It’s a really good thing to learn to identify birds by their songs. And in doing that, it’s really good to be able to distinguish quickly the ones you know from the ones you don’t. And so it was this morning – I heard something I’d never heard before and, so, went looking. Sitting in one of the small maples, 20 m away from the front door of the banding lab, was the first Bohemian Waxwing for Ruthven Park! The bird then flew over to the feeders by net #2 and then….?? Also around was an American Robin and 15 Tundra Swans – the latter in the river by Slink Island.

Opened the feeder nets and set out some traps to sample what’s around.

Banded 21:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Northern Cardinal
4 American Tree Sparrows
15 Common Redpolls

Retrapped 14:
2 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Northern Cardinal
8 American Tree Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos

Rick

Some pictures by Rick Ludkin and Marilynn Havelka (click thumbnail for a larger image):

Kids from Ruthven’s March Break Program looking at, and making, tracks in the snow.

Jennifer, an instructor from the Hamilton Conservation Authority.

-8 degrees and misty at 8:30AM.

Ruthven CAO, Marilynn Havelka, and her niece Kelsey.

Kelsey with a male Common Redpoll

Rick and Kelsey posing with a Redpoll.

Trap array at net #2.

Toppled Norway Spruce in front of the mansion – the huge tree was virtually hollow.

The Grand River is wide open despite the weather.

Mixed flock of Canada Geese and 15 Tundra Swans next to Slink Island