Stars overhead when I began to open but by sun-up the clouds had moved in covering most of the sky. The wind, that was so strong yesterday, was not a factor today.
You hear some interesting things when you’re walking around in the dark opening nets. This morning it was the ‘yipping’ of coyotes just across the river. It conjured up thoughts of that poor woman in Cape Breton who was recently attacked and killed by some. Before my mind could dwell on musings of what I would do if they attacked me, some Wild Turkeys began gobbling on this side of the river. And my mind immediately jumped to a Wiley Coyote scenario whereby the turkeys were taunting the coyotes who could never catch them…just like the cartoon. Your mind does funny things in the early morning…..
I was on my own this morning. This seemed sort of strange as there are almost always people around to help, especially on the weekends. It was actually kind of peaceful. Except for the whack of birds that were around. For a while there was a bit of a competition between the goldfinches and the juncos to see which one could throw themselves into the nets more than the other. It was close for awhile until the goldfinches brought in reinforcements. In all I handled 71 goldfinches vs 30 juncos.

Banded 84:
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers
8 American Tree Sparrows
2 Fox Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
20 Dark-eyed Juncos
44 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 39:
1 Blue Jay
1 Eastern Tufted Titmouse
4 Black-capped Chickadees
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
1 Western Palm Warbler
1 Northern Cardinal
1 American Tree Sparrow
10 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 House Finch
17 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 35 spp.

Rick