April 4 and 5, 2018 ANOTHER SC!!!

On Wednesday, we returned to PB6 at Dupuis Management Area.  The feeders there were pretty quiet but we did manage to band a new Painted Bunting and recapture 5 more.  This return data is very important to document continued presence and returns to the same location.  We also banded a Northern Cardinal.

Painted Bunting - male

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On Thursday, we returned to PB62.  It had been two years since we had been here so there were many unbanded birds.  In addition, nearby "natural" or vegetated lots had been cleared so maybe they had moved here for shelter and food.  We banded a whopping 34 new Painted Buntings.  We also recaptured 2 from two years ago.  Incidental captures included 6 Northern Cardinals, a Blue Jay. and a remaining Chipping Sparrow.

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

But the best news of all was a recapture that totally surprised us in so many ways.  In the net we saw color bands but no split band.  If you've been following all along you know that all of the color banded buntings we band have gotten either a split black/white band or a yellow/green one.  It could have just lost the split one but when we looked it up in our data the band number didn't match any of ours.  Yes, another recapture from elsewhere,

recaptured 10 year old Painted Bunting

The new reporting site for banded birds at the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is now almost instantaneous!  We submitted the band number and got a warning - "caution check data - bird or band is old". Well, the data was fine so we submitted it.

The bird was banded July 1, 2009 near Seabrook Island, SC.  The data said that it was aged to have been hatched in 2008.  We recaptured a ten year old Painted Bunting! He was in very good shape so hopefully he lives on.  Looking at age records determined by banding the oldest Painted Bunting was 12 years old.  The oldest we had recaptured before was 8.  There is a record of one in captivity that was 17 but definitely did not have the same living conditions.

Painted Bunting total to date is 323.  Two or three more sites to go in the next week. 

Next scheduled Possum Long Banding will be on April 10.  Nets go up at sunrise.

March 1, 2018

On Thursday we returned to PB 6.  We had not really planned this but timing worked out and we chose to go.  There were many birds at the feeders and we banded a lot of them.  We would have gotten more Painted Buntings but the Common Grackles frequented the nets and kept the buntings hidden.

We banded 5 Painted Buntings and recaptured one.  The recaptured one was from Season One.  It was an adult male at the time it was banded so it is at least 7 years old.

Painted Bunting

One of our original banded males

We also banded 2 Chipping Sparrows, 4 Indigo Buntings, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Common Ground-Doves, 3 Common Grackles (and released many more unbanded).

We recaptured an Indigo Bunting we had banded exactly 1 year prior (3/1/17) and an Ovenbird that was the next band in that sequence but was banded on March 16, 2017.  

Ovenbird

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Chipping Sparrow

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Common Grackle

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Next Possum Long session will be on Tuesday, March 6.  Nets go up at 6:45.  

Note:  Banding will NOT occur on Tuesday, March 20.  However it will be on Monday, March 19.

February 16, 2018

I'm behind on a few posts so be sure to read the next few!

On February 16, we went to PB 6 to band.  We caught a good number of buntings though there are more to catch.  We banded 9 Painted and 11 Indigo Buntings.  It seems when Indigos are present they are bolder and get caught first. 

Indigo Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Indigo Bunting (young male)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Painted Bunting molting in 2 head feathers

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Though the above photo shows head feathers being replaced, for the most part Painted Buntings do not do much molting in the spring.  They may replace a few head feathers to "spiffy up" or to just replace what has been lost.  (In other words, please remember, male colors are only developed in the fall!)

We also banded EIGHT Blue Jays, 1 Palm Warbler, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 1 Northern Cardinal, and 2 Gray Catbirds.

Blue Jay

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Chipping Sparrow

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

March 12, 14, and 15, 2017

On March 12, we banded at PB 10 where we finally caught the birds that were present!  The host reported only 1 unbanded green after we left.  Sometimes we are not that lucky.  We banded 10 Painted Buntings and recaptured the two that had been banded in December.  When people tell me that banding will scare their birds off I remember times like this.

We had 6 incidental bandings:  2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Common Ground-Doves, 1 Great Crested Flycatcher, and a Northern Parula.

Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)

On March 14, we had our regular banding session at Possum Long.  We did well with 2 Painted Buntings; one a recapture and one a new bird.  Both were green so it afforded us the perfect opportunity for a side-by-side photo.  The key feathers are where I am pointing - that bird is a female because the feathers have a green edging.  The bird on the left shows grayer feathers in the same area.  It was born last summer.

Painted Buntings

Photo by Pat Marshall

(a cropped version of the above)

We also banded a Northern Parula and a Downy Woodpecker.  Birds are moving through the property with a recent report of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo!

Northern Parula

Photo by Pete Grannis

Northern Parula

Photo by Pete Grannis

Downy Woodpecker - female

Photo by Pat Marshall

We returned to DuPuis Wildlife Area (PB 6) several times but caught the most birds on March 15. We banded 8 Painted Buntings and recaptured quite a few.  At least one male was from Season 1!!  We also banded a new Chipping Sparrow and a recaptured one from 2 years ago.  The Clay-colored Sparrow was also still present.

Many birds are using the caged feeder.  The Painted and Indigo Buntings LOVE it.  There are also Chipping Sparrows that use it and the Clay-colored was in it for a few minutes.  Also a Gray Catbird managed to squeeze in.  I don't think they eat seed very often.  

Caged feeder (plans in Encouraging Painted Buntings page on this blog)

You can see a male and a green I hope.

Next scheduled Possum Long banding:  Tuesday, March 21.  Nets go up at 7:30 am.  

March 6 and 7, 2017

Monday we returned to DuPuis (PB 6) for another attempt to band some of the unbanded birds we saw on March 1.  This visit we only managed recaptures but the great news and data are that some of those birds were from Seasons 1 and 2.  The birds were doing fine and on a few we had to replace color bands that had fallen off or were faded.

We also caught a few incidental Chipping Sparrows.  The excitement was that among the Chipping Sparrows, Pete and Jean noticed one that looked different.  Different it was - it was a Clay-colored Sparrow (photo below).  What great spotting that led to a life looks for some and a few new state and/or county species seen.

Painted Bunting - male

Painted Bunting female (know because as a recapture we know it is over 4 years old!)

Chipping Sparrow

We also recaptured 2 Chipping Sparrows from 2 years ago, banded on the same dates!

Clay-colored Sparrow (right) with 2 Chipping Sparrows

Photo by Jean Potvin

Today, Possum Long just wasn't as exciting as yesterday.  In fact we did not capture any birds.  This is only the 7th time in 5 years that we had that happen.  Wind was a big factor as the birds can see the nets moving.  It was also raptor day with 2 nesting Red-shouldered Hawks, 2 nesting Osprey, 3 newly arrived flyover Swallow-tailed Kites, and 2 Cooper's Hawks!!  Better luck in the next week or so as sooner or later migrants will come through.

Next scheduled banding:  Tuesday, March 14.  Nets go up at 7:30 am.

February 24, 26, 28, and March 1, 2017, 2017

On March 24, we went back to PB 3 as they had a few unbanded birds plus one bird that had returned but was apparently not a combination from this location.  We did band 2 more here and we did recapture the suspect bird.  It turns out that it was banded at Possum Long in April, 2016.  The young lady of the household lent us her special bunting for company!

our bunting mascot

Painted Bunting

Photo by Pete Grannis

On the 26th we went to Sebastian and revisited PB 40.  It was a very birdy day - we saw our first Swallow-tailed Kite of the season.

We banded 8 new Painted Buntings and had 17 incidental birds:  Two American Goldfinch, 7 Indigo Buntings, 3 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 3 Northern Cardinals, 1 Common Ground-Dove, and a Common Grackle.  

Painted Bunting 

male

Indigo Bunting

molting and wearing into blue colors for spring

American Goldfinch

On February 28 we cancelled our regularly scheduled Possum Long banding due to rain.  Bird safety comes first and wet nets are not safe for birds.  

March 1 was a great session.  We banded at DuPuis (PB 6) which is one of our few sites with public access. This is a good location for observing buntings.  We only used a trap in the caged feeder that is there. It kept us quite busy.  We banded 5 new buntings and recaptured 6 more.  We saw quite a few strange colors including one green bunting with red feathers on its face.  These were not molting in. The cheek area is typically blue on a male so it is just that they got colored red as they grew in.  We recaptured a male that had been banded in Season 1.  This means the bird is a least 6 years old.  We also had 5 incidental captures of 3 Chipping Sparrows and 2 Indigo Buntings.  

Painted Bunting with strange red face feathers

Indigo Bunting 

molting and wearing into its blue colors for spring

Painted Bunting

older female with rosy breast

Next scheduled banding at Possum Long will be on Tuesday, March 6.  Nets go up at 6:30.  

February 11 & 12, 2017

This weekend we made return visits to two sites.  We are not getting many new invites so it is wonderful to have former hosts report they have many unbanded birds.

At PB 46 we banded 23 new birds and added to our return data with 11 recaptures.  At this site we have exceeded 100 birds banded.  The hosts are  incredibly wonderful to us and do an excellent job of tracking their birds.  Number 100 got a special combination with 2 of the black/white split bands.

Painted Bunting

We also banded a Mourning Dove, a Northern Cardinal, a Chipping Sparrow and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Chipping Sparrow

At PB 49 we banded 14 new Painted Buntings, doubling the total there.  Last year we knew there were more birds but we were unable to catch them.  Though many of the birds were born last summer here's one that is older.  As we have mentioned many times before, this can only be told in-hand. Note the green edges to the feathers above the thumb.  These are hidden on a folded wing.

Painted Bunting (female as can only be told in hand) (ASY)

note the green edges to the feathers above the thumb

We recaptured three from last season and banded a Northern Cardinal who thinks he owns the yard!

Northern Cardinal

Next Possum Long banding:  Tuesday, February 14.  Nets go up at 7 am.

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.

November 27, 2016

Yesterday we banded at PB 46.  We recaptured a few buntings and banded 7 new ones.  Incidental captures included a Chipping Sparrow, an already banded Northern Cardinal, a Blue-headed Vireo and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Blue-headed Vireo

Red-bellied Woodpecker - female

Interesting to note is that PB 46 hosted a bird from PB 3!!  One of the first instances of a bird from a different feeder/location showing up elsewhere.  Now that we are in Season 4, maybe birds that have survived this long are starting to establish new patterns.

We have received a report of a banded Painted Bunting (one of ours!) at a new location.  It was originally banded in November, 2014 in Lake Worth.  It was first seen at the new place on November 27 in Boynton Beach.  The bird was in its male colors when it was banded which means it was born earlier than 2014.  This bird is at least 3 years old (soon to be 4 when all banded birds age a year in January!).

Painted Bunting resighting away from banding location

Photo by future PB host!