male Painted Bunting banded at Possum Long April 2013
Photo by Nancy Price
Painted Buntings are a much loved bird in Florida. They over-winter and most people cannot believe that a bird with such vibrant colors visits their feeders. They go all out to host the birds; feeding their favorite food, white millet, and often fashioning special cages around the feeders so the birds can eat in peace. The end result is that they are helping a declining species survive.
Banding team member Nancy Price has been following Painted Buntings at her feeders for several years. She has had a banded bird at her feeder that was banded in North Carolina. Marko Sillanpaa, also a team member, had buntings at his feeders. He and Nancy were the folks who encouraged me to contact the research people at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and to apply for the permits needed to take on a FL winter banding project.
"green" Painted Bunting
Photo by Nancy Price
The Painted Bunting Observer Team (PBOT) web page was where they sent me. http://www.paintedbuntings.org/ The NC and SC folks band on the breeding grounds. Some of these birds over-winter in Florida and some even go farther to Cuba. Dr. James Rotenberg wanted to do a reverse study to see where overwintering birds return. The web page had an item on their "wish-list" for a bander in Florida. Also the FWC has been tasked with learning more about Painted Buntings in Florida. They will band breeding birds in NE FL this summer. They will use the overwintering data from PBOT and our data to try to better understand the needs of Painted Buntings in Florida. We are thankful to FWC for supplying the initial batch of color bands and encouragement.
Birds will be caught in mist nets and traps. Below is one type of trap. For the most part, birds keep feeding until we walk up to the trap. We are able to quickly remove them.
The buntings get four bands; the normal aluminum federal band, a split band that indicates origin, and two colored ones. We (FL) has been assigned a split band of black and white. The placement of these bands allows many combinations and one can tell an individual bird if the bands are visible and the correct sequence is noted. The bird below has split over dark green on the left and orange over silver (federal) on the right.
Birds will be caught in mist nets and traps. Below is one type of trap. For the most part, birds keep feeding until we walk up to the trap. We are able to quickly remove them.
The buntings get four bands; the normal aluminum federal band, a split band that indicates origin, and two colored ones. We (FL) has been assigned a split band of black and white. The placement of these bands allows many combinations and one can tell an individual bird if the bands are visible and the correct sequence is noted. The bird below has split over dark green on the left and orange over silver (federal) on the right.
"Green" Painted Bunting color banded
Photo by Jane Wiewora
This page will go on and on as we have tidbits and photos to share. This research doesn't lend itself to a blog like the one for Possum Long as sessions are more scattered and we will have one subject bird. We will have incidental captures and will share those photographs too. Hopefully once in a while we will have insights from banding that we can share. I will try to date paragraphs so you can skip to the newest information.
Go read FAQ on PBOT's web page (currently being upgraded). It answers questions such as why we will be saying male and green birds (females and young males).
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Stations/feeders will only be identified by a PB number if on private property.
12/4/13: PB1; banded 1 male and 4 greens (Blue Jay also banded)
12/6 /13: PB2; no buntings (Brown Thrasher also banded)
12/12/13: back to PB1; banded 5 males and 3 greens (Blue Jay and Palm Warbler also banded)
12/17/13: Possum Long; banded a green. We have since heard that this bird is at a feeder abut 6 blocks from Possum Long!
12/19/13: PB3; banded 1 male and 1 green (Northern Cardinal also banded)
12/26/13: PB4; banded 2 greens (2 Northern Cardinals, 1 White-eyed Vireo, and a Gray Catbird also banded)
1/2/14: PB5; banded 3 males and 2 greens (11 incidental captures - 2 Northern Cardinal, 3 Blue Jays, a Pine Warbler (new for me), a Common Ground-Dove (new for me), a Gray Catbird, a Mourning Dove, a Palm Warbler, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler)
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3/18/14: PB 6 - no Painted Buntings (Incidental birds 1 Indigo Bunting, 2 Common Grackles, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker)
3/19/14: PB 14 Banded 2 green Painted Buntings (Incidental birds - 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker)
3/31/14: PB 16 Painted Bunting - 2 male, 3 green (Incidental captures - Northern Cardinal 1, Gray Catbird 1) One male Painted Bunting had unusual yellow on breast:
4/3/14: PB 17 Painted Buntings appear to have left the property. (Incidental captures - Common Grackle 3, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Mourning Dove 1, Blue Jay 2)
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Stations/feeders will only be identified by a PB number if on private property.
12/4/13: PB1; banded 1 male and 4 greens (Blue Jay also banded)
12/6 /13: PB2; no buntings (Brown Thrasher also banded)
12/12/13: back to PB1; banded 5 males and 3 greens (Blue Jay and Palm Warbler also banded)
12/17/13: Possum Long; banded a green. We have since heard that this bird is at a feeder abut 6 blocks from Possum Long!
12/19/13: PB3; banded 1 male and 1 green (Northern Cardinal also banded)
12/26/13: PB4; banded 2 greens (2 Northern Cardinals, 1 White-eyed Vireo, and a Gray Catbird also banded)
White-eyed Vireo
Photo by Leanne LaFramboise
1/2/14: PB5; banded 3 males and 2 greens (11 incidental captures - 2 Northern Cardinal, 3 Blue Jays, a Pine Warbler (new for me), a Common Ground-Dove (new for me), a Gray Catbird, a Mourning Dove, a Palm Warbler, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler)
Common Ground-Dove
Photo by Jane Wiewora
Pine Warbler with new band - seen the next day
Photo by Becky Cook
2/14/14: return visit to PB 6, DuPuis Wildlife Management area: Banded 7 Painted buntings - 3 male, 4 green. 14 incidental captures (6 Indigo Buntings, 4 Chipping Sparrows (new for me), 2 Common Ground-Doves, 1 Ovenbird, 1 Common Grackle (new for me).Photo by Jane Wiewora
Pine Warbler
Photo by Becky Cook
Photo by Becky Cook
1/13/14: Banded at DuPuis Wildlife and Management Area (PB 6) today. Buntings are just starting to show up there after a slow start. Banded 1 male and 4 greens. (2 Indigo Buntings, 2 Palm Warblers, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, and 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher also banded.) This is a public site so birds can be observed (from a distance) at the feeders at the headquarters.
Blue-headed Vireo
Photo by Nancy Price
1/23/14: Banded at Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area. Banded 2 male and 2 green Painted Buntings. Had 17 incidental captures (Prairie Warbler 1, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, White-eyed Vireo 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Northern Cardinal 1, Gray Catbird 6, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, Swamp Sparrow 1, Ovenbird 2). This area has no public access. There are tours of the STA through Audubon of Martin County and South Florida Water Management District (very worthwhile trips) but likely these small birds will not be encountered.
Swamp Sparrow
Photo by Bill Eaton
Ovenbird
Photo by Bill Eaton
examining wing of male Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
January 28, 2014: Returned to Lakeside Ranch STA. Banded 1 green Painted Bunting and 15 incidental captures (1 Carolina Wren (my 87th species), 2 Palm Warblers, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 1 Northern Cardinal, 1 White-eyed Vireo, 4 Gray Catbirds, 1 Prairie Warbler, 4 Common Yellowthroats)
Common Yellowthroat
Photo by Bill Eaton
Carolina Wren
Photo by Jane Wiewora
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Photo by Bill Eaton
green Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
2/4/14: PB 9 - Banded an incredible 35 Painted Buntings - 13 male, 22 green. No incidental captures.
2/6/14: return visit PB 6, DuPuis Wildlife Management area: Banded 8 Painted buntings - 4 male, 4 green. 15 incidental captures (7 Indigo Buntings, 4 Palm Warblers, 1 Ovenbird, 1 White-eyed Vireo, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 1 Gray Catbird)
Indigo Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
Blue-headed Vireo
Photo by Bill Eaton
Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
Photo by Bill Eaton
2/11/14: recaptured a green at banding station that was originally banded 12/17/13. This bird had been visiting a nearby feeder at PB 3 and has returned to its original banding location.
Common Grackle
Photo by Jane Wiewora
Chipping Sparrow
Photo by Jane Wiewora
Busy week this week!
2/17/14: PB 10 - 9 Painted Buntings - 3 male, 6 green (4 incidental captures 2 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Northern Cardinals)
2/18/14: return visit to Lakeside Ranch STA - 2 Painted Buntings - 2 green (16 incidental captures 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 4 Common Yellowthroats, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Northern Waterthrush, 1 Indigo Bunting, 4 Gray Catbirds)
Painted Bunting - female or young male
the reddish color on the breast does not indicate that it is male
Photo by Bill Eaton
Yellow-rumped Warbler with brown in the tail coverts (2Y bird)
Photo by Bill Eaton
Common Yellowthroat - male - 2Y - born last year, mask growing in
Photo by Bill Eaton
Northern Waterthrush
Photo by Bill Eaton
2/19/14: PB 3 return visit: Banded 3 new Painted Buntings 1 male, 2 green. Recaptured a male Painted Bunting that was banded at Possum Long last April before we ever started the Painted Bunting Project.
2/20/14: PB 11: Banded 12 Painted Buntings, 5 male, 7 green. Most interesting is that we captured a male originally banded in North Carolina - we could tell because the split band was red/yellow. Incidental captures - 1 White-eyed Vireo, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Indigo Bunting.
recaptured male Painted Bunting
Photo by Jane Wiewora
2/26/14: PB3 revisit: banded 1 green Painted Bunting. (Incidental capture of 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler and 1 Northern Cardinal) and PB 1 revisit - banded 1 green Painted Bunting
2/27/14: PB 1 revisit - banded 1 new Painted Bunting (male) - recaptured one from an earlier visit that had lost its split band - very glad to have this fixed. Incidental capture of a Red-winged Blackbird.
2/28/14: PB 12 - banded 37 Painted Buntings - 14 male, 27 green (incidental capture of a Northern Parula, 3 Indigo Buntings, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler).
3/4/14: banded one green Painted Bunting at Possum Long Banding Station
3/10/14: PB 2 - second visit banded 11 buntings - 6 male, 5 green
3/11/14: banded one green Painted Bunting at Possum Long Banding Station
3/12/14: PB 12 - banded 35 Painted Buntings - 14 male, 21 green (incidental capture of a Northern Cardinal, an American Goldfinch, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler)
American Goldfinch showing off its head molt
Photo by Jane Wiewora
male Painted Bunting with one white wing feather
Photo by Jane Wiewora
3/14/14: PB 13: Banded 8 Painted Buntings - 5 male, 3 green. One had a white primary covert (feathers near the wrist of the bird covering the outer flight feathers). Incidental bandings (1 Mourning Dove, 1 Gray Catbird)
Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
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Mourning Dove
Photo by Bill Eaton
green Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
male Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
3/18/14: PB 6 - no Painted Buntings (Incidental birds 1 Indigo Bunting, 2 Common Grackles, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker)
3/19/14: PB 14 Banded 2 green Painted Buntings (Incidental birds - 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker)
3/21/14: PB 15: 35 Painted Buntings - 7 male, 28 green (Incidental birds - 1 Common Ground-Dove, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 Northern Cardinal, 2 Northern Parula, 10 Indigo Buntings).
male Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
male Painted Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
female or young male Painted Bunting
quite rosy but this still does not indicate male
Photo by Bill Eaton
male Indigo Bunting
Photo by Bill Eaton
female Common Ground-Dove
Photo by Bill Eaton
3/27/14: PB 8 - Lakeside Ranch STA - no public access. Only recaptured 1 green Painted Bunting. (Incidental captures - Northern Cardinal, Northern Parula 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, White-eyed Vireo 1, House Wren 1)
Northern Parula
Photo by Bill Eaton
White-eyed Vireo (with attitude)
Photo by Bill Eaton
Black-and-white Warbler
Photo by Bill Eaton
House Wren
Photo by Bill Eaton
Painted Bunting
Photo by Nancy Price
4/3/14: PB 17 Painted Buntings appear to have left the property. (Incidental captures - Common Grackle 3, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Mourning Dove 1, Blue Jay 2)
Red-winged Blackbird - Second-year male
Photo by Bill Eaton
All the blues of a Blue Jay wing
Photo by Bill Eaton
4/9/14: PB 12 - Banded 2 male and 2 green Painted Buntings (Incidental captured 1 Worm-eating Warbler and 9 Indigo Buntings.)
4/15/14: banded 1 green at Possum Long
4/16/14: PB 1: banded 1 green and had many recaptures, noted fat - males have much more fat (noting that they seem to leave first which makes sense if they are returning and setting up territories prior to females return)
4/22/14: recaptured a green that was originally banded at Possum Long before we were color banding (3/26/13). This green is female as a young male at the original banding would now be colored. Indicates high site fidelity.
Banding is now over until the birds return in the early fall. Hope to see you back here then.
4/15/14: banded 1 green at Possum Long
4/16/14: PB 1: banded 1 green and had many recaptures, noted fat - males have much more fat (noting that they seem to leave first which makes sense if they are returning and setting up territories prior to females return)
4/22/14: recaptured a green that was originally banded at Possum Long before we were color banding (3/26/13). This green is female as a young male at the original banding would now be colored. Indicates high site fidelity.
Banding is now over until the birds return in the early fall. Hope to see you back here then.
Amazing work you guys (Nancy, Nancy, Pete, Jane, Pat, June, June, Jim and that darling man from Ohio who knows everything!) are doing. I'm so glad I met you all and visited this week.
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