A great recapture: a male Blue-winged Warbler that was originally banded AS AN ADULT in August 2010 making it at least 9 years old. It likely has spent its Winters in Central America, so has flown tens of thousands of kilometers. -KMP
We have just 10 days of Spring banding left….where has the time gone?! And think of the enormous biomass that has passed through the area during this time, much of it high overhead while we slept. We will continue to get latecomers for awhile yet but even these will begin to dwindle before too long. In the meantime locally breeding birds are vying for territories and mates. But once the territories have been sorted out and nesting has started even these birds will be less noticeable (although present). Baltimore Orioles are a case in point. We have banded over 40 of them and they seem to be everywhere but once the eggs are laid you will be hard put to find them in any numbers.
Baltimore Orioles have been around in good numbers for the past week and a half – drawn to the grape jelly feeder just behind the lab. -KMP
Nancy had an interesting retrap: a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird that she banded at her home in 2017 was recaptured two days ago…at her home.
Nancy teaching onlookers about banding hummingbirds.. -C. Rintoul
A just-banded female “hummer” ready for release. -C. Rintoul
Banded 36:
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
7 Gray Catbirds
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Yellow Warbler
3 Magnolia Warblers
1 Blackpoll Warbler
3 American Redstarts
1 Ovenbird
5 Common Yellowthroats
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Indigo Buntings
1 Chipping Sparrow
2 Song Sparrows
1 Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Orioles (like this ASY male) can also be seen regularly at the Oriole feeders. -KMP
1 Orchard Oriole
2 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 64 spp.
Photos:
Female Downy Woodpecker. -KMP
Aidan “fishing” – waiting for hummingbirds to go to the feeders at which time he’ll lower a mesh trap in order to catch them. This takes great patience…. -KMP
Tadpoles in the pond in the river flats (below net 8) must be getting nervous as it is shrinking quickly. -KMP
Rick