Despite the unsettled weather over the weekend, the banding was disappointing….until I considered what’s going on. We’re between waves: the first wave – the movement of long-distance migrants is drawing to a close. So most of those exciting warblers, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks are well south of us, winging their way to Central and South America. At the same time, the mass of short-distance migrants have not shown up yet in any numbers. In fact, the two White-throated Sparrows that we banded today were the first for the season – harbingers of the hordes to come. This horde of sparrows, kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, juncos is still north of us…..but will soon be here. We just have to be patient.

This being the weekend, the BAGend Banders were out in force, running their nets on the river flats. Yesterday was less than spectacular for them: only two birds banded (to our 17). But the 21 they got today exceeded the “old folks” total by 3 – we managed only 18. And they were running only 7 nets to our 19!!

There was considerable discussion all morning about what we should call these young folks when they are out on the “job”. As they band out of BAGend (the Buttery) and they put captured birds in bags to bring them back to the banding lab, I was going with “Baggers”. But it was pointed out to me by one of them that we all start off doing a net round together for a couple of nets but then they fork off to their nets while the rest of us continue around to our nets. So, I thought maybe “Little Forkers” might be appropriate. It certainly has a nice ring. But someone noted that a visitor hearing the term and not knowing the background might misconstrue what was in fact being said. (I mean…..how could anyone think like that!?) So…..”Baggers” it is. Although every now and again I might allude to the Little Forkers…..by mistake…..especially when their total is higher.

September 19th; Banded 17:
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Veery
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
1 Philadelphia Vireo
4 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Field Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows

ET’s: 41 spp.

BAGend; Banded 2:
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat

September 20th; Banded 18:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Blue Jay
4 Gray Catbirds
2 Red-eyed Vireos
1 Tennessee Warbler
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Song Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrows
1 American Goldfinch (only the 2nd one banded this Fall!!)

ET’s: 51 spp.

BAGend; Banded 21:
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
6 Gray Catbirds
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Blackpoll Warbler
1 Ovenbird
1 Wilson’s Warbler
1 Indigo Bunting
9 Song Sparrows

Photo Gallery:

Rick