There’s something infectious about the unfettered enthusiasm of children. The banding lab was invaded by the Campanelli and Scholten children this morning: Giovanni and Ezra of the former and Caleb, Hannah and Jonathan of the latter, ranging in age from about 5 to 10….and all keen birders. Sort of unusual wouldn’t you say? So off we’d go, running from net to trap to net, anticipation of what each might hold barely contained. It got to the point where even I was getting excited about an American Goldfinch in the net or another retrapped Song Sparrow in the traps…..It was a lot of fun and a neat thing to be part of. But just think: these will be the next generation of ornithologists and biologists and conservationists. We might just be in good hands after all. But all good things must come to an end – unfortunately for the kids because just after their car pulled out I caught a Vermilion Flycatcher and a MacGillvray’s Warbler – both in the same net!!! Just kidding fellas…..

[When Jeff MacLeod gets back from Cuba early next week he’ll put the pictures on the blog that I took today – I got some good ones. I haven’t learned how to do that yet.]

Despite all the excitement, it was a pretty slow day except maybe for the first Eastern White-crowned Sparrow of the year and 7 Common Loons winging their way north. Ducks seem to have pretty well moved on.

Banded 19:
2 Tree Swallows
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 American Robins
2 Chipping Sparrows
2 Field Sparrows
6 Dark-eyed Juncos
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
2 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 17:
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 American Robin
1 Field Sparrow
1 Fox Saprrow
5 Song Sparrows
5 Brown-headed Cowbirds
1 American Goldfinch

Rick