The cool NE wind and cloud through the night likely restricted migrant movement or, at least, reduced the flight distance during the night. Always a good thing for us as birds “drop in” rather than fly on by/over. Whatever the dynamics we had a pretty interesting day, banding 69 birds and encountering 61 species – 6 of these were new for the year: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Wood Thrush, Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black and White Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat.
In the last couple of days Ruthven has been transformed by the influx of migrants. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and orioles (both Baltimore and Orchard) and a variety of warblers/sparrows are calling, starting at the crack of dawn and the grosbeaks and orioles are flying all over the site, frantically trying to establish territories before the females arrive.
Banded 60:
1 House Wren
11 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (all but one were females; the males have moved through)
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Wood Thrush
2 Gray Catbirds
10 Yellow Warblers
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
2 Black & White Warblers
4 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Field Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
13 White-throated Sparrows
1 Red-winged Blackbird
3 Baltimore Orioles
1 Orchard Oriole
1 Purple Finch
13 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 61 spp.
Rick
Fern Hill School – Burlington:
The Fern Hillians had a very busy day…..as you can see.
Banded: 20
Blue Jay 1
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Eastern White-crowned Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
American Goldfinch 7
ET: 43 species
Photo Gallery:
-J. Chard
Janice