April 7, 8, and 9, 2018

The end of Painted Bunting Season 5 approaches and we have gone all out to finish it.  Three days of Painted Bunting banding and then Possum Long (next entry). 

On April 7 we went to a new host site, PB76.  We didn't have many new hosts this season but we still did well.  At this site we banded six new Painted Buntings as well as a Northern Cardinal and a Common Grackle.  After leaving, our host sent a photo to show there were still unbanded birds around.  Having unbanded birds is still data as now we know there were really more birds than the host initially reported. 

unbanded Painted Bunting at feeder at new host site

Photo by host

On April 8 we made our last visit back to PB 46.  We have banded so many buntings and other incidental captures here.  It is such a wonderful place to be.  We banded 9 more Painted Buntings and recaptured 3 from past seasons.  One Painted had a very blue cast, the colors have not been enhanced here.  There was also one with a bit of body molt.  You can see how replacing incidentally lost feathers might create some of the odd color patches we see. 

Painted Bunting with odd blue color look to the feathers

Painted Bunting growing in some replacement feathers

Incidental captures included a Prairie Warbler, 5 Indigo Buntings, 3 Northern Cardinals, 1 Gray Catbird, 6 Blue Jays, and a recently fledged Mourning Dove.  You can see the edged feathers on the wing of the dove.

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Mourning Dove - hatch year

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On April 9 we returned to PB70 where there was a caged feeder that was new this season.  These large feeders wrapped in 1 x 2 fencing allow us to use traps to capture more.  We banded 13 new Painted Buntings and recaptured 1 from last season.  We also banded an Indigo Bunting, a Northern Parula, and a Northern Cardinal.  We thoroughly enjoyed 7 students who we introduced to our project.  We were impressed with their knowledge, interest, and participation.  

Indigo Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Now on to the finish of Season 5 and migration banding.

March 24, 25, and 27, 2018 - SC bird!

Ok, so today is a three-for-one post.  We spent Saturday and Sunday at two very loyal Painted Bunting host locations.  Both had banding sessions earlier but still had unbanded birds. 

On Saturday we returned to PB 5.  We had brought this host a caged feeder much like the one on the Encouraging Painted Buntings Page on this blog.  It fits our traps so we were anxious to see how things were going.  We banded 3 new Painted Buntings and likely would have caught more but the Northern Cardinals thought it was their turn  We banded 6 cardinals and recaptured one.  We also banded 3 Indigo Buntings, a Common Ground-Dove, 2 Blue Jays and 2 Mourning Doves.

After a little while we also set up a net away from the caged feeder.  Good thing we did!!  We caught a Painted Bunting that we had not banded.  We reported this bird to the Bird Banding Laboratory where all banding data is stored/processed/analyzed.  The initial report was that the bird was banded in South Carolina in fall of 2015 as a young bird.  It is still green and we observed feathers that told us that it was an adult bird - a female.  "Foreign" recaptures like this are very rare.  The bird did not have any color bands and is likely NOT one of the ones from the breeding research being done in North Carolina.  We are anxiously waiting more information from the bander.

Indigo Bunting (SY) as told by the small dark feathers over the thumb

Indigo Bunting (ASY) as told by the blue edged small feathers over the thumb

Photos by Bill LaFramboise

Northern Cardinal - female with brood patch

The Indigo Buntings were a great illustration of aging this species.  The first photo is a SY (second year) bird born last summer.  The second is an ASY (After Second Year) adult.  Both are males.  

The cardinal is showing a brood patch and is likely nesting or possibly feeding nestlings.  The belly feathers are gone, the skin is swollen but likely diminishing as it has a wrinkled instead of a blistered appearance.  The brood patch forms to warm the eggs in the nest.  

On Sunday we returned to PB 27.  We banded 11 Painted Buntings.  One was so colorful that the host named it Joseph (and his coat of many colors).  The yellow feathers are a tad unexpected and even his tail was pretty colorful.  We banded 11 Painted Buntings and recaptured 4 from previous seasons.  (Yes, they do come back!)

Painted Buntings

Photos by Bill LaFramboise

On Tuesday we banded our scheduled session at Possum Long.  It was quite windy and the birds were either absent or really hunkered down.  We recaptured a Northern Cardinal and a Painted Bunting.  We also banded one new Gray Catbird.  We stayed long enough to talk with a visiting school group and then we closed up.  Year-round residents were there, a few Great Crested Flycatchers were back for the nesting season, and the only warbler seen was 1 Prairie Warbler. 

Next Possum Long banding will be April 3, 2018.  Nets go up at 6:45.

February 19, 2018

On February 19 we returned to PB 5.  It is one of the few locations where a very close neighbor is also feeding Painted Buntings.  We set up in both yards.  Despite the wind, we managed to band quite a few birds including 4 Painted Buntings and 1 Indigo Bunting.  We have come to this location every year in the study and it is always a pleasure! 

male Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Indigo Bunting (young male)

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

One of the missions of a bander is to educate and inspire.  The host at PB5 invited her grandchildren and we had a very good time talking about birds and butterflies.  One can hope that our mission was accomplished.  Hi to these young ladies and we hope you enjoy reading about the birds you saw banded.

Pete Grannis showing the girls what we do - Photo by Grandma

I love that children are so interested!  - Photo by Grandma

We also captured a few incidental birds.  We banded 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and really enjoyed aging these, 1 Blue Jay, and 1 Mourning Dove. 3 Northern Cardinals, and 1 Pine Warbler.

Pine Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Mourning Dove

 Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Red-bellied Woodpeckers - comparing 2 wings

Photo by PB5 host

Blue Jay

Photo by PB5 host

April 8, 10, 11, 12, and 14, 2017

We have been going full speed ahead in hopes of getting a few migrant Painted Buntings as they pass through.  We have 6 more banding sessions to report plus an article that could prove to be interesting to our study.

On April 8 we visited a new site, PB 72.  Five Painted Buntings had been reported and we caught five only to see at least one more unbanded.  With a few changes this site will be a place to return to next fall.  Incidental captures included 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 2 Northern Cardinals, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Pine Warbler, a Blue Jay, 2 Red-winged Blackbirds, 3 Common Grackles, and a Mourning Dove.

Pine Warbler

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

This Painted Bunting was quite red and we had been told that this indicates an older female. However this one was just born last summer as told by covert feathers.  So, definitely unknown sex on this green one!  Painted Bunting colors are not reliable for aging and sexing until males show their full colors.

young Painted Bunting

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On April 10 we made a quick trip back to DuPuis where we banded 2 more new Painted Buntings, had several recaptures , and banded 2 more Indigo Buntings.

On April 11, we had our regular Possum Long Banding station session.  We banded a new Gray Catbird and recaptured 3 Painted Buntings.  One was from this season but two were from older seasons and that gives us such good return data.

Gray Catbird

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

On April 12 we returned to PB 2 where the host reported a flock of buntings that had passed through her yard and may have stayed.  We banded 6 new Painted Buntings.

Bill checking for fat to assess readiness to migrate

Photo by Linda Wishney

On April 14 we returned to PB 1 where it all started!  The host reported at least 12 unbanded birds and we banded 21.  (No I did not transpose these numbers!).  We also had incidental captures of a Northern Cardinal and two Mourning Doves.  One of the doves was recently born - our first hatch-year bird of the season.

Painted Bunting with blue head feather

Any lost feather can be replaced with any color

wing of young Mourning Dove

note scalloped edging - those white tips will wear off as the bird ages

Photo by Bill LaFramboise

Our next regularly scheduled Possum Long session will be Tuesday, April 18.  Nets go up at 6:45. When winds kept migrants from landing last year, this week and the next one were the best of the season.  We can hope.  Remember that when birds fly right over us, it is good for them but makes for quiet days for us.

And the article (link below):  I was sent this link and while it is a sad reminder that illegal trapping of our beautiful birds still occurs, it may reveal one of our banded birds.  I have contacted FWC in hopes of finding out if the banded bird mentioned could be one of our Painted Buntings.  I will update on this blog.

I also received a note from a Painted Bunting location (hope to band there some day).  She reported a single color band on a bird which is  not what we or any other permitted bander does.  It appears that possibly someone caught a bird and applied a band meant for caged birds.  Whether or not this bird was caged, we will never know.  It is really important that education happen to protect our native birds and to keep them from becoming pets.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-reg-trapping-birds-20170413-story.html

March 19, 20, and 21, 2017

March 19 was a super busy day as we visited two locations.  We returned to PB 64 in the morning and PB 13 in the afternoon.  Many thanks to Pat Marshall who worked at both sessions and the next day too!

At PB 64 we banded 9 new Painted Buntings as well as incidental captures of a Mourning Dove, a Palm Warbler, FIVE Northern Cardinals. and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Best news of all was recapturing all six of the birds we banded the previous year.  Some locations do get 100% returns!

Palm Warbler

Northern Cardinal - male

Painted Bunting - male

At PB 13 we were pretty hampered by the rising wind and a few grackles.  Despite that we banded 7 new buntings and recaptured one.  Incidental captures included another Northern Cardinal and 3 of the Common Grackles.  It is interesting to me that even though these 2 locations are fairly close, they do not seem to share birds.

Monday found us at PB 37.  We had last visited in Season Two and had banded 22 buntings then. This visit we banded 13 new buntings and recaptured 2.  The only incidental capture was a Blue Jay. Our host is an great photographer and she allowed us to share the release she caught!  We have two other great photos by her which will appear in presentations or maybe in a later blog.

Releasing the Painted Bunting after banding

Very colorful male Painted Bunting underside

Blue Jay holding his bands hostage

Our regular Possum Long session on March 21 went well but migrants are yet to show up in any numbers.  We banded a new Painted Bunting, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a Blue Jay.  We also recaptured another Painted Bunting, an Ovenbird, and a Northern Cardinal.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Blue Jay - wing showing young feathers

Next regularly scheduled banding at Possum Long will be March 28.  Nets go up at 7:15.

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 24, 2017

It is a little late but HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Possum Long Banding is still on vacation but we hope to resume on February 14.  Keep watching this site for updates and times.

Painted Bunting banding took a short break but we are back underway.  We banded at PB 59 but though we saw the Painted Buntings there, we just didn't catch any.  This sometimes happens.  We did band 2 Common Grackles.

Sunday, January 22, we visited a new host (PB 66) on the west coast of Florida.  We had high hopes of our first bunting from "out west" but once again they were seen but not captured.  We did band 10 Red-winged Blackbirds and a Common Grackles.  The blackbirds gave us a great opportunity to age this species.

Red-winged Blackbird (ASY) male

Red-winged Blackbird

(l) SY female, (r) ASY female

Today we were much more fortunate when we revisited PB 32 and banded 2 male and one green Painted Buntings.  Also there were quite a few Indigo Buntings at this site.  We banded 5 and recaptured one that had been banded at this site last year.  The male Indigos are turning more blue every day but a lot of it is still hidden until we spread the wings.  We also banded an Ovenbird, a Northern Mockingbird, 3 Northern Cardinals, and a Mourning Dove.

Ovenbird

Indigo Bunting (male)

Indigo Bunting (female)

I will be giving a lecture at the Blake Library (2351 SE Monterey Rd. Stuart, FL) on February 2, from 6-7 pm.  I will be giving an overview of our research project from basics to results.  Hope to see you there.

December 12 - 18, 2016

However you celebrate let us wish you the best.  Find out what makes your heart sing and do it.  We are ever so grateful for family and friends and all who make my heart sing by being able to do this research.  I appreciate the volunteers and the hosts who are contributing to our expanding knowledge of Painted Buntings and the other birds we band while doing this project.

The last four sessions of 2016 are done.  We will now celebrate arriving family.  We will be tallying birds since the fall Possum Long Banding through the end of the year.  Keep in touch for details (totals at the bottom of the page).  Painted Bunting banding will continue in the New Year and Possum Long banding will resume as we see more birds returning.

On December 12, we banded at PB 48.  This is home of the bird that ended up in Cuba!  We banded six more Painted Buntings.  One was a green bird with red highlights.  We had been told this is a trait of older females.  Well, surprise, this bird was born last summer.  The colors are NOT this bird molting into male colors.  That doesn't happen until the fall of next year.  It does not even mean it might be male - we just don't know.  Likely it had lost a few feathers for some other reason entirely and they grew in more red and one was actually blue (on the belly!).

Painted Bunting

Another bunting we captured had lost its tail and it was regrowing.  It looked so different with a short tail.  You can see some of the sheaths that cover the new feathers.

Painted Bunting regrowing a lost tail

On December 14, we went to our first new location of the season.  PB 65 had buntings and quite a few warblers.  We banded some of each - 3 buntings and 10 incidentals:  A Black-throated Blue Warbler, an American Redstart, an Ovenbird, an Orange-crowned Warbler, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Northern Cardinal, a Northern Mockingbird, a Blue Jay, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a Mourning Dove.  We saw other warblers as well.  If there were this many warblers still at Possum Long I think we'd be banding there.

The Blue Jay had had an injury to its bill.  Possibly caught in some kind of snap-trap.  The Red-bellied Woodpecker was quite red on the belly which is very hard to see when they are clinging to a trunk of a tree.  

Blue Jay with old bill injury

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

On December 16, we returned to PB 32.  In addition to two more Painted Buntings we were glad to catch five American Goldfinches.  We also banded five Northern Cardinals.  Surprisingly, one was still showing signs of being young (most young cardinals born last summer have completely molted now and have all adult plumage).  

American Goldfinch - non-breeding male

Northern Cardinal

Today, December 18, we banded at PB 10 where we have not visited since Season 1.  We were glad to return even though not many Painted Buntings were at the feeders (yet).  We will likely revisit in the spring.  The buntings have plenty of places to go once they see the nets and go to eat elsewhere. We banded two buntings, three Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Mourning Dove.

Mourning Dove

green Painted Bunting - born last summer so cannot tell if it is male or female

(Not all of the labels would fit so some are abbreviated.)