A NEW SPECIES FOR RUTHVEN: TRUMPETER SWAN. -P. Thoem
In the last 4 days we’ve banded an astounding…..49 birds: mostly local birds that are moving around or the remnants of the migration, the laggards. We’ve had 4 times more visitors (207) than new birds during this time! With the paucity of birds I sometimes felt I was living the parable about feeding the masses with just a few fishes and loaves.
But there’s always a bright side to every cloud (so my grandmother used to tell me) and here’s a couple of them: Peter Thoem, while doing the census today, found the first Trumpeter Swan ever seen at Ruthven (in my lifetime, anyway). It was swimming down the river and would give its characteristic call every 100 meters or so.
Martin and Fred with a Baltimore Oriole.
Another bright light is that Martin Wernaart finally found his way to Ruthven. Martin is one of the pre-eminent banders in the country so it was an honour to have him here. But the real silver lining is that he brought his son Fred with him. Even at the age of 11 Fred is an accomplished “bird person” with a wealth of knowledge and experience. I had a group of grade 4’s today and Fred took over the class, explaining to them all about cowbirds and brood parasitism – in language they could readily understand. It was amazing to watch – the kids were stunned that “one of them” knew all this stuff. There wasn’t a peep out of them, just rapt attention.
A great addition to the “junior” banding team – Fred Wernaart.
Jada and Fred with a Yellow Warbler.
May 26th; Banded 18:
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Traill’s Flycatcher
3 Eastern Phoebes
1 House Wren
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Yellow Warbler
2 Blackpoll Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Indigo Bunting
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
2 Orchard Orioles
ASY male (left); female (middle); and SY male Orchard Orioles.
Species Count: 63 spp.
The pointed (back of the eye) eye-ring of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
May 27th; Banded 10:
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 American Robin
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Song Sparrow
3 American Goldfinch
Species Count: 62 spp. 100+ years of birding experience sitting at the picnic table: Peter Thoem (left) and Martin Wernaart.
May 28th; Banded 8:
2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers
1 Traill’s Flycatcher
1 American Robin
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Yellow Warbler
1 Northern Waterthrush
Another (very late) Northern Waterthrush.
Species Count: 67 spp.
May 29th; Banded 13:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Gray Catbird
3 Yellow Warblers
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Song Sparrow
1 Baltimore Oriole
5 American Goldfinches
Species Count: 65 spp.
A late Wilson’s Warbler.
Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the hand. We’ve been catching a lot of them lately.
Common in the countryside but not in the banding area: Savannah Sparrow. -P. Thoem
Rick