March 16, 2018

Today we returned to PB 46 where we have caught our highest number of Painted Buntings at a single location - now over 150!  This yard is phenomenal!  It has the right plants, food, and water and a great set-up for nets.   The hosts are great to work with and they have been feeding for years.

We banded a total of 29 new Painted Buntings and recaptured a few from earlier in Season 5 as well as some from earlier seasons.   One bird was very cute and the photo does not do it justice.  It had one yellow feather on each side of its head but not in symmetrical positions.  Likely just some feather replacement after a small bit of shedding.

Painted Bunting with random yellow feather

We also banded eight incidental birds.  There was a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4 Gray Catbirds, an Indigo Bunting, and a Northern Cardinal.  

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Indigo Bunting - female

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Season Five Painted Bunting total:  242

We have two more Painted Bunting appointments before the next session at Possum Long on MONDAY, March 19.  Nets go up at 6:45.