If it wasn’t for the Tennessee Warbler we caught and banded this morning, I would have said it was like the end of November: very few birds on the move. And if it wasn’t for goldfinches we wouldn’t have banded enough birds to speak of. Even then…..
I was wondering about the Tennessee Warbler and how it would sustain itself on its long flight to the Wintering ground in Mexico and Central America, especially the northern part of this journey, in the absence of many insects. But this bird can shift its diet to include berries and fruit. Dogwood berries would be a good size for it and I have seen other warbler species (eg. Myrtle Warblers) and even Eastern Wood Pewees taking them. As well, small red barberry fruits are plentiful and being taken by Cedar Waxwings. Being able to shift diet would be advantageous to late-migrating insectivores.
Peter Thoem sent me this picture, taken today, of a solo female Snow Bunting found in the Hamilton area. These birds begin to arrive at the end of October and tend to follow the egdes of large rivers and lakes. Many of the Snwo Buntings we see in Winter in Southern Ontario have come from Greenland and have followed the Labrador coast down to the St. Lawrence. They then proceed along it to the Great Lakes. So keep your eyes open and start thinking about helping Nancy catch them this Winter. Last year we banded over 2500 of them!! You can read more about Snow Buntings in the area on Peter’s excellent blog: www.mybirdoftheday.ca
Banded 30:
1 Northern Saw-whet Owl (caught last night – Nancy will be owling this Saturday and Sunday nights)
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Brown Creepers
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Tennessee Warbler
5 American Tree Sparrows
1 Song Sparrow
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 House Finch
13 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 36 spp.
Rick