Migration Monitoring
April 22nd, 2007

The gates have opened and birds are on the wing. We had the largest variety of species around so far this year – 49. These included the following firsts: a Pine Warbler, a Brown Thrasher (we banded it), and, for me the best bird, a pair of Sandhill Cranes.

These latter birds, giving their distinctive raucous calls (which always remind me of the Moose River in the Hudson Bay Lowlands where I first encountered them years ago) circled and then dropped into the ephemeral pond at the foot of net lanes #8 & 9. There, more than likely, to feast on the multitude of frogs.

Five Common Loons went over this morning. One at 0550 (all times Standard or “bird” time) heading N; and then 4 in quick succession between 0650 and 0653 – two heading NNW and 2 going W.

The Pine Warbler was flitting about in the trees high above the “Thompson” Cemetery while the Brown Thrasher was caught in net #8.

You can usually tell when the White-throated Sparrow have arrived because you hear their distinctive song and/or call notes. I didn’t hear any but I did catch 5 in the first net round.

Banded 23:

3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thursh
1 American Robin
1 Brown Thrasher
1 European Starling
1 Field Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
5 White-throated Sparrows
8 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 10:

1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker (originally banded as a HY bird in July 2003)
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
5 American Goldfinches

Estimated Totals: 49 species

Rick

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