Back to Basics

Seems like Winter is gone. Usually we have our coldest day in February but it appears that is not going to happen this year. Today's high is in the 80s. Brrrr.

Early birds of the morning were a couple of juvenile Hermit Thrushes. Both were banded last Fall.



Northern Parulas returned just over a week ago and are singing up a storm. We captured one. This adult male was banded here last April and is back to raise the next brood..



Gray Catbird are beginning to grow restless as the weather warms and we are starting to catch them again.



The Barred Owl pair met up early as Andrew and Jenny set nets before dawn. Once the Sun rose they began to survey the area, including our net lanes. Some of the volunteers posted up in the center of the lanes to keep an eye on them.



Eventually, they settled into resting spots and took their naps.



Sure signs of approaching Spring. Spider Worts are popping up in their main spots. Earth Smoke is spreading all along the river, too.



Painted Leaf are also beginning to bloom.



Several of us notice a moth clinging on to Net 14. Christine IDs it as a Lettered Sphinx Moth.



Later on we captured a new Hermit Thrush. This one was an adult.



This Carolina Wren was hatched here last year and we banded it shortly thereafter. It is still here searching for breakfast.



Our final bird of the morning was another Gray Catbird. This photo is great for an identifying feature of Catbirds. When they are young the interior of their mouth is a whitish pink. This turns completely black once they have matured. Therefore, this is a young bird.



Looking forward to next Sunday. Should be a bit of a cool down as a front slips down Friday. Only problem is the increasing chance of a visit from our friend. Wind...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 25th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

2018 Orlando Wetlands Festival

The Orlando Wetlands Festival returned after taking 2017 off and it turned into a worthwhile venture by the end of the day. Reports are coming in on the positive side from visitors and staffers alike.



We began setting nets before dawn and our first bird of the day as the Sun cleared the horizon was a Gray Catbird.



Fog was expected in the morning but we thought that would be before dawn. Instead, is was perfectly clear until around 8 AM. Looking down the road from our nets you can see the fog begin to creep in from the West.



When there is a break in the action we get a chance to explore the property bit by bit. Just past the nets we discovered a long trail of Otter tracks heading toward the main ponds.



Where the track ran out, a single Black-bellied Whistling Duck basked in the sunrise just across the water.



A couple of Black-crowned Night Herons were already in the nearby trees but more were flying in from the East.



Yellow-rumped Warblers are typically the more numerous captured birds at this event. Today we only caught one that was giving us an earful.



As we set nets, Rebecca heard a Yellow-breasted Chat calling back in the brush. She an Lynn tried to lure it into the open with no luck. Soon they hiked to try for other birds.



10 minutes later, Andrew heard a squawk and turned to see a Mockingbird swooping at one of the nets and back into the trees. Was that something relaxing in that same net? Yep. The Yellow-breasted Chat! The first we have ever captured and banded. Word soon spread and everyone waiting for the event to officially begin headed over to the table.



Yellow-breasted Chats are very shy. You can often hear them calling but they rarely come out into the open. Thanks, Mr. Mockingbird, for chasing it our way!



Shortly after 9 AM, the buses and tractors started rolling tours through the wetland and straight between our mist nets. We still managed more birds along the way.



Common Ground Doves are a bit large for our nets but we did get 2 out of the 5 in the area.



One female Ruby-crowned Kinglet hit the nets today.



Killian brought his sister along and she got a chance to release the bird. It was playing shy but left after it was handed off back to Andrew.



Some of the visitors were watching the nets for a while and soon alerted us to a bird at the end of the lane.



It was an adult female Black and White Warbler.



One of our young visitors got the opportunity to release her.



Nothing makes kids smile more than holding and releasing an amazing flying creature.



More birds from some of our short hikes. Limpkin were fairly obvious in many areas around the wetlands. Looks like there is plenty of food.



Out at the Cypress Hammock dozens of Roseate Spoonbills gathered to rest and bathe.



It is always nice to spot a Glossy Ibis this time of year as they flash and shimmer in the morning light.



Most of the American Coots are flocking together on the far side of the wetlands but a few linger closer to the main entrance.



A Snowy Egret grabbed a snack and flew up into a tree to enjoy it.



We were hearing Swamp Sparrows all morning. Only one braved the wide open.



Another lucky guest got to release the Swamp Sparrow back into the woods.



Northern Cardinals were teasing us all morning just past the net lanes but began to get closer later in the day.



Then the next Bird of the Day flew into the nets near the wishing well. It was brought back to Andrew. No one could make an ID as they headed back. Once out of the bag it was determined it had to be one of two vireo species. We consulted our books and determined it was definitely a Philadelphia Vireo. Reports are that this might be the first official record of this species in the Winter at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida!



The Philadelphia Vireo is also a Life Bird for everyone. One of our regular visitors got the honor of releasing it. (Update: this bird is still being seen daily since it was banded. It is staying in the same area.)



One more male Northern Cardinal was banded before the winds kicked up and we headed home.



Which made this American Alligator very happy. All it wanted to do was get out of this pond and head elsewhere. Your turn, Smiley...



Great day and glad to be back at the Wetlands. Trees are now going into full bloom so we hope to have a good morning back 'home' next Sunday.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 25th.
All nets will be opened by 6:25 A.M.

Know What Bird Banders Hate?

Wind. The breezes were gusting earlier than forecast and only got stronger as the day progressed ahead of a deepening cold front. Sigh.

The first hour was uneventful but then we caught most of our bird in one 15 minute stretch. First up was a feisty juvenile Gray Catbird



Next up was the first White-eyed Vireos we have captured in a while. Odd thing was that this typical mid- to upper-level forager was in the bottom panel of Net 8.



So, too, was this Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle subspecies) down in Net 23.



Christine soon brought in a recaptured female Ruby-crowned Kinglet.



Maybe one of the other reason the birds were scarce was due to the familiar shape of a Barred Owl was lurking in the woods?



It seems we always have our coldest weather snap in February but it now looks like the cold is gone until next Winter. All of the Cherry Laurels and other trees are bursting with blooms.



The winds kept rising so we called it a day. As we were closing nets a Tufted Titmouse managed to fly into a half-closed Net 8.



It is time for the Orlando Wetlands Festival where we will be doing mist netting demonstrations. We set up by the Education building just inside the Wetlands entrance. More information is located here: City of Orlando: Orlando Wetlands Festival
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Saturday, February 17th. There will be no banding Sunday of this coming weekend.
All nets will be opened after dawn. Festival starts at 9 A.M.

Here Comes the Wind. Again.

With a storm front on the way we headed out into the dark to set nets and hope for some birds before the winds derailed us. Our first bird of the morning was a recaptured Carolina Wren.



Next up was a House Wren in Net 23 by the marsh. They are not usually captured in that habitat. It was also a recapture from a couple of months ago.



Then, a Hermit Thrush was brought in. They have been rather scarce this year for whatever reason. This bird was first banded just over 2 years ago.



Things were a little quiet before we were hit with a wave of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We captured 4 in different nets in less than 20 minutes. Must have found feeding time! All were females.



As the winds began to gust around 20 mph we caught our last bird of the morning which was a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle sub-species).



It was a rather interesting bird, though. We can't recall seeing all of the rufus colored feathers on a Yellow-rump. Hmmm...



Here is hoping the winds stay away next week. This is about the time that we see an increase in captures as we edge toward Spring.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 11th.
All nets will be opened by 6:35 A.M.