THE ATTACK OF THE FRENZIED GOLDFINCHES!! May Day in many parts of the world but there didn’t appear to be any celebrations at Ruthven….at least early in the morning. The first couple of net rounds – which are usually the best – were unremarkable and only a few birds were banded. But as the morning progressed, there was a buildup of American Goldfinches in the vicinity of the feeders. At one point I counted 17 within 10 m. of the Net # 2 feeder grouping. And then the celebrations began: they began to throw themselves into the net, laughing all the while, and encouraging their friends to do the same. Fifty-three banded and 15 retrapped goldfinches later I had to shut down and go to work. If I had been able to stay open I am confident that I would have kept catching birds throughout the afternoon.

Fifteen Common Loons flew over all within a space of about 50 minutes; all were headed North or Northwest.

There were 3 new species evident today: Spotted Sandpiper, Warbling Vireo and a beautiful ASY-M Orchard Oriole in the willow just outside the banding lab.

Banded 77:
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
1 American Robin
2 Nashville Warblers
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (ASY-M)
7 Chipping Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
7 White-throated Sparrows
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 House Finch
53 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 24:
2 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Nashville Warbler
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
15 American Goldfinches

Estimated Totals: 44 species

Rick