We started banding on Sunday and have been going at it daily since (and will continue right up to the 1st) but not hard-core. We’re a little “nonchalant” about opening times, how many nets we open, etc. Think of it as “pre-season games”. Getting used to the grind while working out the wrinkles. One of the very nicest things about Fall banding is that the days get shorter! Which means, in practical terms, that you can get up later and later each day. The Spring is such a pain: by the end of May you’re rolling out of bed at 4:30 to get the nets opened. Now I’m getting up just before 6:00 – a much more civilized time.

We were relatively busy yesterday; today, not so much. Of course the wind was blowing pretty hard out of the SSW today, bringing in some rain followed by cooler temperatures – thank goodness; after being out on the north Atlantic for 3 weeks and then on Grand Manan Island for another 2 where it was nice and cool, I’m finding this heat and humidity a little tough to handle…..

The highlight so far was an Eastern Screech Owl that showed up quite unexpectedly in Net 8! It provided a great “banding tick” for Caleb, who’s working on his banding resume.

Today was a short day due to the wind (we only opened a few nets – ones that were somewhat sheltered); to the rain (we closed early); and to a general sloth (we’re really not up to game speed…..). Although we caught banded only 6 birds, 2 of them were migrant warblers with fat loads – birds that are on their way south.

August 21st; Banded 30:
1 Eastern Screech Owl
1 Traill’s Flycatcher
1 Blue Jay
2 Tufted Titmice
1 Black-capped Chickadee
7 House Wrens
1 Gray Catbird
3 Cedar Waxwings
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
4 Song Sparrows
2 Bobolinks
1 Common Grackle
2 Baltimore Orioles

ET’s: 51 spp.

August 22nd; Banded 6:
1 Gray Catbird
1 Cedar Waxwing
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 American Redstart
2 Song Sparrows

ET’s: 40 spp

Photos:

Rick