May 3rd – May Showers Bring…. – Haldimand Bird Observatory

Brilliant male Baltimore Oriole. Working it’s way through the treetops, singing, looking for females (which are yet to arrive). -DOL

Yesterday we had sunshine and heat, conditions that had me regretting that I had forgot to bring a hammock. It was windy though and that, together with last night’s unsettled conditions, made for poor banding. But….it did make for good planting! Cathy Blott of the Haldimand Stewardship Council brought 12 flowering shrubs and we planted them in strategic areas to enhance the edge habitat, a long-term project that I’m hoping will eventually transform the prairie meadow/wetland interface into a long migrant reserve. It will take time, but we’re well on the way.
Planted today:
Nannyberry
Wild Black Currant
Red Elderberry
Arrowwood Viburnum
Chokecherry
Wild Crabapple
Interestingly, we discovered that taking down a lot of the Buckthorn has opened up the ground to a variety of plants – young Chokecherry was found in thick stands in areas previously obscured by the Buckthorn.

Cathy putting a young tree into the soil. -DOL

Jeremy, a future city worker, provided Cathy with a lot of advice and support and, I think, even planted one or two.
-DOL

Today conditions reverted to what we were experiencing through much of April: a cold, biting wind and intermittent showers. But, on the bright side, the precipitation couldn’t have come at a better time for yesterday’s plantings. It should certainly help them on their way. So…May showers will bring new growth…and also mosquitoes, so get ready! We did have some nice birds today until rain forced us to close up shop.
May 2nd; Banded 10:
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Baltimore Oriole
3 Red-winged Blackbirds
2 Common Grackles
2 Myrtle Warblers
ET’s: 34 spp.

Male (note the black chin) Black & White Warbler. -KDC

May 3rd; Banded 22:
1 Mourning Dove
1 American Robin
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrows
5 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Common Grackle
1 Nashville Warbler