What a great holiday this is: a day off so families can just get together and do stuff without having to spend a lot of money on presents. Ruthven was really busy today with bird banding and a very interesting (and interactive) presentation on snakes. This format attracted people in droves. Some dropped into the banding lab by coincidence and out of simple curiousity while others were old friends and knew what they “were getting into”.
On the day we handled 71 birds: 40 new banded ones and 31 retraps. We also “handled” 78 visitors in some capacity. And, of course, the weather couldn’t have been nicer (unless you’re a Snow Bunting aficionado) – fairly warm (+6) and sunny. Many people asked me If I had seen any early migrants yet….. Just Red-winged Blackbirds I’m afraid (although Carol had a Common Grackle in her backyard in Caledonia). At this rate Killdeer should be here any time.
Banded 40:
2 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
3 House Finches
31 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 18 spp.
Photo Gallery:
Sue Merritt’s Bird-in-the-hand Series:
Rick