September 29, 2015

Today rain threatened us and the air was very muggy.  We got rained out by 10 am.  Despite that we caught another Veery and recaptured an Ovenbird from last week.

 Veery

Photo by Jane Wiewora

The Veery was a hatch year bird.  This age was partially determined by the white tips on the greater coverts.  Also seen in the photo is one of the feathers that is emarginated - notched, on the upper edge of the primary.  This is indicated by the smaller arrow.  Other feathers are emarginated but this one is easiest to see.

Veery

Photo by Jane Wiewora

The Ovenbird had no fat when we captured it last week.  Today it was beginning to show traces of fat.  Fat is a good thing for migrating birds. It is great to be able to document that migrating birds remain on the property in order to build up fat supplies.  That teamed with site fidelity data show how valuable this property is as a stopping place .  Migrants depend on this 4.7 acre property in the middle of suburbia!  May it remain vegetated so that there is food for them.

Ovenbird

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next banding:  October 6.  Nets go up at 6:30 am.