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
