September 1st, 2008

What’s with all this great weather!? Maybe Hurricane Gustav has sucked all the moisture out of the skies of eastern North America…in order to drop it on New Orleans.

The birds didn’t seem to care though. There was lots of activity but most of it was up in the treetops. In front of the Mansion and about 30 m to the left (looking at the river) there is a large Black Cherry tree loaded with fruit. It is being heavily used right now by Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles and a number of others. It would be nice to have the time to just watch that tree…..

It seems to me that there are not as many American Goldfinches around as there have been in other years. I caught one today with a bad case of conjunctivitis – a disease that affects the eyes. This disease was responsible for decimating the House Finch population a number of years ago. Are goldfinches being subjected to it as well?

Banded 20:
1 Eastern Wood Pewee
1 Blue Jay
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Veery
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Red-eyed Vireo
4 Magnolia Warblers
1 American Redstart
1 Common Yellowthroat
3 Wilson’s Warblers
2 Canada Warblers
2 Song Sparrows

Retrapped 4:
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Wood Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
1 American Goldfinch

ET’s: 43 spp.

Rick

One thought on “September 1st, 2008

  1. Hi Rick

    Thanks for giving us your time and sharing your expertise. My kids really enjoyed watching you work and especially being able to release some birds

    Thanks

    Doug & Hilda Heikamp, & Family

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