During a lull we got a small hit of Golden-crowned Kinglets in #10. -J. Fleet
Although there was frost on the net poles on the morning of the 8th, it soon warmed up and Monday and Tuesday actually felt like Spring. The birds seemed to think so too as there was a definite movement of short-distance migrants through the site. We had 3 “new” species for the year on Monday (Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow, and Northern Flicker) and 5 on Tuesday (American Wigeon, Purple Martin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Field Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow) and total species counts of 40 and 43 respectively.
The ephemeral pond below Net 8, which was nearly dried up, has now flooded over the River Trail.
Today was a different story: cold NE winds reducing the temperature from 6 degrees at dawn to 4 or 5 by the afternoon; heavy rain through the night; and then more rain, heavy at times with thunderstorms, during the day. The rain filled the ephemeral pond at the base of Net 8 (it was looking like it was about to dry up) and has swollen the river. Birds were largely hunkered down, getting out of the nasty weather – this was reflected in our diminished species count: only 29.
Heavy rains have resulted in flooding of the trails.
We had two small “windows of opportunity” during which we ran some traps and opened a couple of nets (which we had to close quickly). During the brief time we were open we caught 48 birds.
April 8:
Banded 62:
1 Mourning Dove
3 Blue Jays
1 Black-capped Chickadee
15 Golden-crowned Kinglets
5 American Tree Sparrows
1 Fox Sparrow
7 Song Sparrows
19 Dark-eyed Juncos
10 American Goldfinches
Retrapped 22:
3 Black-capped Chickadees
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 Eastern Bluebird
4 American Tree Sparrows
6 Song Sparrows
1 Dark-eyed Junco
1 Common Redpoll
4 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 40 spp.
April 9:
Banded 51:
5 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 American Robins
1 Northern Cardinal
4 American Tree Sparrows
9 Song Sparrows
1 Swamp Sparrow
16 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
1 Common Redpoll
10 American Goldfinches
Retrapped 41:4 Black-capped Chickadees
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
7 American Tree Sparrows
7 Song Sparrows (including one banded as AHY in the Fall of 2007)
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
4 Common Redpolls
1 House Finch
10 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 43 spp.
Joanne learning how to do the “paperwork” at the end of the day.
April 10:
Banded 32:
1 Mourning Dove
14 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 American Robin
2 American Tree Sparrows
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
8 Brown-headed Cowbirds
2 American Goldfinches
Banded in March of 2007 as a SY bird, this Downy Woodpecker is entering its 7th year!
Retrapped 16:
4 Downy Woodpeckers (including one banded as SY in March 2007)
2 Black-capped Chickadees
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
2 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 American Goldfinches
Rick