Seeing thrushes on the Lake Lotus Blog and our recent thrush activity made us well prepared for more. As Nancy Price and I set up nets, I saw a thrush go from the edge of the butterfly garden into cover. On the 8:30 net run we had a thrush in the net. This proved to be the "Catch of the Day" - a Bicknell's Thrush!
Bicknell's Thrush photograph by Nancy Price
Bicknell's and Gray-cheeked Thrush can be identified by voice or measurements so documenting a Bicknell's is a significant data point for Possum Long. Wing measurements showed the smaller size of this bird.
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Bicknell's Thrush wing measurement
photograph by Nancy Price
The 9:00 net run produced 2 birds: our first Northern Cardinal and our first female Black-throated Blue Warbler. The cardinal was feisty as expected. These birds tend to clamp down on skin so we offered her a stick which she kept clamped in her bill for a long time. Better the stick than my hand!
female Northern Cardinal
photograph by Nancy Price
The female Black-throated Blue Warbler was easily identified by the white mark on her wing. Volunteers and observers were happy to see or learn this field mark and to see how it is formed by the individual white patches on the wing feathers.
female Black-throated Blue Warbler
photograph by Nancy Price
Next on the roster was a male Northern Cardinal. He certainly looked intimidating - Angry Bird?? Photographs by Nancy Price
We ended up not banding this bird due to the leg shape on this bird. We are exploring to see if this is a variation or a deformity.
The last bird of the day was a Gray Catbird, also a hatch-year bird.
I am very thankful to all of the volunteers who have been getting this program off the ground with manual labor, photography, support, encouragement, and even refreshments!
very exciting news....
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