Mixed Bag as Spring Arrives

Happy Equinox! We had a fairly busy day but the vast majority of birds are still up in the treetops. Early on a new predator was spotted. A Coyote bounded across the river just after dawn! As the morning progressed the wind picked up and the nets were soon full of leaves, fuzz, and seeds.

First birds of the morning were a Tufted Titmouse...



...and a Gray Catbird.



The Titmouse was bagged first and Christine headed down to get the Catbird. Once she did, one of the Barred Owls landed on top of the net pole to check out the wriggling bag. Charles grabbed a shot on his cell phone.



He also grabbed a quick video of a second owl flying in to investigate. Click on the image below to see the movie in a new window.



We watched a Brown Thrasher go into and escape that same net where the action happened. A bit later we had TWO trapped this time. Both were younger birds told by their eye color. The older they get the brighter the yellow becomes.



Just a short while later in the very next net (13) was a very yellow Orange-crowned Warbler! Only our second one caught here.



"How can you be sure?", I hear you ask. Just look!



Just behind the banding table we got a House Wren.



Richard headed out to check nest boxes. Still no birds. However, the ever-present Flying Squirrels were huddled down for the day.



Another box was over run with caterpillars! Weird.



Trapped in Net 1 was a Green Darner Dragonfly. It rested in the bushes after a successful extraction.



Maggie found this Green Treefrog just hanging out.



Finally, we captured some Carolina Wrens to round out the day.



Whew! Busy morning!!
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 27th

All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.