afternoon:

Stu Mackenzie from Bird Studies Canada talking about the Motus system for tracking migratory birds (and bats and insects). -J. Fleet

Mike introducing Bill Read, president of the Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society. -J. Fleet

Christine, Elliot and Marg getting set for the AGM. -J. Fleet

Amy, Katherine, and Nancy discussing which baked goods are best for the banding lab. -J. Fleet

The powers behind the throne: Roswitha (treasurer) and Marg (secretary). -J. Fleet

Getting ready for the AGM: Chris, Natalie, and Christine. Baby Elliot (a future Bagger) is fast asleep and under wraps. -E. Campanelli

Sunday, April 30th:
Cold NE wind and rain drumming on the banding lab roof – a recipe to kick back and relax. And let the dust settle after the last two hectic days. But, no…..it wan’t to be. Ethan arrived, so we set out a couple of traps and then did a census. And then the rain stopped so we opened just a few nets – but they were enough!! By the time we closed up around 1:00 we handled 97 birds!! Sixty-eight (70%)of these were American Goldfinches (36 banded, 32 retrapped)!!We finished out April having banded 939 birds – a new record for April!

Banded 53:
1 Mourning Dove
3 Blue Jays
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Red-winged Blackbird
5 Brown-headed Cowbirds
36 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 41 spp.
Photo Gallery: