September 1, 2017

Painted Buntings are now back in Florida but not yet in large numbers.  We have had reports from Kissimmee to Fort Lauderdale so far.  We have yet to attempt banding as rain and schedules have held us up.  Some of the returning birds are banded.  As noted earlier we had a banded bird from Jupiter show up at a Kissimmee feeder.

Painted Bunting (not this season)

Photo by Becky Cook

We had a strange report from South Carolina of a Painted Bunting with a split black/white band and 2 other color bands. However there was no federal (metal) band seen and the reported placement of the bands was not what we do. We may never know if this was one of our birds.  However, it was nice to get a report and know that someone was looking in South Carolina.

Painted Bunting (not this season)

Photo by Bill Eaton

New for this Painted Bunting Season 5 will be a new split band.  We have used almost all of the possible combinations for the black/white split and only have 30 or so left.  We will use those and then we will begin to use a yellow/light green split.  If you have Painted Buntings we might band, send an email with a phone number to keepbirding2@yahoo.com  We will call and answer your questions and we will determine if your yard can host our banding.

Northern Cardinal (not recent)

Photo by Georgia Binderow

We will be starting our 7th fall banding at Possum Long on Tuesday, September 19.  Nets go up at 7 am.  Hope to see you then!