Baltimore Oriole in the blossoms. -B. Fotheringham
If we had banded visitors instead of birds we would have had a pretty good Spring day. We had 51 of the former but only 28 of the latter. It was International Migratory Bird Day and, as usual, we celebrated it with an Open House – trying to raise awareness of birds in general and migratory birds in particular. But it was tough slogging, like trying to get blood from a stone.
Male Eastern Bluebird -B. Fotheringham
And I just can’t figure it out. Given that this is usually the height of the Spring migration and that the conditions were very conducive to a “fall-out” (overcast with showers during the night), I would have predicted that we would have had a big day with lots of birds and lots of variety. But it just wasn’t to be. Matt was able to turn up only 41 species on census; we banded 28; and we encountered only 57 species for the day. I don’t get it. No wonder I’m losing my hair!
It was Christine’s 28th birthday today – she was 9 when the banding program here started (Yikes!)
We did recapture 38 birds so the total of 66 was enough to engage the public (of all ages) and give them all a chance to see interesting birds up close and personal, which I guess it’s all about in the end.
“Backpack” geolocator unit that I will be putting on Snow Buntings in Iqaluit this Summer.
The slower pace (and lots of help) allowed me to spend a couple of hours with Christie Macdonald learning how to fit and put backpack geolocators on birds. I will be travelling to Iqauit in June to put 25 of these units on nesting Snow Buntings there. These units calculate and store a bird’s position daily. So next year, when the units are retrieved, we will have a much better idea of how and where this population of buntings migrates. Exciting stuff!
Banded 28:
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Warbling Vireo
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Yellow Warbler
4 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Western Palm Warbler
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
2 Common Grackles
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
2 Baltimore Orioles
5 American Goldfinches
Retrapped 38:
2 Blue Jays
1 Blue-winged Warbler
4 Yellow Warblers
1 Northern Cardinal
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
6 Chipping Sparrows
2 Field Sparrows
5 Song Sparrows
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
1 Red-winged Blackbird
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds
4 Baltimore Orioles
5 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 57 spp.
Photo Gallery:(mostly provided by Bob Fotheringham)
Turkey Vulture -B. Fotheringham
Yellow-rumped Warbler -B. Fotheringham
Our “greeter”: Faye (with Irene’s cupcakes).
Red-tailed Hawk dropping down to the nest. -B. Fotheringham
Nashville Warbler -B. Fotheringham
Raina on a voyage of discovery. -B. Fotheringham
Underwing, male Rose-breasted Grosbeak -B. Fotheringham
Underwing, female Rose-breasted Grosbeak -B. Fotheringham
Female (top) and male Red-bellied Woodpeckers. -B. Fotheringham
Red-tailed Hawk -B. Fotheringham
Rick