With the concert by the Arrogant Worms just half a day away, kicking off Ruthven’s first annual bird festival, it was neat to band and encounter the large number and variety of birds we did – banded 68 birds of 26 species and encountered 53 species throughout the day. The banding lab was an interesting place to be as newcomer Holly Anderson, from Kitchener, joined us along with long-time bander (and friend) Loretta Moussea and shorter-time bander Nancy Furber. And if that wasn’t enough we were joined by interested spectators Victoria Hurst and Tom Kitchin who are professional wildlife photographers. The lab was a ‘dynamic space’ for much of the morning.

The catching of birds started off slowly; the first round producing only a few birds but things picked up with the rising sun which seemed to energize the insects in the trees and the birds that were after them. The trees in front of the Mansion were especially busy with warblers, vireos, and Cedar Waxwings in the later morning.

Well everything is set (or as set as it will be) for the weekend. Let’s have some fun!

Banded 68:
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
3 Eastern Wood Pewees
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Blue Jay
1 House Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
2 Gray-cheeked Thrushes
3 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Wood Thrush
1 American Robin
5 Gray Catbirds
1 Warbling Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
5 Magnolia Warblers
14 Blackpoll Warblers
1 Black & White Warbler
1 Ovenbird
2 Common Yellowthroats
1 Wilson’s Warbler
2 Scarlet Tanagers
3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Song Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
12 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 21:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Black-capped Chickadee
3 White-breasted nuthatches
1 Red-eyed Vireo
4 Magnolia Warblers
3 Blackpoll Warblers
2 Common Yellowthroats
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2 Song Sparrows
1 Dark-eyed Junco
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 53 spp.

Rick