The return of the prodigal son – this male cowbird was colour banded at Western a couple of years ago and found its way back to Ruthven within 24 hours. And here it is back again after a Winter away.
Yesterday was a really nice day – overcast but…nice: mild, light winds. But not a lot of bird movement. We knew that bad weather was soon to follow so we put a lot of energy into laying down some fresh wood ships on some of the mushy net lane trails. It was a good time to do it as Elaine Serena’s Lark group was out and these women are always keen to help out and even work. We got a lot done.
Lyn with a junco. (She’s also great at spreading wood chips!) -D. Green
I can hear you asking why we didn’t get a lot of chipping done on the weekend when we had scads of young Baggers about. It brings to mind this old anecdote from my “working with kids” days: a farmer picked up 2 teens, a nephew and his friend, that I was working with, to get some help on his farm. When he brought them back at the end of the day I asked him how it went. “Let me put it this way”, he said. “When it comes to work, if you’ve got one boy you’ve got half a man; if you’ve got two boys you’ve got nothin’.” And that pretty well sums up the Baggers chipping efforts…..
Monday was pretty slow going – we banded only 19. Curiously we didn’t encounter a single Field Sparrow even though the day before we found at least half a dozen and even banded one. They must have moved on Sunday night. We got heavy rain last night and it was continuing to rain when I arrived at Ruthven around 6:30 this morning. When it stopped I put up a few nets – cognisant of the dark clouds swirling above. I also opened a number of traps. We got 2 hours of banding in before the rain started again but managed to handle 44 birds – 28 of them new.
April 3rd; Banded 19:
1 Northern Cardinal
2 American Tree Sparrows
7 Song Sparrows
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
5 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 39 spp.
April 4th; Banded 28:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe.
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper
2 American Tree Sparrows
2 Song Sparrows
1 Dark-eyed Junco
7 Brown-headed Cowbirds
7 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 36 spp.
Photo Gallery:
Colourful Spring Crocuses – the first flowers to emerge in Carol’s hummingbird garden. -D. Green
Teresa releasing a Song Sparrow. -D. Green
Doris the goldfinch whisperer. -D. Green
When you lay a bird on its back it tends to just lie there – it’s a whole new posture for them and in their confusion they don’t seem to know what to do. -D. Green
Caleb caught up in a battle of wills with this Tufted Titmouse. -D. Green
Rick