March 24, 25, 27, 28, and 29, 2017

It's that time of year.  The Painted Buntings are leaving and have already been seen in South Carolina and likely all over their breeding areas.  Not to worry, some are still here.  Feeder keepers may notice a decline (your winter resident birds leaving) and then another increase (birds moving through). Feeders are very important now as birds have mapped these "gas stations" for their way home.  Those folks with banded birds will know when migrants pass through.

We had a busy time since the last post.  On March 24 we banded in LaBelle, our first time in Hendry county.  We banded 5 Painted Buntings and had incidental captures of Northern Cardinal, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Indigo Buntings.

Indigo Bunting with head molting in new feathers

Indigo Bunting - after second year male

Great Crested Flycatcher

On March 25, we presented banding as a scientific tool to a class from the Audubon of Martin County's Audubon Academy.  We only caught one new bird and had one recapture but those two were representative of all we do.  The Gray Catbird is always a great teaching bird.  The recaptured Painted Bunting gave everyone a glance at color banding and we were able to relate many things we have learned both from the Status and Distribution study at Possum Long as well as the Painted Bunting Banding Project.

On March 27, we visited a potential new host whose yard did not work for using nets.  We brought over a temporary caged feeder in hopes that we can trap there before the birds move on.

On March 28, we conducted our Possum Long banding.  We banded three new birds (Gray Catbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Northern Cardinal).  This quiet day has left us hoping that migration will pick up.  Actually migration is underway but some of the first birds through have also overwintered so it's hard to tell migrant versus visitor.  The Great Crested Flycatchers might have overwintered nearby but likely have moved in from elsewhere and they are actively starting to pair up and start the very beginning of nesting.

Northern Cardinal

Great Crested Flycatcher

On March 29, I returned to PB 69 where I banded another male and female Painted Bunting.  

Painted Bunting

Next regularly scheduled Possum Long banding:  Tuesday, April 4.  Nets go up at 6:45.