March 1, 2018

On Thursday we returned to PB 6.  We had not really planned this but timing worked out and we chose to go.  There were many birds at the feeders and we banded a lot of them.  We would have gotten more Painted Buntings but the Common Grackles frequented the nets and kept the buntings hidden.

We banded 5 Painted Buntings and recaptured one.  The recaptured one was from Season One.  It was an adult male at the time it was banded so it is at least 7 years old.

Painted Bunting

One of our original banded males

We also banded 2 Chipping Sparrows, 4 Indigo Buntings, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Common Ground-Doves, 3 Common Grackles (and released many more unbanded).

We recaptured an Indigo Bunting we had banded exactly 1 year prior (3/1/17) and an Ovenbird that was the next band in that sequence but was banded on March 16, 2017.  

Ovenbird

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Chipping Sparrow

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Grackle

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Next Possum Long session will be on Tuesday, March 6.  Nets go up at 6:45.  

Note:  Banding will NOT occur on Tuesday, March 20.  However it will be on Monday, March 19.

February 28, 2018

On Wednesday we returned to PB 65.  It was a a terrific session with a surprise.  Not a new bird this time but quite a treat.

We banded 9 Painted Buntings.  We had time to get several great photos.

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

In addition to the 9 buntings we banded 2 Blue Jays and recaptured a Northern Cardinal from last year.

Among the 9 buntings was our surprise.  I have never seen this coloring on a Painted Bunting before.  It is NOT molting so it is not turning male.  In fact the feathers tell us it is an adult and the wing length suggests that is male.  So, an adult male with odd colors.  Next one thinks of things that might change feather coloring including genetic "mistakes" that either change the colors themselves or the hormones that help determine color.  What is hard to fathom is that the blue color on males' heads is not due to pigment.  The blue color on birds is made by changing light.  It is a complex mix of reflection, refraction, and feather structure.  So did the feather structure get changed?  It is certainly less red than a typically colored male.

Photos by Bill LaFramboise

This bird has sparked a lot of discussion.  I will be trying to find out more about this coloration.

February 27, 2018

We banded at Possum Long on Tuesday.  Numbers are picking up and we are starting to see and hear a few more birds.  It was very frustrating to hear but not see what might have been a Golden-winged Warbler singing!  The song is a very distinctive buzzy "bee-buzz-buzz".  There was still a Summer Tanager around.  We also had many delightful visitors who I hope continue to return to see migration progressing.

While we were setting up nets one visitor came early to photograph the Wood Duck in the nest box.  Well, it wasn't there but this was!!

Eastern Screech-Owl

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Pretty early we recaptured an Ovenbird and banded our first Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Later we had 4 Yellow-rumps in the net at the same time.  We banded a total of 8!

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We also banded 3 Gray Catbirds and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Gray Catbird 

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

the red belly of a Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Another item of interest was this cute baby turtle.  Linda brought him over for all to see and then returned it to where it had been found.  Enjoy!

Next scheduled banding at Possum Long will be on March 6.  Nets go up at 6:45.  

NOTE:  There will be no banding at Possum Long on March 20.  However we will band on Monday, March 19 instead.

Just for fun

Took these two photos of a green Painted Bunting recently.  Just wanted to share.....

green Painted Bunting in a birdbath

Photos by Nancy LaFramboise

was thrilled when it started to bathe

February 23, 2018

I had some catch up to do so you might want to check the previous 3 posts that are also new.

On Friday we returned to PB 28, one of our more northern sites.  This is one of many favorite sites as the birds are plentiful, the garden is beautiful, and the hosts are wonderful.  We banded a whopping 20 Painted Buntings and recaptured 5 from previous years.  Also banded were 4 Indigo Buntings.  We had to take down a little early due to wind so who knows how many more there were???  Being kept busy with 26 birds banded and the recaptures, photos for this post are mostly about what we see when aging the birds.  

Painted Bunting (bird born last summer - SY)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

In the above photo you might be able to see the unmarked feathers above the outer wing feathers (primaries).   The outer primary feathers have a more blackish rib and the inner ones (secondaries) are browner.  This tells us that this is a young, green bird born last summer.

Indigo Bunting (female)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

You can see some feathers growing in on the above Indigo Bunting.  They mostly molt body feathers this time of year.  

Indigo Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

This is the wing of a young, male Indigo Bunting.  Much like the above wing of the Painted Bunting the feathers above the outer flight feathers do not have the blue edging of the other feathers in that row.  The gray-brown ones are feathers still retained from its first year.  This bird was born last summer but will develop more bright blue coloring soon.

One of the Painted Buntings had more young feathers than usual.  We cannot be sure why his first fall molt didn't fully occur.  Here is its tail.  Typically all of the feathers are changed.  You might be able to see that only one is fresher.

young, green Painted Bunting tail

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We also banded a Gray Catbird and a Northern Cardinal.  

Next Possum Long session will be on Tuesday, February 27.  Nets go up at 6:45 am.

A very early warning - we will NOT be banding on Tuesday, March 20 but will on Monday, March 19.  (Weather permitting as always)

February 20, 2018

Tuesday, February 20 was a session at the Possum Long Banding Station.  It was a day of wonderful bird viewing.  There were more birds on and above the property but we only banded 5 birds.  This is an increase and we should continue to increase but the hard part is that nets are low and birds are high.

There were hundreds of Cedar Waxwings on the property and it felt like teasing!  So close yet so far.

Cedar Waxwings at Possum Long - just one of the trees

Photo by Robin Potvin

Cedar Waxwings at Possum Long

Photo by Robin Potvin

Also on the property was a Summer Tanager.  We have been spotting them for the last few weeks.  Not sure if they over-wintered again.  Both species were seen eating fruit from the Ficus (Fig) trees.  

Summer Tanager

Photo by Pete Grannis

However we did band 2 Northern Cardinals, 2 Gray Catbirds and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Among other recaptures we had a Common Yellowthroat that was banded in October.  

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Yellowthroat

Photo by Pat Marshall

Gray Catbird - I love revenge photos - bird biting bander

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Congratulations to fellow birder Andrew Boyle and his volunteers.  They banded at the Orlando Wetlands Festival and had some great birds including a Philadelphia Vireo which was a surprise as they do not typically over-winter in Florida.  Read more a https://wekivaband.blogspot.com/    The 2/17/18 entry.

Next Possum Long session will be on Tuesday, February 27.  Nets go up at 6:45 am.

A very early warning - we will NOT be banding on March 20 but will on March 19.  (Weather permitting as always)

February 19, 2018

On February 19 we returned to PB 5.  It is one of the few locations where a very close neighbor is also feeding Painted Buntings.  We set up in both yards.  Despite the wind, we managed to band quite a few birds including 4 Painted Buntings and 1 Indigo Bunting.  We have come to this location every year in the study and it is always a pleasure! 

male Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Indigo Bunting (young male)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

One of the missions of a bander is to educate and inspire.  The host at PB5 invited her grandchildren and we had a very good time talking about birds and butterflies.  One can hope that our mission was accomplished.  Hi to these young ladies and we hope you enjoy reading about the birds you saw banded.

Pete Grannis showing the girls what we do - Photo by Grandma

I love that children are so interested!  - Photo by Grandma

We also captured a few incidental birds.  We banded 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and really enjoyed aging these, 1 Blue Jay, and 1 Mourning Dove. 3 Northern Cardinals, and 1 Pine Warbler.

Pine Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Mourning Dove

 Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Red-bellied Woodpeckers - comparing 2 wings

Photo by PB5 host

Blue Jay

Photo by PB5 host