September 30 and October 1, 2017

We did a little extra banding this weekend since it is migration time.  We banded at Possum Long on Saturday and at PB 46 on Sunday.  Saturday was productive but a bit slower than last Tuesday's session.  We banded 13 birds (8 species) and saw a few that went no where near the nets.  These were the first of season Cape May Warbler, several Scarlet Tanagers, a Northern Parula, and a Summer Tanager.

We banded 4 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 3 Ovenbirds, and one each of Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Cardinal, and Gray Catbird.  Of these the thrushes made their first welcome appearance.  We should get more this month.  The Red-eyed Vireo was a young bird so it did not yet have a bright red eye.  It was the fifth one of this species for the property.  The Carolina Wren was only the second one on the property. 

Red-eyed Vireo

Carolina Wren

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Swainson's Thrush

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

At PB 46 we were pleased to catch some of their early Painted Buntings.  They estimated they had at least 10-15 birds back.  Three were previously banded.  We caught 5 new green Painteds.  we used our new split band - so be on the lookout for yellow/light green bands.

Painted Bunting with new split band color

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

One of the buntings was a very young bird.  Just out of the nest Painted Buntings, both male and female, are green and brownish.  They molt in the fall like the adults but ALL of the youngsters stay green.  They do not molt much until the next fall (about 15 months) and this is when the male birds acquire their pretty colors.  

Earlier in the season, these hosts had a 2nd year male bird starting to grow in the bright feathers.  We had received other photos just before Bob sent this one.  It is the first time we had photos of this particular change!!

Painted Bunting male acquiring its first bright feathers (approximatley 15 months old)

Photo by Bob Ellis

Back to the youngster, you can see in the photo below that it was heavily molting and that it still had some of the juvenal brownish feathers.  (Arrow)

Very young Painted Bunting with juvenal feathers

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We also caught another Red-eyed Vireo as well as several Blue Jays, several Common Grackles, and a Northern Cardinal.  

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Grackle

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

We will band at Possum Long tomorrow, October 3.  Nets go up at 7 am.  It could be windy so hopefully the more sheltered nets won't blow.  If they do, we will close early.

March 31, April 2, 4, and 5, 2017

The end is in sight at least for Painted Bunting Season 4.  We finally have topped 300 banded for this season with hopes of getting a few more before they all depart.  Hopefully we will have a productive migration season before heat, humidity, and rain shut us down for Summer Break.  Possum Long banding will continue through migration.  Hints of migration are starting....

On March 31, we returned to Vero Beach to PB 28.  It was an outstanding session.  We had originally banded 23 there 2 years ago.  This session was 33 new ones plus incidental captures and recaptures of Painted Buntings from both Season 1 and Season 2.  Our incidental species were an Indigo Bunting, a Carolina Wren, a Brown Thrasher, a Palm Warbler and 2 Gray Catbirds.

Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Carolina Wren

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Brown Thrasher

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On April 2, we returned to PB 46.  We caught 7 new Painted Buntings.  I don't think we will ever catch them all!  115 and counting!  Besides the new buntings we had recaptures and incidental captures of a Prairie Warbler, 3 Indigo Buntings, a Common Ground-Dove, and a Blue Jay.  

Blue Jay

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On April 4, we had our regularly scheduled Possum Long session.  Once more it was windy and therefore quiet.  Guests were treated to a recaptured Northern Cardinal and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  We cannot band the hummer but it was fun to see as it rested on my hand before flying off.  We did band one new Painted Bunting.

Painted Bunting

female as evidenced by green edging on the primary coverts

On April 5, we banded at a new location (PB 71) that shows great promise for the future.  Right off we caught 3 Painted Buntings.  The surprise was a male American Redstart (ASY - after second year) .  I love the color of this bird.  We also banded a Blue Jay and 2 Northern Cardinals.  

As always we thank all of our hosts, some of the best folks one could meet.  Their passion for their birds and the rest of the critters is wonderful to share.  I owe so much to the folks who come week after week to lend hard work and support to these banding efforts.  I couldn't ask for a better team.

Next scheduled Possum Long banding is April 11.  Nets go up at 6:45.  Visitors (and migrants) welcome.

January 28, 2017

We made it to a new county.  We banded in Kissimmee in Osceloa county.  What a great experience as so many of our sessions are.

We banded 21 Painted Buntings and surprisingly most were adult and many were male.  Thirteen were male, 5 were female, and 3 were born last year so undetermined (young and green).

Painted Bunting, male

Though we cannot band hummingbirds, if one is caught in the net we (of course) extract them.  We saw evidence of at least 4 birds:  Two immature males with varying amounts of red, one molting tail feathers, and one adult male.  We had moved feeders to prevent them being in the path of the net but the birds were accustomed to flying that way anyway.  They quickly learned to not do that!  The photo isn't as red as is sometimes seen but that is only due to the angle of the photograph.  It was red. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (adult male)

We also had 16 incidental captures:  6 Northern Cardinals, 3 Blue Jays, 3 Chipping Sparrows, 1 Ovenbird, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 American Goldfinch, and 1 Tufted Titmouse!!  The Tufted Titmouse was a new bird for me to band (113).

Tufted Titmouse

For the Carolina Wren, is interesting to note that the barred pattern is only on half of each wing feather.  When the wing folds, the unmarked portion is under the neighboring feather.  

Carolina Wren

Ovenbird

We are still planning on a February 14 start to the "spring" season at Possum Long.  Details will follow soon.

September 17 & 18

We had a pretty good session on Saturday.  It was good enough to prompt us to retry on Sunday.  Saturday won.  We banded 8 birds - 3 Ovenbirds, 3 Northern Cardinals,  a Worm-eating Warbler and finally, the new to the property, Carolina Wren.  On Sunday we banded 2 Ovenbirds and a Northern Cardinal.  Most of the cardinals have been young birds.  Here's a few of photos to show the range of maturity.  There were many differences in molt also.

young male Northern Cardinal not much left of juvenal appearance

female Northern Cardinal - young but mostly changed

Young male Northern Cardinal - younger than the first photo

The Ovenbirds have been consistent.  We have passed the total of Ovenbirds banded in the spring but that was quite easy as we had banded so few birds.

Ovenbird

We banded a Worm-eating Warbler which was the only one since last fall.  Love the warm tan color of this warbler.

Worm-eating Warbler

And finally we banded the Carolina Wren that has been seen and heard on the property recently.  As mentioned before, this is a first for the property since we have been banding there.  It is a little ragged from molting.

Carolina Wren

Next banding is our regularly scheduled Tuesday session barring heavy rain.  Nets go up at 6:45.