September 2, 2014

Today was better than expected.  No early morning captures but we finally got a few birds.  The only migrant detected on the property today was a Red-eyed Vireo so we were happy to get three for the day. Maybe next week.  We banded 2 young Northern Cardinals.  We DID get photographs but I suspect you will all be happier when Bill Eaton returns.  (Don't cringe too much Bill.)  

Northern Cardinal HY male

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

The dark splotches on his bill and the molt we noted showed this to be born sometime this summer.

Northern Cardinal HY female

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Here's the second young bird.  It was harder to tell that this was truly a HY (hatch year) bird as the bill had lost the dark splotches more typically seen as above.  The crest on this bird and the amount of molt showed us that this bird was also born this summer.  The blue-green tones are photographic lighting effects, not the true color of the bird.

Out third and final bird was great fun - a Great Crested Flycatcher.  We frequently hear these birds but it was nice of this adult bird to visit the net.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Next banding session will be September 9, 2014.  Nets go up at 6:30 am.

PS:  I have started a new page for Season Two of Color Banding Painted Buntings.  The early birds are back and numbers should increase all this month and into October.  (see Page list in upper right hand corner.)