August 27th – Ready, Set,…………..!!

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Kyleigh, from Misissauga, bands her first bird at Ruthven - Ovenbird. (It's not her first banded bird though - she's a member of the Bird Club at Fern Hill's Oakville campus).
Kyleigh, from Misissauga, bands her first bird at Ruthven – Ovenbird. (It’s not her first banded bird though – she’s a member of the Bird Club at Fern Hill’s Oakville campus).

I know the start of the coming migration monitoring season is nigh when I seen Irene Fotheringham walking up to the banding lab carrying a big bag of…..I bet you’re thinking “baked goods”, but no…..new bird bags – 70 to be exact!! There’s nothing like the sight and smell of fresh bird bags before being despoiled by grape-eating thrushes, robins, and Cedar Waxwings.
Female Black-throated blue Warbler on her way to the Caribbean Island for the Winter.
Female Black-throated blue Warbler on her way to the Caribbean Island for the Winter.

Speaking of grapes…..we seem to have a LOT of them this year. I hope this translates into a big waxwing catch as it has in other years. (I hope I didn’t just jinx us. You know, like talking about a goalie carrying a shutout into the 3rd period or pitcher a no-hitter into the 9th. Yikes!!)
Another Blue-winged Warbler! -J. Chandran
Another Blue-winged Warbler! -J. Chandran

I ran nets again this morning just to get in the practice and to fine-tune everything. It also gave Samuel a chance to set up the first Bagger nets (a double chain on the Flats) and to train newcomers Kyleigh and her mom, Jenn, in the finer practices of banding and scribing – both are naturals and will be a welcome addition to the team over time. And we got some nice birds but at a leisurely pace so that I could maximize the teaching.
Mom and daughter learning the ropes: Kyleigh banding and Mom scribing. Both are naturals at their chosen craft.
Mom and daughter learning the ropes: Kyleigh banding and Mom scribing. Both are naturals at their chosen craft.

So we’re all set. Nancy will open on September 1st and we’ll run right through to November 7th. Please feel free to drop in and help out….or just take it all in. We look forward to the season, the birds, and….YOU.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker. -J. Chandran
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker. -J. Chandran

Banded 23:
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Least Flycatcher
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 House Wren
1 Gray Catbird
7 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Blue-winged Warbler
2 Magnolia Warblers
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Ovenbird
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Scarlet Tanager
1 Indigo Bunting
1 Song Sparrow
Kyleigh and a young Red-eyed Vireo see eye-to-eye. -J. Chandran
Kyleigh and a young Red-eyed Vireo see eye-to-eye. -J. Chandran

Juvenile Indigo Bunting - you can just see a touch of blue on the shoulder. -J. Chandran
Juvenile Indigo Bunting – you can just see a touch of blue on the shoulder. -J. Chandran

ET’s: 55 spp.

Rick

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