Migration Monitoring – May 11th, 2007

A day more akin with summer than with spring migration. The high temperature, which peaked outside the banding lab at 28C by mid-afternoon, quickly burned off the thick fog that blanketed the area at day break.

The proceedings were enlivened by the arrival of approximately 45 kindergarten students from Hagersville Elementary. They were treated to the sight of several Orchard Orioles in a variety of plumages and a mixture of resident nesting and migrant species. Sadly however, they missed the two new sightings for the season, Mourning Warbler and Tennessee Warbler.

Peter further displayed his affinity for Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers by finding a nest at the front of the mansion that other mortals would likely have missed. Rumour has it that Peter has volunteered to donate a personal specimen for the CMMN Isotope project in which Ruthven is participating. This should assist in learning where he was fledged and by whom.

Red Admirals made an appearance in number at Ruthven today. Rather than being representatives of the Baltic Fleet these were actually butterflies, and consequently had fewer medals.

Banded 43:
American Goldfinch 7
Tennessee Warbler 1
Blue-Winged Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 9
Yellow-Rumped Warbler 1
Mourning Warbler 1
Warbling Vireo 2
House Wren 1
Ovenbird 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Orchard Oriole 3
White-Throated Sparrow 1
Grey Catbird 7
Baltimore Oriole 2
Red-Winged Blackbird 1
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 3

Retrapped: 11
Indigo Bunting 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Orchard Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 2
Yellow Warbler 4
Common Yellowthroat 1
Downy Woodpecker 1

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