Spring 2020 Banding Season, Week 10: June 15—19

Jeanne O'Rourke | July 7, 2020 |

The Landbird Conservation Team

EVAN: TUESDAY, JUNE 16—CENSUS

An early start today, as I was also collecting a little banding data while recording some video, hopefully to aid in the creation of a virtual net run! The few nets I had open captured several local breeding birds, including Grey Catbirds and a Song Sparrow with brood patches, indicating they’re actively incubating eggs. Multiflora rose is in full bloom, its small flowers perfuming the net lanes. A stunning after-second-year American Goldfinch was a pleasant surprise in my final net run. I was able to band another box of Tree Swallow babies as well. Gray Tree Frogs have begun taking up residence in our placed frog tubes. It will be interesting to see if individuals use the same tubes every time!

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70493414

Gray Tree Frog

Banding Tree Swallow babies!

Multiflora rose

Gray Tree Frog

TREVOR: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17—BANDING

Because we have, perforce, had only about 5% coverage this spring with mist nets and walk-in traps, we will rely heavily on the twice-per-week census data for migration results. This was the 2^nd consecutive cold, wet spring through April and it was not until 14^th May that we banded the last migrant White-throated Sparrows and welcomed the first flurry of catbirds, warblers and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the banding lab.

On 17^th June, we closed the nets for the season. This allows locally breeding birds to nest, incubate eggs and fledge their young, until the traditional start of fall banding on 15^th August. Data from the 264 birds handled included 37 birds banded in previous years, ranging in age from 1 to 8 years old; records only easily obtainable by banding. The last two birds banded were a recently fledged Common Grackle and an adult female Yellow Warbler that already had a well-developed brood patch.

Trevor’s observations: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70749996

Painted Turtle

American Bullfrog

Arrowwood

Ferns along the swale, where several mist nets are located

ALAN: THURSDAY, JUNE 18—CENSUS

While last week was nice and cool, today was downright summery. The continued dry weather has dried up much of the water on the farm, and the grackles (including many hatch-years) have moved in to work the muddy edges for food. The definite highlights today came in the form of infant herps – freshly emerged baby American Toads and a silver dollar sized Painted Turtle. As I walked down to the farm, an adult garter snake lay sunning in the driveway. I gave it a nudge with my shoe to get off the driveway, and it promptly flattened its body and bit my shoe several times. Now is a good time to be extra careful driving near wetlands, as many turtles, frogs, and toads are on the move. A quick stop in the pit revealed several Green Frogs sitting sedately in the water, only to dash in with a squeak when I got too close. During the seawatch, I spotted a Great Cormorant sitting among the Double-crested’s. To pass the time, I scanned the coast horizon to the south, picking up soaring Ospreys and Turkey Vultures.

Net Lanes: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70269578

Farm: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70270756

Seawatch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70275230

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