October 16th, 2007 – A PLAGUE ON ALL CATS!

Now, I’m sure some of you are cat fanciers…and that’s OK…as long as you keep them indoors. This morning a cat killed half a dozen birds in the triple chain (#4) net, including an Eastern Bluebird. As well as the birds, it left sizeable holes in each of the 3 nets (replacement value ~$90.00 each). So we have a live-trap out and will transport it to another part of the country.

It was, strangely, a slow day at Ruthven – strange in that the conditions were right for a big day: overcast skies and easterly winds. These conditions usually result in a large drop….but not today. Banded only 43. One was the first American Tree Sparrow of the season – back to spend the winter in balmy southern Ontario.

Banded 43:
1 Eastern Phoebe
7 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
5 American Robins
4 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 American Tree Sparrow (1st for the season)
1 Fox Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
3 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
7 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Purple Finch
1 House Finch
8 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 18:
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Black-capped Chickadees
2 White-breasted Nuthatches
3 Hermit Thrushes
1 Song Sparrow
5 Eastern White-crowned Sparrows
3 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 43 spp.

Rick

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