Buds are opening and the surrounding shrubbery (and some trees) are assuming a green furze – a great source of food for emerging insects, food for the long-distance migrants that depend on their being there. We have been busy for the past 2 days, banding on the one hand, and getting ready for the many visitors we will get this week seeking out the migrants that are here or about to be here. This included clearing fallen trees and branches from the trails; rescuing sections of boardwalk that had floated away in the floods; preparing a field to attract Bobolinks in August. And, oh yes, banding….did I mention that. Things are starting to warm up as migrants continue to build in the area. Interestingly, many of the birds we’re catching are “older” birds; i.e., not just in their 2nd year. The youngsters will follow in a week or two.
Banded 41:
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Veery
1 Hermit Thrush
3 Gray Catbirds
1 Blue-winged Warbler
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Yellow Warbler
1 Myrtle Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
2 Field Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
1 Baltimore Oriole
20 American Goldfinches
1 House Sparrow (now in a new home in Kitchener)
ET’s: 64 spp.
Photo Gallery:
Rick