Orlando Wetlands Back in Action

The Orlando Wetlands Festival returned after 3 years and we were there to represent. Winds were NOT on our side and gusting steadily all day. We did get 15 birds by the end of the festival, which was not too bad given the conditions. It did seem like all of our visitors had a great experience and our newly printed shirts, brochures, and stickers played a big part in the overall public outreach positive reaction.

Sit back. It is going to be a long post but worth it.

We have been working on tshirt plans for years and we got our designs ready and printed just in time for the demonstrations. Later in the day we gathered to show our new shirts as a group.



Should have taken a photo with us all turned around to show the back design. Here it is in case you missed it.



We arrive before dawn to set rebar and poles for the nets and then begin to capture and process birds long before the fest starts. We caught a couple of Gray Catbirds right after sunrise.



The next bird was a total surpise. A Prairie Warbler! We have never captured one here iover all these years.



Since the festival was not yet open, we let one of the volunteers release the bird.



Everyone milled about between checking nets and waited near the table before the official 9 am start.



Next up was a Carolina Wren.



One of the first visitors got to release it.



Then, what do you know? Our old friend is still here for another Winter. Yes, THE Yellow-breasted Chat! We have now caught this bird 3 times over 5 years during the last three festivals.



Our next visitor was here among a good-sized group and she was given the opportunity to hold and release the Chat.



Time for a tour of the new boardwalk and things found while walking through the first leg of it.



Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have exploded in numbers since we were first here. They are everywhere!



A few Blue-winged Teal were feeding in small spots here and there.



Roseate Spoonbills are gathered more near a hammock up the way, but one was here closer to the walk.



A cluster of Purple Aster was wrapped around a tree in the water.



Patches of Bur Marigold lit up the green from time to time.



Out of nowhere, a Marsh Wren popped out of the vegetation, as they tend to do, and posed for a pretty photo.



Rafts of American Coot cluck and feed all over.



There is another leg of the boardwalk but we had to head back toward the banding table. Just up the path, a young American Alligator crawled out of the pond to catch some sunlight.



At the end of that pond, a Glossy Ibis probed around for a snack.



Around the corner, a Little Blue Heron was on its morning hunt.



A shock of Tick Seed blooms in the cattails as we alost reached the net lanes.



Oof. The wind is still here...



Still catching birds, though. One of our next guests got to release a newly banded Gray Catbird.



Our next Carolina Wren was a bit of an oddity.



Can't recall ever catching a bird missing an eye. Otherwise, the bird seemed to be in great health and even returned near the table later flicking up leaves in search of food.



Ruby-crowned Kinglets were heard most of the morning but they are difficult to catch even on calm days.



There is that smile ew never tire of when folks get more in touch with Nature.



Andrew was extracting our next bird at the end of the lane.



It was a Western Palm Warbler



See, almost always a big smile.



When Andrew comes silently to the table there must be something special in the bag. He never lets out the surprise until the last second.



We captured a Downy Woodpecker! After the band is on and the other information is recorded, our next lucky child gets instructions on holding technique.



After a quick photo, she released it back into the woods.



Then a bit of a catastrophe occured. For the first time ever, one of the tour busses snagged one of our nets. The driver veared to far to the right. Tom and the driver spent some time removing the net from the rearview mirror. The net was ripped and was a total loss. The City of Orlando did reemburse us for a new one.



Our final Gray Catbird was captured and banded. Before release, Jenny took the bird up to the visitors that couldn't make it down the small hill to the table. Think they appreciated it?



Then our next guest gets instructions on holding the Gray Catbird.



A quick spread of the fingers and the bird is away!



With that we began to pack the gear and head out for this year. It was an overall great day and we can't wait to get back out next time. Will it be next year or two? We don't know at this time. The City of Orlando will let us know when they are ready.

Note: Daylight Savings Time begins next Sunday at midnight.

Remember to Spring Forward!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carilina Wren	3	0	3
Prairie Watbler	1	0	1
Downy Woodpecker	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	6	0	6
Yellow-breasted Chat	0	1	1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	0	1
Myrtle Warbler	1	0	1
Western Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Totals	14	1	15

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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 12th.
All nets will be opened by 7:10 A.M.

Pea Soup

A dense fog dropped into the area as we arrived at the banding site before dawn. It made for an eerie setting for putting the nets up. There was no sound save for occasional drips from the trees as the condensation gathered. Would the birds sleep in? Eventually, our Barred Owl pair called to each other before reconnecting.

We almost didn't see our first bird in the gloom. It was at the end of Net 6. This is not a terribly productive net but it paid off this morning. It captured only the third Wood Thrush we have banded here.



An Eastern Phoebe was brought in from Net 21 by the lake. They are still calling all over the property.



Back next to the woods in Net 4 was a recaptured White-eyed Vireo we first banded a month ago. They tend to nip.



Things remained pretty quiet. Time for a trip out to the lake. Did we mention it was foggy this morning?



In front of the fishing pier was a small flock of birds. A juvenile Wood Stork, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, and Common Gallinules were feeding side by side.



A Great Blue Heron soon joined them. The river had deposited a lot of sediment in front of the pier. The water is getting more shallow here after every flooding rain.



An Eastern Phoebe was taking advantage of Primrose Willow stalks to perch and hunt from.



Over in the cattails, a Marsh Wren played peek-a-boo. The Willow tree next to the Wren was later filled with birds once the fog began to burn off, including Orange-crowned, Prairie, Myrtle (Yellow-rump), and Palm Warblers, Blue-headed, and White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroats, and House and Carolina Wrens. Northern Cardinals were busy eating Tallow seeds.



Even when Blue-gray Gnatcatchers drop down right in front of you they don't sit for long. Too many bugs to snatch!



Bowl and doily Spider (Frontinella communis) are on property pretty much year-round but they are especially easy to see when the fog is around.



We captured a couple of House Wrens. This one was first banded 2 years ago.



We have been waiting for the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the net and today was the day.



We tend to capture more females than males so it was great to have that shock of red that gives the Ruby-crowned Kinglet its name in our hands.



As we were taking the nets down we captured two more birds. Gray Catbirds were mewing in the vegetation all morning but were not flying around too much.



This is the third week we have banded Hermit Thrushes. They are definitely back in the neighborhood.



Temperatures are slowly dropping as we head through the month. The upper 40s are forecast in about a week. Time to break out the jackets.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 20th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.