I have received many pictures over the past few days, and I am hoping to get them online soon. I am working on a photo gallery site, and will post the link when it is ready. Hopefully it will be online this week.
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May 26
Much cooler than the previous day with a scattering of clouds that increased throughout the day. A brief and light rain shower moistened the area just after close.
The frantic pace of the peak of spring migration has passed, and now the stragglers and late migrants are trickling through. Alder Flycatchers have made their first appearance of the season.
Our 300th human visitor of the season passed through our gates this morning. Visitors are always welcome during our hours of operation. We start at dawn and continue on through about noon.
Banded: 23
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo 1
Alder Flycatcher 1
Traill’s Flycatcher 1
Tree Swallow 1
Swainson’s Thrush 1
American Robin 3
Cedar Waxwing 1 (I see dar whole flock of them)
Yellow Warbler 3
Chestnut-Sided Warbler 1
Black-Throated Green Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Canada Warbler 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
American Goldfinch 2
Retrapped: 13
American Robin 1
Grey Catbird 1
Blue-Winged Warbler 1 (with an unfamiliar band number)
Yellow Warbler 4
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Our last day of banding for the spring season will be Saturday, June 2nd.
B
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May 25th, 2007
Hot, hazy and humid today with the temperature outside the banding station registering 28C before noon. There was little avian activity around the nets, which was disappointing since there was an enthusiastic crowd on hand to see our humble banding offerings – and they brought cookies and shared! Our dirt pile provided entertainment for those unimpressed by our low capture rate.
The first Tiger Swallowtail and second Monarch of the season were observed on the grounds of the mansion.
Banded: 16
Chestnut-Sided Warbler 1
American Goldfinch 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Song Sparrow 1
Veery 1
Swainson’s Thrush 2
Cedar Waxwing 1
Grey Catbird 2
Baltimore Oriole 2
Retrapped: 9
Yellow Warbler 5
American Goldfinch 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Baltimore Oriole 1
More than 1750 birds have been banded at Ruthven Park this season.
B
Does anyone know when the giant swallowtails will hatch from overwintering in S. Ontario? I have 16 chrysalis of mostly giant and some black swallowtails that have overwintered in screened outdoor former beehives and wonder when I can expect them to emerge. They have been in the chrysalis stage since last Aug. Thanks for any info…
I was visitor number 300. I’m still waiting for my prize π I think it should be the barn swallow that disrupted the graveyard course, wouldn’t you agree Brian? I still want a waxwing, but I’ll take the swallow π
THE BUTTERFLIES OF CANADA (Layberry, Hall, and Lafontaine 1998) states that the Giant Swallowtail has two generations in Ontario, with flight seasons being from mid-May into July and again from late July into early September. From those flight dates I think it can be extrapolated that hatches should occur anywhere from the beginning of May through June and from early July through August.
Are you saying that the opportunity to spend the morning with not one but two of Ruthven Park’s charming banders was not reward enough?!? That all of the pithy bits of wisdom and enlightenment passed on were not of and in themselves a prize greater than any imaginable treasure? I suppose I could try and scrounge up some Canadian Tire coupons or something. How about a vintage Haldimand County Fire Department Calendar? Circa 2006? Possibly some patina, well, it could be mold too.
Oh, it was. I was just promised a prize and figured that should be a bird, it would only be fitting π But I’ll take Canadian Tire coupons too. I just figured the barn swallow was an Unwelcome Guest and could use a new home. That’s all I’m saying π