Today’s banding personnel were treated to an amazing sky first thing this morning. A sky that was issuing a warning: bad weather is imminent. But….we had a mission and were willing to challenge Mother Nature to achieve it. We needed to band another 5 birds before the end of the Fall season to reach 2000 and our end date is tomorrow….So we took our chances. And despite the gusting, building wind we did it!
Between net rounds and with an eye to the sky, we went down to the river for a look. And it’s a good thing we did as Annika discovered a Northern Shrike in pursuit of a cardinal! That’s only the 2nd or 3rd one we’ve seen here at the Farm. We were hoping we might get it in the net (as it had moved over to the pond) but no luck.
Weather forecasters, in my book, aren’t the most reliable prognosticators of what’s coming but today they were spot on: they called for rain to start at 10:00 and shortly after, it did. However, we had seen it coming, or at least signs that it would, in the formations of the clouds:
We were actually feeling a little smug that we had closed up and were handling the last of our catches when the rain started drumming on the roof.
Of course to get to the point of being able to reach the 2000 plateau it took some work by Amy and Ishira over the past two days to get there. As well, it’s nice to have a competent census done! (Thanks Ishira!)
Banding results over these 3 days:
November 5th; Banded 27:
1 Eastern Bluebird
22 American Goldfinches
3 American Tree Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
November 6th; Banded 22:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Blue Jays
3 Purple Finches
8 American Goldfinches
1 Field Sparrow
1 American Tree Sparrow
5 Song Sparrows
1 Swamp Sparrow
November 7th; Banded 9:
4 American Goldfinches
1 American Tree Sparrow (#2000)
2 White-throated Sparrows
2 Song Sparrows
Rick