We just seem to keep chugging along, slow but steady. But while our banding numbers are low, the variety of species we encounter on the site fluctuates wildly. For example, on the 28th we saw a total of 47 species; but today that total climbed to 69(!) including 7 species of raptors and 11 species of warblers. The game is afoot!
September 28th; Banded 24:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Black-capped Chickadees
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper
1 House Wren
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
2 Swainson’s Thrushes
1 Hermit Thrush
1 American Robin
3 Gray Catbirds
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Myrtle Warbler
3 Blackpoll Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Field Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
ET’s: 47 spp.
September 29th; Banded 27:
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood-pewee
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Swainson’s Thrushes
3 American Robins
4 Cedar Waxwings
1 Blue-headed Vireo
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
3 Blackpoll Warblers
1 Ovenbird
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Wilson’s Warbler
2 Song Sparrows
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 American Goldfinch
ET’s: 69 spp.
Rick
We’ve had a couple of nice banding days at Fern Hill Burlington this week. Our nets have been far from bombarded with migrants but Janice and I find a slower, steady pace is beneficial for teaching the finer points of identifying species, aging, and sexing criteria. On Thursday September 27th we observed 30 species throughout the day and banded a total of 12 birds including:
3 Blue Jays
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Grey Catbird
1 European Starling
2 Myrtle Warblers
1 Eastern Towhee
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 American Goldfinch
Exciting firsts: we observed our first Eastern White Crowned Sparrow of the Fall! Also we caught and banded our first Eastern Towhee! We also had a recaptured Black-capped Chickadee originally banded in 2013 by Joanne Fleet! This is a return customer that we’ve captured several times, including in the Spring so we have been able to identify her as female.
Friday September 28th was a warm day with south winds that brought a slightly slower day. The students were happy to be outside searching the skies for birds! We observed a total of 27 species throughout the day and banded 6 birds including:
1 House Wren
1 Song Sparrow
2 American Goldfinches
2 House Sparrows
Katherine