March 1, 2016 Opening Day!

I expected opening day to be a little slow and it was, but it was also VERY GOOD (read all the way to the end).  First off was the expected Gray Catbird. This one received a new band and we also recaptured a different one from a practice session we did 2 weeks ago.

Next we banded a green Painted Bunting.  We can truly only say that this bird is green.  We cannot tell if it was female or male.  It was born last summer and still had some all gray feathers from its first molt (see arrow in the first photo below). It has to go through one more molt before we can tell if it is male or female. Had the feathers been green-edged we would have know it was female (see second photo below).

Painted Bunting born last summer - note plain gray feathers

Painted Bunting female (not the bird from today)

note green edges on the same feathers that were gray in the photo above

We caught a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in one of the nets.  I do not have the special endorsement needed to band hummingbirds.  It was photographed and quickly released.  It sat on my hand for a brief moment and then flew off.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Photo by Pat Marshall

We also recaptured an Ovenbird that had been banded last September.  Since we were not banding for a bit and had not seen or caught it on the property since October, it is hard to say if it stayed for the winter or was now returning north through the property again.

So, the big surprise for opening day was our first ever Orange-crowned Warbler at Possum Long.  We had banded one at a Painted Bunting site two winters ago but this was a first for the property.  This was good excitement for the day with many photos taken.  In Jane's photo the orange crown was visible.

Orange-crowned Warbler

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

Orange-crowned Warbler

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Next banding:  Tuesday, March 8.  Nets open at 6:30