We were fairly consistently busy today and broke some records. We caught a total of 5 birds and while that doesn't seem to be a big number it is still better than 0. It is fortunate that with it being slow, we are able to train new assistants to handle the birds. Ten species were added to the 2013 Bird List page.
Linda Wishney with a Gray Catbird
It paid off having new feeders on the property (Thank you Nancy Price and Marko Sillanpaa). While the birds are known to be on the property, it brings them lower and closer to the nets. On the first net run we caught two Blue Jays. We checked the leg size to make sure the appropriate band size was used.
Blue Jay
Photo by Marko Sillanpaa
Blue Jay
Nancy Price held the bird and Marko photographed it.
Age was determined by the barring on the coverts (feathers covering the flight feathers near the wrist). This is an adult bird.
The next bird we caught was a male Mourning Dove. Many had never seen the blue markings on the head and iridescence on the throat that lets one know the bird is male. We all enjoyed seeing the blue eye ring.
Mourning Dove
Photo by Marko Sillanpaa
Another new event today was our first recapture. The Gray Catbird in the photo with Linda was one we banded last week. It was caught in the same net.
Then the highlight of the day was a male American Redstart. It takes the smallest band size but was about twice as heavy as last week's Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
American Redstart
Yes, its tiny head is hidden by my fingers
American Redstart
Photo by Nancy Price
Next banding session will be on Tuesday, January 29 at Possum Long.
No comments:
Post a Comment