March 4, 2014

We had a fairly good session today but we had to work hard for it.  Birds were around all day but we are guessing that a lot of bug-eating is going on way up in the trees.  We had several Yellow-throated Vireos today (photos below) and we banded a Blue-headed Vireo - first one banded on Possum Long.  The only other new captures were three Gray Catbirds, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a green Painted Bunting.

Blue-headed Vireo

Photo by Nancy LaFramboise

We recaptured a female Northern Cardinal that was banded in October.  She was just packed with fat.   Nest building, egg laying, and brooding are all energy intensive things.  She's getting ready to nest as there was no sign of a current brood patch so she is not on eggs yet.

Northern Cardinal

Photo by Crystal Conway

No pictures of the Painted Bunting we caught but it was color banded.  It was a green one meaning it was female or a first-year male.  We will let you know if this one shows up at a nearby feeder.  

In addition the the vireos, we had a Summer Tanager on the property today.

Pat got pictures of the Yellow-throated Vireo as well as a White-eyed.  Three Vireo species on the property today.

Yellow-throated Vireo

Both photos by Pat Marshall

Next banding:  March 11, nets up at 6:30.  Yes, I know there's a time change but there's also more day length.  It will be darker at the start but maybe we'll get a few more early captures.

NEW START TIME:  7:15 ignore above start time

Painted Bunting Info

I am not doing a blog per se on the Painted Bunting Banding Project but you can follow what we are doing on a page in this blog.  Look in the upper right where there is a list of pages.  Once you have read the beginning, on subsequent visits, you can just scroll down for the latest news.  We are posting pictures of some of the buntings and some incidental captures.

We were very pleased to be featured in Hart Rufe's column on the St Lucie Audubon web page.  When he has added other columns, you may have to scroll down to Previous Columns.  http://stlucieaudubon.org/docs/hartBeat/hartBeat.html

I have also added banding totals to the bottom of the blog.

Nancy LaFramboise

February 25, 2014

Today we hosted Greg who took a long drive, early in the morning, to visit our station.  As we were putting up the nets there were birds calling all around but only two new and one recapture made their way to the nets today.

First off we had a Gray Catbird.  They have returned in higher numbers than we have had all winter.  Unfortunately it was only this one and another for today.

Gray Catbird

Photo by Greg Palermo

The second Gray Catbird had a damaged bill.  In evaluating the bird, we found that it did not have sharp edges of a recent break.  The bird also had some stored fat in preparation for migration.  So, despite the damage, this bird is coping and eating and had a good amount of energy.

Gray Catbird

Photo by Bill Eaton

Later we recaptured a female American Redstart.  This bird was originally determined to be an after hatch-year female.  She was on her way north last March when we caught her.  She went somewhere in the large breeding range of American Redstarts, likely had a nest and then flew south to spend the winter.  Now, likely on her way back north (we saw no overwintering redstarts this year), she once again flew to Possum Long.  This is the amazing realization of recaptures!

Greg got the only photo of the redstart today - of himself just before releasing her.

American Redstart

Photo by Greg Palermo

Crystal caught the cute photo for the day - rabbit visiting the station!

Photo by Crystal Conway

We are on the verge of some migration banding.  The noise level has certainly increased at Possum Long and we were a bit frustrated in the late morning to hear vireos.  We were able to find both Yellow-throated (only the second time detected on the property) and a Blue-headed but neither obliged us with a capture.  The Yellow-throated sang its song ("three-eight") and scolded and drove us a bit crazy.  Warbler numbers also seemed to be higher than the recent normal.  Maybe next session......

Next banding will be on March 4.  Nets up at 6:30.

February 11, 2014

Another session at Possum Long and this one was almost all about Gray Catbirds.  We caught and banded 4 of them.  Several were starting to show signs of gathering fat.  Last year we noticed an increase in Gray Catbirds around this time so one can wonder if they have moved north to here, adding fat to do so, or did they just come to Possum Long to feast on the coffee berries and fatten up for travel in the near future?  Time may tell us more.

We did have one other capture this week.  A Northern Parula made an appearance.

Northern Parula

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Notice the tail has several large white spots.  This indicates an adult male still in non-breeding plumage.  

Northern Parula

Photo by Jane Wiewora

We do use reference books to check out these birds.  This parula was checking it out too.

We also recaptured a green Painted Bunting today.  In fact it was the color banded one from December 17.  

Painted Bunting

Photo by Jane Wiewora

Its band combination is Split (black/white split indicates banded in FL) over orange on the left and orange over silver (federal band) on the right.

Northern Mockingbirds are singing like crazy.  There was a pair of Mottled Ducks on the pond and two pair of Wood Ducks.  There was also a big ruckus by possible nesting Red-shouldered Hawks.  One appeared to be eating a frog.  Looks like the birds are thinking spring.  Are you?

NEXT SESSION:  If things continue much like last year, we won't get much migrant action until somewhere between the end of February to the middle of March.  We will skip next week and the next session at Possum Long will be on February 25.  Nets will go up at 6:30 am.  Watch here in case something changes.

Yes, weather permitting (no rain) we will band on 2/25.  I was left a comment with no way to answer that person.  So, people who wish to visit should be able to find us somewhere on the property (make sure you check Hibiscus Street too).  We hear Gray Catbirds are on the move and they are typically in the nets early.  I am hearing a few "new" warblers - saw a Black-and-white and a Northern Parula (in fact it was singing) but no assurance that they will go in the nets.  This is just the beginning - each week should be a bit more busy.  -NL

January 21, 2014

Today was once again very slow.  We waited almost 4 hours with 7 nets up and we only caught one bird.  Yes, you guessed it - Gray Catbird.

No photographs either.

I am considering a break for a week or two and hopefully things will move soon.  Keep a watch here (I'll amend the end of this post) for the latest on the next banding.  Likely this will happen on February 11, 2014.  Nets up at 6:30.  Maybe February 4 if the water level in the pond is lower.

January 14, 2014

Well, today can only be described as quiet.  It is obvious that some more winter birds have moved in but unfortunately they are flyovers or high in the trees.  American Robins are around as are American Goldfinches.  From contact with people who feed Painted Buntings (see new page with information on this project), they were late this year but numbers seem to be increasing.  So, the winter doldrums have hit.  The good news is that last year we had more captures starting in February!

Today we had one recapture of a Gray Catbird originally banded in December.

Gray Catbird

Photo by Bill Eaton

We were also visited by a species that does not typically frequent the property.  A young Little Blue Heron patrolled the pond.  The pond was very high with water over the new walkway bridge and covering all of the berms where we have been placing nets.  

Little Blue Heron

Photos by Nancy LaFramboise

Next banding session:  January 21, 2014 - nets go up at 6:30 am

January 9, 2014 TODAY'S BANDING CANCELED

Banding is canceled today because of the rain.  Hope to see everyone at the next session which will be on our regularly scheduled Tuesday.

In the meantime, check out the page I've created about our new endeavor - color banding Painted Buntings.  We have been to 5 locations already and have banded 23 so far.  Incidental captures have been fun too.  I have added two new species to my banded list.

Next banding session:  Tuesday, January 14.  Nets go up at 6:30 am, weather permitting.