April 29, 2014

Last session was pretty slow but interesting.  Winds are such that migrants are flying right over which is good news for the birds but this makes it slow for banding.  When birds do need a rest or a place to eat they sometimes choose Possum Long.  Many of the migrants we catch have little or no fat left.  Sometimes we see or recapture a banded bird.  The second time we hope to see more fat in hopes that they can continue to migrate.

We caught and banded two migrants - a Common Yellowthroat and an Ovenbird.

Common Yellowthroat - choosing the band

Photo by Bill Eaton

Ovenbird - applying the band

Photo by Bill Eaton

The third bird is likely a resident bird but a very new one.  The Blue Jay we caught was very recently out of its nest.  The parents were in attendance and actually buzzed Nancy as she removed it from the net.  They also greeted its return when we released it near where it had been caught. 

The birds flight feathers were all growing in so we took great care with them as they are still in sheath, still growing, and still have a blood supply.  When the feathers are fully grown, the sheaths fall off and the feather becomes non-living much like our hair and fingernails.

Other features showed this bird's youth.  The gape on the bill was fleshy and characteristic of a young bird. Its legs are full sized so there is no harm in banding this bird.

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill Eaton

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill Eaton

It has been really great having the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons nesting at Possum Long.  Here's one of the adults tending the very flimsy nest.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Things may be slow but I really hope to run for a few more weeks before shutting down the station for the summer.  There's still the possibility for a few more late migrants.  

Next banding session May 6, 2014.  Nets up at 6:15.