April 30, 2013

Session cancelled due to rain.

Next session May 7, 2013

April 23, 2013

Migration, even when it is slow, can be magical.  With better weather today we did not have a lot of birds on the property but we discovered some species had left and new birds were around.  We were pleased to see a Merlin fly over the property adding another species to the year list for Possum Long.  We did not see any remaining Cape May or Blackpoll Warblers.

We enjoyed seeing a female Wood Duck in attendance at her nest box.  Surely new Wood Ducks will arrive soon.

Wood Duck

We banded two Gray Catbirds today and then had a bit of quiet time.  We recaptured one of the Black-throated Blue Warblers from yesterday.  Neither of yesterday's birds had fat so maybe this one was hanging around to eat.

During one net run we had the best birds of the day.  Ryan extracted a male American Redstart and also discovered a Black-and-white Warbler in another net.

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy Price

I extracted and banded the Black-and-white Warbler which was a new species for me to band.

Black-and-white Warbler being released from the net

Photo by Nancy Price

Black-and-white Warbler (left) and American Redstart (right)
Photo by Nancy Price

                    Black-and-white Warbler

Next banding April 30, 2013

April 22, 2013

It rained last night and into this morning which during migration might mean birds!  I went to Possum Long to check and began hearing them.  I added Cape May Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler to the year list.  Luckily Nancy Price was available so we set up 5 nets.  Even though it was a late start, we did get a few birds.

First off we got (can you guess?) a Gray Catbird and recaptured the green (female or second-year male) Painted Bunting from a few weeks ago.  It was reassuring to see that it had added a bunch of fat in preparation for migration.  We check just below the neck to see if the area is bulging or hollow.

Painted Bunting

Photo by Nancy Price

We also caught two female Northern Cardinals today.  One was a recapture from March and the other was new and showed evidence of recent nesting.  Females have a bare belly (brood patch) that they use to keep the eggs warm in the nest.  After the eggs hatch the swelling goes down and the skin is quite wrinkled.  

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Nancy Price

We also caught two Black-throated Blue Warblers today, the first ones since last fall.  Luckily these warblers feed closer to or even on the ground so they are more likely to be caught.  Both "blues" were after-second-year males.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Photos by Nancy Price

Unless it rains, we will be banding tomorrow as scheduled, April 23.

April 16, 2013

It is evident that summer is quickly approaching.  A large thunderstorm late yesterday afternoon gave us high hopes that migrants would be present if the rain kept at least some birds from moving north.  I had hoped to possibly see and document some of the species we saw farther south this weekend (Blackpoll and Cape May Warblers) but maybe they are still on their way.  Today was warm and muggy.  We added Eastern Screech-Owl to the year list today.  One was hooting when we arrived.

It looks like Gray Catbirds are still on the move.  We haven't seen any previously banded ones in a while and we banded four new ones today.  Some birds were showing some fat while others were either depleted or not yet fattened up.

We had a wonderful lesson on American Redstart plumage today.  We caught a second-year male.  It had no fat so possibly it was stopping for a bit of food.

American Redstart

Photo by Crystal Conway

Male American Redstarts take two years to acquire their full color (see after-second-year male on January 22).  Today's bird resembled a female restart (like the one on March 19) but there were black feathers starting to appear on its face and the color of the sides was much more red-orange.

American Redstart

Photo by Nancy Price

American Redstart female from March 19

We also got to see the subtle difference in the rump color of this male (darker, more black) versus the female (same as back color).  The tail feathers are also a bit more orange but not as deep red-orange as an after-second-year bird.

American Redstart second-year male

Photo by Nancy Price

 American Redstart female from March 19

We will continue banding while we are still getting at least a few birds and the next session will be on April 23.

April 10, 2013

To run the banding station at Possum Long I really depend on others to help me in so many ways.  Many thanks to those who volunteer on our project.

One of our biggest jobs is to set up the nets and take them down as we do not have permanent stakes set for the net poles.  We carry the components (4 conduit segments and 2 rebar) for each net (9) each session.

Today Marko brought us a new means to transport the poles.  We are very thankful that this means less work for us.  Thank You Marko!

Golf Cart Deluxe

First thing we caught a Gray Catbird (no surprise).   How many more ways can we photograph a catbird?  Though I would really love to take many more pictures, I am thankful there are people who can do this job and do it so well.  

Gray Catbird

Photo by Crystal Conway

There were many more catbirds deep in the shrubs and maybe we have a suspect (or three) for why things have been relatively quiet.  Today we saw three Cooper's Hawks - two adults and this immature bird.  The adults may be nesting.

Cooper's Hawk

Best capture of the day was a male Painted Bunting.  Just seeing these birds is an experience but in-hand it was even more so.  Seeing feather placement and the layers of color was a treat.

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Nancy Price

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Crystal Conway

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Nancy Price

It is a bit hard to see here but there was so much color.  The brightest green are the scapulars, the outer edges of the flight feathers were green and red, some coverts are red and others are green.  Not all of these colors are apparent when the wing is folded.  The blue head is stunning.

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Nancy Price

Even amid the blue, some feathers on the face were green (the area between the bill and the eye - lore).  

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Nancy Price

Crystal has been practicing in-flight shots and caught these Mottled Ducks as they flew by the pond.  This shot shows the white wing linings as well as the diagnostic field mark of the spot at the base of the bill.  

Mottled Ducks

Photo by Crystal Conway

Many thanks for treats & a card to celebrate a birthday (not mine!) today go to Crystal, Linda, and Fran!

Next session will be on April 16.  

April 9, 2013

We woke up to rain so today's banding was postponed until tomorrow.  However we did look over the property and added a new bird for the year when 2 Sandhill Cranes flew over. (Remember there are pages with the year list, band count, and session report.)

Osprey at nest

Today I finally saw the young Osprey in the nest at Possum Long.  The adult was quite vocal and the young bird was quite hungry.

Dune Sunflower

It didn't rain too hard but by the time it cleared most of the birds had quieted down.  I did see a banded Gray Catbird.

Come back tomorrow!

April 2, 2013

On the Edge of Migration (or so we hope)

Migration in Florida is very weather dependent.  Clear skies mean that birds keep flying.  Our weather has been clear and quite warm.  April is the key month in spring; birds are quickly making their way north.  We can't be sure of having birds on the property but hopefully migration is soon to produce.

I've had a wish to band some of the Great Crested Flycatchers that have come to Possum Long to breed.  Last year they used a Wood Duck box for their cavity.  It appears that they are doing so again.

Great Crested Flycatcher

After we banded two Gray Catbirds we had a Prairie Warbler in the net in the butterfly garden.  Though fairly out in the open, this net has been productive.

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Bev Poppke

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Nancy Price

We had another visitor to the butterfly garden today.  As soon as it saw me it decided to move on.  Barely had time to catch a picture.

Great Egret 

I was lamenting that the Great Cresteds were up so high that we would probably not catch one.  While near the trail net, Marko played the song on his phone to see what it sounded like and one hit the net.  When he told me we had one, I told him April Fool's was yesterday!  But it was true!

Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Nancy Price

Flycatchers and other insect-eating birds (like the previous Chuck-will's-widow) have bristles near their bill that help detect flying insect prey.  When these are touched, the bill snaps.  I was surprised at how strong the feet were on this bird.  Other flycatchers I have banded had relatively small, weak feet.

Great Crested Flycatcher showing rictal bristles

Photo by Crystal Conway

Showing Fran and Marko the Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Linda Wishney

When we have the bird in hand, the undertail coverts on a Gray Catbird are a surprise to some folks as the feathers are rust colored.  One Gray Catbird we caught had quite a bit of body molt (feathers that are growing in and are covered with a sheath).  In addition to some of the gray body feathers, some of the undertail coverts were growing in too. 

Gray Catbird

Photo by Nancy Price

I am always grateful to all of the volunteers who work hard on this project.  Many thanks to you.  Extra thanks today go to Linda Wishney who brought coffee and doughnuts!  

Next banding:  April 9, 2013