January 25, 2009

I would say it was quiet but there were actually a large amount of birds calling all over the area today. Seems like it is almost Spring for these creatures. However, there were not many birds flying low enough for capture. We only managed to capture 2 birds this morning.

A bird escaped from Net 14 early in the morning but it could have been the first bird we banded just a half an hour later. A beautiful Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Any doubt that this is a male?



Later on, we recaptured a female Northern Cardinal. I almost escaped getting bitten but she did find a piece of my inner pinky finger just before I got her out of the net.



As the morning drew to a close, I noticed a patch of bird droppings along the path. Looking up, I found a Barred Owl roosting in the oak branches fairly high overhead. There is also a lot of scat up and down the net lanes. Maybe we will get to see the suspected Bobcat as we head into the year.



Next Banding Day: Sunday, February 1st.
We will open nets around 6:30 A.M.