What a surprise! An adult female Baltimore Oriole at Fern Hill Burlington. -J. Chard
You can feel the end is nigh….but then you get those anomalies that keep your hopes up. At Fern Hill’s Burlington campus on Friday (28th), Janice saw a Baltimore Oriole on census and shortly after was able to take it out of one of the nets. As you can see from its bill it was feasting on grapes. Most orioles had left by the end of August so this must have been a real treat. And today at Ruthven Faye found a male Nashville Warbler in Net 8. Another surprise – a late long-distance migrant. You wonder what their stories are; why they’re so late.
Male Nashville Warbler – should be in Central America by now.
The weather continues to jump around. The early morning of the 28th it was -3 with a heavy frost keeping the nets closed until the sun was well above the horizon. This morning it was a muggy 13 at opening and an almost uncomfortable 19 by the early afternoon. If I was a migrant, I’d be confused…..should I go or should I stay?
October 28th; Ruthven – Banded 13:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
4 White-throated Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 House finches
2 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 32 spp.
October 28th; Fern Hill Burlington – Banded 19:
Today we banded 19 birds of 5 species. It was a cold start to the morning, but the Young Ornithologists set traps and learned how to use the new binoculars that were purchased for the students to use. Once it warmed up, nets were opened and we were kept pretty busy! The grade 5’s, Jk’s and preschool classes were able to come to the field station with Katherine and take part in the banding process.
Wild Birds Unlimited gave us a great deal on binos – now the students have to learn how to use them (under Janice’s tutelage). -K. Paveley
Banded 19:
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Baltimore Oriole 1
Dark-eyed Junco 10
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
ET’s: 19 spp.
Janice
Melissa teaching Skylar how to scribe. -K. Paveley
This recaptured Downy Woodpecker was originally banded in 2013. -K. Paveley
Students expanding the “wild area” by planting dogwoods. -K. Paveley
October 29th; Ruthven- Banded 33:
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 American Robins
1 Nashville Warbler
1 American Tree Sparrow
4 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Purple Finch
4 House Finches
16 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 36 spp.
Caleb made his first solo jaunt this morning – to Ruthven. In keeping with his interest in birds, he has named his vehicle the “chickmobile”.
Jaden with her first banded bird – a junco.
Rick