Today I think we caught a representation of over-wintering birds. There are always warblers to hope for but they are frequently above the nets. We saw a new-for-the-year warbler today, a Northern Parula. I am looking forward to maybe catching one. We also added Red-shouldered Hawk to the 2013 year list.
Five species banded today and there was an assortment of ages to decipher. Some birds are beginning to molt, especially one of the Gray Catbirds. We recaptured two banded Northern Cardinals and 1 banded Gray Catbird today so we are beginning to see some individuals staying on the property. We caught the cardinal with the strange legs again today too.
The most interesting bird was a second-year male Northern Cardinal, he just wasn't as deep red in some places as we expected of an adult male. If you can see the tiny arrow, this feather is a retained young feather indicating he was born last nesting season. (Birthday January 1 - so now a second-year bird).
Northern Cardinal
You can also see some brown body feathers at this small arrow.
Northern Cardinal
The Blue Jay was also a second year bird, there are no bars on the indicated feathers (getting better at making arrows!). Pictures shown on January 22 show these bars.
Blue Jay
photo by Nancy Price
Also banded today were Gray Catbird (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (2), and Mourning Dove (1).
The event of the day was seeing an American Redstart male. If you recall we banded one on January 22. The excitement was that we saw the band on today's redstart. So, we now know that at least after New Year's, several species are calling Possum Long their winter home for at least part of the day.
Next banding is February 19.
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