October 26th
A dreary day at times, with the threatened rain materializing just as the nets were being closed. After a weeks absence it was interesting to note how many of the leaves have fallen and the change in the number and types of birds around. A bit depressing too, as all signs point to the coming end of this session of fall migration monitoring. It is hard to believe just how fast the season….er, flies?

The feeders were busy, but there was little activity elsewhere.

Banded: 59
American Goldfinch 24
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1
Golden-Crowned Kinglet 6
Brown Creeper 4
Slate-Coloured Junco 5
American Tree Sparrow 4
Black-Capped Chickadee 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Purple Finch 5
House Finch 2
Song Sparrow 2
Hermit Thrush 1
White-Throated Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1

Retrapped: 15
American Goldfinch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1
Red-Breasted Nuthatch 1
American Tree Sparrow 1
Black-Capped Chickadee 4
Slate-Coloured Junco 1
Hermit Thrush 1
Eastern White-Crowned Sparrow 2
White-Throated Sparrow 1
Mourning Dove 1

B

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October 25th
A moderate overnight wind from the North was just the ticket for migrating birds. The fall migration continues at a great pace.

We met another milestone at Ruthven today… We banded out 3000th bird for the fall!!!

Banded 53
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Blue Jay
4 Black-capped Chickadees
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 Northern Cardinals
4 American Tree Sparrows
1 Field Sparrow
3 Song Sparrows
7 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Purple Finches
2 House Finches
20 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 9
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 Eastern White-crowned Sparrow
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
4 American Goldfinches

Loretta

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October 24th
There was no banding yesterday due to the steady rain.

Today was a lovely fall day, much more seasonal temperatures after the cold front passed yesterday. The change in weather brought a change in birds… and lots of them!! Lots of variety with 18 species of birds banded.

Banded 95:
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch (rare for Ruthven)
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Hermit Thrushes
1 American Robin
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 Western Palm warbler
2 Northern Cardinals
6 Song Sparrows
1 Lincoln’s Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
7 White-throated Sparrows
7 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
22 Dark-eyed Junco’s
1 Rusty Blackbird (more often seen than banded)
2 Purple Finches
31 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 16
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
3 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
3 American Goldfinches

Loretta

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October 23rd

Rained out!