It was cold last night – frost on the ground and on some of the nets when I arrived this morning. I thought this was supposed to be May fo goodness sake!? It was pretty quiet for the first two hours or so, until the sun began to warm things up. It was especially quiet around the parking lot – where the martin boxes are. No sign of the Purple Martins….for several hours. The cold had driven them off or, worse, killed them. But….then….there it was: the distinctive chatter they make around the colony. Both pairs had returned and seemed determined to take up residence. Whew!
The woods are still very quiet. Almost eerie since it is well into May. Seems almost like “Silent Spring” (Rachel Carson) or “The Silence of the Songbirds” (Bridgit Stutchbury). There should be a lot of birds still to come.
New for the year: Veery
Had a delightful crew of visitors lead by Elaine Serena and Shirley Klement. And they all brought goodies. What more could you ask for?

Banded 24:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Veery
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
3 Yellow Warblers
2 Black and White Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Northern Cardinal
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
2 Northern Orioles
1 Orchard Oriole
2 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 15:
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 House Wren
1 Blue-winged Warbler
2 Yellow Warblers
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Chipping Sparrow
3 Song Sparrows
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
1 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 62 spp.

Rick