Finally Back

All reports of high winds were correct. In fact, if we didn't have to get poles for the upcoming Orlando Wetlands Festival we would have slept in again. High winds makes catching birds even harder than usual. We did get afew by the end of the morning.

The biggest surprise of the day was the removal of the fallen oak downed by Hurricane Milton.



Our first bird of the morning was a recaptured female Northern Cardinal.



As we wandered down the net lanes we noticed a lot of new blossoms are opening as we near Spring like Earthsmoke and Wild Radish (pictured here).



We were removing leaves from the nets all day. On one check of Net 2, another small object was amongst the leaves. A female Ruby-crowned Kinglet.



Out near the lake, we eventually captured a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler). Jenny surprised us by bringing out Tom and their new baby, Solomon. She got to get back in the swing of banding our warblers today.



As we were beginning to close up, we got one more Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler). Both were females.



Saturday 02/22 is the Festival and we will be banding from 7 to about 3. We most likely will not band the Sunday at Lotus. We will have had a long day and it is looking like rain, anyway. Come on out to the Orlando Wetlands Festival for a great time.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Yellow-rumped Warbler	2	0	2
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	0	1
Totals	3	1	4

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Saturday, February 22nd.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

One More week of rehab.

Too much being requiered at work. Keeping me on my feet too long. I am almost there! Just need to relax this ankle one more week. Swelling is down, bruising is almost gone. Working it out.

We will get out next Sunday to remember how to do banding and then get to the Orlando Wetands Fest on the 22nd. Robins are everywhere lately.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 16th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

No Banding 2/02

Things are improving, but I think the wise thing to do is take another week off. Need to be ready for the Orlando Wetlands in a couple of weeks.

Will try again next week.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 9th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

No banding 01/26/2015

I rolled my ankle last Monday. Still trying to heal and don't need to walk over roots and in the swamp.

Will try again next week.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 2nd. Goundhog day! Could keep happening over and over, and over...
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

No Banding 01/19/25

Suppose to rain all day. Weird weather this Winter...

Will try again next week.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 26th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

No Banding 01/12/25

Wind chills are going to feel in the 30s. Getting old and intolerant of cold.

Next Sunday is forecast to be warmer.

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 19th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Happy New Year!

Our fisrt Sunday of 2025 was greeted by chilly temperatures and a bunch of recaptures. The sounds of American Robins filled the air until they were briefly replaced by a huge flock of American and Fish Crows.

Our first bird of the morning was a Hermit Thrush. A second one was brought in later in the day.



Gray Catbirds are pretty scarce right now so it was nice to get a recaptured one that was first banded a couple years ago.



Surprisingly, our only new bird was a male Northern Cardinal. Thought we caught them all already!



Checking the nets by the lake got us a nice sighting of a family of Otters. They were very curious of us and played around in the river for a while.



The day also got us a couple recaptured Carolina Wrens.



Next Sunday is suppose to be cold as well. We may just sleep in. Stay tuned.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	2	2
Gray Catbird	0	1	1
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Hermit Thrush	0	2	2
Totals	4	8	12

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 29th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

No Banding December 29th

Storms in the forecast. And I need sleep...

Permit is extended through 2028. More work to do.

Happy New Year!

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 5th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Odd Day

There can be mornings where we will catch birds all in the first couple of hours or have them spread out throughout the morning. Today was odd as we had half our birds right at dawn and then the other half as we were preparing to close up.

The other odd thing was that the first half of birds were all recaptures, like the 3 Carolina Wrens we processed.



Two recap Northern Cardinals joined the tally.



Then a recaptured Hermit Thrush.



The juvenile White-eyed Vireo that we first banded last week decided to drop in for another visit.



Then things grew way too quiet for the next 2 plus hours until, out at the newly placed Net 26 near the lake, a female Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler joined the crew.



Next, we got a female Ruby-crowned Kinglet.



Just as we were preparing to close up, a family of Tufted Titmice swarmed Net 15 and 3 were brought in. There was one recaptured and two new birds.



So, fun then boring then fun. Never know how these Winter weekends will go. We do plan to be out next Sunday but there is a chance we could get rained out. Be sure to check the blog before you decide to join us on the 29th.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	3	3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	0	1
Tufted Titmouse	2	1	3
Northern Cardinal	0	2	2
Hermit Thrush	0	1	1
Yellow-rump (Myrtle) Warbler	1	0	1
White-eyed Vireo	0	1	1
Totals	4	8	12

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 29th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Picked up Before Christmas.

A little busier today. Hope it stays that way since this is going to be the first December we can band all Sundays since the holidays happen in the middle of the week.

Our first bird was a recaptured Northern Cardinal. In the poor light it was difficult to read the band numbers. We all need new glasses...



We caught a couple of Hermit Thrushes today.



Eastern Phoebes were very active this morning. We ended up with three of them.



A fiesty male Common Yellowthroat was next. He kept nipping at fingers and trying to get the camera lenses.



It has been a while since we have had a White-eyed Vireo. This one is a juvenile. You can tell because the iris is not white yet.



House Wrens are moving around a little more right now.



We caught Carolina Wrens, too.



Two Yellow-rumped Warblers were chasing one another near the lake and both were caught. One was a bird we banded just last week.



Andrew decided to set a new net closer to the lake along the river. It was not long before we caught a Swamp Sparrow. A bit later we also had one of the 3 Phoebes.



Now that the new net will be up the same time as the others at dawn, hopefully we can get even more birds out by the lake.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	1	1	2
House Wren	1	0	1
Eastern Phoebe	3	0	3
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Hermit Thrush	2	0	2
Yellow-rump (Myrtle) Warbler	1	1	2
White-eyed Vireo	1	0	1
Swamp Sparrow	1	0	1
Common Yellow-throat	1	0	1
Totals	11	3	14

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 15th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.