August 28th

Another busy day at Ruthven banding station, with a grand total of twelve birds being handled. It was one of those calm, overcast days on which one might expect a decent number of birds in the nets, but it seems the birds took off for an early labor day weekend. Maybe Rick will get lucky on the weekend, and a few birds will decide to vacation with him at Ruthven.

8 Banded:
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Baltimore Oriole
5 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Eastern Wood Pewee

2 Retrapped:
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Northern Cardinal

All birds handled were hatch year birds.

-Jeff

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August 27th:

If yesterday was “leisurely” then today was the doldrums. Despite the early cloud cover and obvious diurnal migration of Bobolinks, Blackbirds and Grackles, there was very little happening in the vicinity of the nets – even the falling leaves couldn’t find their way into them. Of note though was the first young American Goldfinch of the year – the first of many to come I’m sure.

Banded 13:
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 American Robin
1 Warbling Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Ovenbird
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Chipping Sparrow
2 Song Sparrow
1 American Goldfinch

Retrapped 9:
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Song Sparrows
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 39 spp

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August 26th

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The cool of the early morning gave just a hint of Fall. And there were a few migrating warblers around – a number of Black-throated Green Warblers, one of which we banded, and a bright – and rare – Lawrence’s Warbler. This was only the second one I’ve banded/seen so it was pretty exciting. Other than that, the banding was pretty “leisurely”. One interesting catch was 5 vireos of 3 species in the same net at the same time (net #10) – Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo.

Banded 23:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Blue Jay
1 House Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 American Robins
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Warbling Vireo
3 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Yellow-throated Vireo
1 Lawrence’s Warbler
3 Magnolia Warblers
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Song Sparrow

Retrapped 12:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 House Wren
1 Warbling Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
5 Song Sparrows

ET’s: 39 spp