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 19, 2018

Our last Possum Long session hints that migration may be picking up.  We had a lot of visitors including a preschool group, a smart young lady who was on spring break, and new and old friends.  I am thankful for my long term volunteers and the visitors who allow me to share this experience.

We banded 6 birds and recaptured 2.  The recaptures were a Gray Catbird from March of 2014 and a Painted Bunting from this past fall.  Hopefully their return to this location met their "fuel" needs as they overwintered somewhere and are getting ready to depart.

We banded our first Prairie Warbler of the season.  Although some over-winter here, we suspect (hope?) that this one was migrating through.  It was starting to build up some fat reserves to fuel its journey north.  Hard to see in the field but visible in hand are the rufous streaks on the back of this species.

Prairie Warbler

Photos by Bill LaFramboise

We also banded two other warblers:  a Yellow-rumped and a Palm.  These are winter residents in south Florida but still might be stopping at Possum Long.  The Palm Warbler was starting to develop its breeding colors - its rufous cap and yellower face and breast.

Palm Warbler

photo by Bill LaFramboise

We also banded three new Gray Catbirds.  Another capture was a male Northern Cardinal that we were unable to band.  It likely had a mite infestation that was causing its legs to enlarge.  We do not feature some of the injuries and illnesses we see but this one is pretty common especially in the Painted Buntings that we band.  Early on during our Possum Long banding we encountered another male Northern Cardinal with similar legs.  We caught it often and ended up calling him "Mr. Legs".  Since the bird could not be banded we can't be sure if this was the original Mr. Legs but it could be.  See post for November 8, 2012 - what do you think?????

Northern Cardinal

Next Possum Long session will be on Tuesday, March 27.  Nets go up at 6:45 am.

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.

November 19, 20, 22, and 23, 2016 Bunting Season underway

I cannot believe I am more than a week behind but it has been a busy week.  We returned to three former Painted Bunting sites and did a small session at Possum Long.  In addition to banding new buntings, it was nice to get some more return data.  Now that we are approaching our 1000th banded Painted Bunting it is harder to get reports of the returns.

On November 19, we were once again at Possum Long.  For the past few weeks we have been taunted by the calls of a Summer Tanager.  Today we caught and banded it.  It was only our second one of this species.  In the second photo you can see the "tooth" (small bulge on the upper edge) on the bill, typical of tanagers.

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

We captured and banded 4 other birds:  A Prairie Warbler, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a Common Yellowthroat.  

Prairie Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

On November 20, we returned to PB 1 where we banded 6 new Painted Buntings (all green - 4 young of the year and 2 female (which can only determined in hand)) and recaptured a few more.  One male showed an unusually colored undertail and another male looked like it had been attacked by something and was regrowing a lot of back feathers.  The tail was also half missing.  Both were recaptures.  

Painted Bunting - male

Painted Bunting - male

On November 22, we returned to the DuPuis Visitor Center's feeders.  Though we only banded one new Painted Bunting, we were able to recapture 3 already banded birds plus 6 incidentals:  2 Common Ground-Doves, 2 Palm Warblers, a Northern Cardinal, and a Gray Catbird.

Common Ground-Dove

And on November 23, we returned to PB 58.  We banded 11 Painted Buntings (4 male, 2 female, and 5 young of the year).  This location had 3 of 4 birds return from last year.  Since we banded in the late spring, the 4th could be elsewhere as it was migration time when it was banded.  

Painted Bunting - male

We have now topped 31,000 hits on this blog - keep reading!

Next banding at Possum Long will be on November 29.  Nets go up at 6:15-6:30.  This will likely be one of the last regularly scheduled sessions until some time in January.  Keep a watch on blog entries for updates.    

November 8, 11, and 13, 2016

Sometimes there is too much to do and so little time.  My apologies for being late posting this but at least there are a lot of birds to report!  Tuesday, at Possum Long, we moved operations closer to the pond and it paid off.  It was a warbler blitz:  6 species and 11 birds!  One Northern Parula, 1 Ovenbird, 1 Prairie, 2 Palm, 1 Black-throated Blue, and 5 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers. There was another warbler species recaptured - a Common Yellowthroat.  Also recaptured were 2 Painted Buntings and 2 House Wrens.

It seemed a bit late for the Ovenbird and the BT Blue but neither flagged as particularly rare on eBird.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (female)

Northern Parula

Photo by Pat Marshall

Prairie Warbler 

Photo by Pat Marshall

Ovenbird

Palm Warbler

recaptured House Wren originally banded in 2015

On November 11, we were once again hosted at PB 27.  This location has two caged feeders that perfectly fit our traps.  We banded 9 new Painted Buntings and recaptured 3 more.  Two of the three recaptures were from Season Two (early 2015 - two seasons ago).  This is great data for us.  

Painted Bunting (glowing in the sun)

Photo by Pete Grannis

Painted Bunting

Photo by Pete Grannis

We did a supplemental session today (Nov 13).  We banded 5 new birds and recaptured 2.  We banded one Gray Catbird today.  It seems odd to be "missing" them but we hadn't banded many recently. Much different from Tuesday we only banded 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Extra bonuses were a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and an Eastern Phoebe, only our second banded at Possum Long

 Eastern Phoebe 

Gray Catbird

Next Tuesday session:  November 15.  Nets go up at 6:15 am.  Remember to find us closer to the pond.  We WILL NOT BE at Possum Long on 11/22.  Watch future posts for our return.

April 8, 2014

Today was a good day at the banding station.  Summer humidity has returned.  Spring migrants have too but not in great numbers yet.  I was very glad to have Rich and Doris visit.  They are from my former home and it is great to have their company.  Rich helped at banding stations there so it was nice to share Possum Long with them.

Also good news is that the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have come back to Possum Long to nest.  If someone on the team got photos I will update this post.

Today we had 7 new Gray Catbirds and a second-year female Prairie Warbler (no chestnut on the back).  We also recaptured a Black-and-white Warbler from October 10, 2013 and 2 Gray Catbirds One catbird was recently banded and the other was from last October.  The Black-and-white Warbler was just getting in the black throat feathers of a male - definitely a second-year bird.

Black-and-white Warbler

Photo by Jane Wiewora

We continue to see Gray Catbirds with mottled undertail coverts and one was almost entirely gray instead of rusty.  No molt was visible.  Very strange.

Gray Catbird

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

We observed 30 species on the property - definitely rising numbers.  Of note last Saturday was a Magnificent Frigatebird flying over.

Next banding session:  Tuesday, April 15.  Nets go up at 6:45.

April 2, 2013

On the Edge of Migration (or so we hope)

Migration in Florida is very weather dependent.  Clear skies mean that birds keep flying.  Our weather has been clear and quite warm.  April is the key month in spring; birds are quickly making their way north.  We can't be sure of having birds on the property but hopefully migration is soon to produce.

I've had a wish to band some of the Great Crested Flycatchers that have come to Possum Long to breed.  Last year they used a Wood Duck box for their cavity.  It appears that they are doing so again.

Great Crested Flycatcher

After we banded two Gray Catbirds we had a Prairie Warbler in the net in the butterfly garden.  Though fairly out in the open, this net has been productive.

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Bev Poppke

Prairie Warbler

Photo by Nancy Price

We had another visitor to the butterfly garden today.  As soon as it saw me it decided to move on.  Barely had time to catch a picture.

Great Egret 

I was lamenting that the Great Cresteds were up so high that we would probably not catch one.  While near the trail net, Marko played the song on his phone to see what it sounded like and one hit the net.  When he told me we had one, I told him April Fool's was yesterday!  But it was true!

Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Nancy Price

Flycatchers and other insect-eating birds (like the previous Chuck-will's-widow) have bristles near their bill that help detect flying insect prey.  When these are touched, the bill snaps.  I was surprised at how strong the feet were on this bird.  Other flycatchers I have banded had relatively small, weak feet.

Great Crested Flycatcher showing rictal bristles

Photo by Crystal Conway

Showing Fran and Marko the Great Crested Flycatcher

Photo by Linda Wishney

When we have the bird in hand, the undertail coverts on a Gray Catbird are a surprise to some folks as the feathers are rust colored.  One Gray Catbird we caught had quite a bit of body molt (feathers that are growing in and are covered with a sheath).  In addition to some of the gray body feathers, some of the undertail coverts were growing in too. 

Gray Catbird

Photo by Nancy Price

I am always grateful to all of the volunteers who work hard on this project.  Many thanks to you.  Extra thanks today go to Linda Wishney who brought coffee and doughnuts!  

Next banding:  April 9, 2013

February 5, 2013 - 13th post and 13 banded today

I hope there are more days that I can report like this or even better.  Today was the all-time best session so far.  Yes, the Bicknell's Thrush was a rush and the Chuck-will's-widow was totally unexpected but today beat it all with high numbers, new species, and great helpers.  So much new information to process and add to what we already know.

Today we banded 13 birds with new bands, we had another recapture and we got more information on the deformed Northern Cardinal.

Today we hung the new nets and caught birds right away.  As much as I give credit to having more nets, there was also a marked increase in bird activity.  We got to practice with a Gray Catbird and this bird showed some tail molt.  (Pictures with no photo credit are from my camera though sometimes one of the other volunteers may do the actual picture taking.)

Gray Catbird

The white covering on the feather is a sheath that covers a newly forming feather.  This Gray Catbird somehow lost a few tail feathers and is growing some new ones in.  Later in the season we will see tail molt again but it will be symmetric not just a random flight feather growing in.

It is hard to remember the order in which we got the birds.  One of the next birds we banded was a White-eyed Vireo.  Nancy Price had seen one previously but here was one in our hands.

White-eyed Vireo

Notice the small hook on the bill.  The white eyes are a bit eerie.

We also recaptured the male Northern Cardinal with the deformed legs (see 11/8 and 11/15).  Previously I had updated that a veterinarian told me she suspected bird mites.  Our new volunteer, Ryan Welsh knew how to look for them and behold, they were there.  When we held the wing up to the light we could see the tiny black dots moving.  Another Northern Cardinal we caught later did not have them.

Northern Cardinal

photo by Nancy Price

We also caught our first Northern Mockingbird.  It is nice to have bigger birds to work on.  Good practice for more smaller birds later in the day.  Both the Northern Mockingbird and its close relative the Gray Catbird are quite vocal as we work on them.

Northern Mockingbird

Somewhere along the way we caught more cardinals.  One male was a biter and was hard to bag as he was  hanging on to the bag for dear life.  I will admit, this one escaped unbanded.

Northern Cardinal

Nancy Price called with the news that we caught another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  By the time we got to the net, there were two more birds - another White-eyed Vireo and a Prairie Warbler.  

Prairie Warbler

How fun to band such a little, feisty bird that is so bright and colorful.

Make sure you check out the page with a list of the birds we have seen on or from the property in 2013.  We added 7 to that list today.

What a good day.  13 newly banded birds, 1 recaptured Gray Catbird , 2 unbanded Northern Cardinals.  (1 Prairie Warbler, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 White-eyed Vireos, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 3 Gray Catbirds, 3 Northern Cardinals, and 1 Northern Mockingbird.)

Many thanks to my hard working volunteers!!

Next banding February 12, 2013