May 10th & 11th – A Hectic Two Days – Haldimand Bird Observatory

Magnolia, Orange-crowned, and Black-throated Blue Warblers.

It’s been a hectic two days. Hectic in two ways: a) we had two school groups Tuesday morning followed immediately by the running of an ecology workshop for Fern Hill Grade 4’s, which entailed a sleepover in the Coach House and a full day of activities today; and b) a plethora of long-distance migrants to band observe, culminating in 82 species encountered today! Whew!

Western Palm Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

We set up the banding lab with 3 banding “stations” so that we could instruct students in small groups about handling birds and banding. This worked extremely well. Plus we opened and used the “Bagger Nets”, using their bands so as not to compromise our migration monitoring data. This allowed us to maximize our catch for the day. But the most important thing is that we had a great lineup of insturctors to help us deliver the program – making it both fun and interesting for everyone….including the instructors.

Jeff MacLeod with a group of Fern Hillians who will learn about bird song and sonograms.

No surprise: the Fox Den Trail continues to be the place to observe warblers.

Caelyn, Jeff's lovely daughter, releasing a Chestnut-sided Warbler. -J. Fleet — Caelyn, Jeff’s lovely daughter, releasing a Chestnut-sided Warbler. -J. Fleet

Tuesday, Banded 73:
1 Blue Jay
1 House Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Veery
1 Hermit Thrush
7 Gray Catbirds
2 Yellow-throated Vireos

3 Yellow-throated Vireos caught at the same time in the same net - one was a retrap from last year. — 3 Yellow-throated Vireos caught at the same time in the same net – one was a retrap from last year.

5 Nashville Warblers
9 Yellow Warblers
7 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Western Palm Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
9 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Male and female grosbeaks at the feeder.

1 Northern Cardinal
2 Song Sparrows
4 White-throated Sparrows
2 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
1 Common Grackle
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Baltimore Orioles
10 American Goldfinches

1st Indigo Bunting of the year - a returning male.. — 1st Indigo Bunting of the year – a returning male..

ET’s: 68 spp. (including the 1st Indigo Bunting of the year)

Wednesday; Banded 82:
1 Great Crested Flycatcher

1st Great Crested Flycatcher of the year.

1 Tree Swallow
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Veery
1 Wood Thrush
4 American Robins
6 Gray Catbirds
3 Blue-winged Warblers
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Tennessee Warbler

1 Orange-crowned Warbler
6 Yellow Warblers
3 Chestnut-sided Warblers
3 Magnolia Warblers
1 Black-throated blue Warbler
3 Yellow-rumped Warblers
5 Western Palm Warblers

1 American Redstart
3 Ovenbirds
5 Common Yellowthroats
1 Indigo Bunting
12 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Field Sparrow
2 Lincoln’s Sparrows
5 White-throated Sparrows
1 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Common Grackles
3 Baltimore Orioles
1 House Finch
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 82 spp. (including 1st Swainson’s Thrush,Tennessee Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager)

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