New Season is Upon Us

SO! You might notice there are no photos on the blog any longer. My web provider for over 20 years decided to shut down, without notice, and all of my photos were located there.

When I have a new site restored, the photos will return. In the meantime, I am going to load weekly photos to a Facebook page which is located here.

All other info will remain here as we venture forth into the 2026 Fall season.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	2	0	2
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Worm-eating Warbler	1	0	1
American Redstart	1	0	1
Tufted Titmouse	2	1	3
White-eyed Vireo	3	0	3
Totals	10	1	11

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 27th.
All nets will be opened by 6:55 A.M.

That's a Wrap!

Another rather slow day. Migration has pushed up Texas and we haven't had any migrating warblers since...I would have to look it up. Where are the House Wrens, Hermit Thruses, Butter-butts, Vireos, etc.? Nothing like normal. Actually since Hurricane Milton. Things have just shifted all over the place. Add in the return of our bear and I am done with this season.

We will take the Summer off and try to get back in September. I will try to get this photo hosting thing figured out and might have to get a new one before updating banding data. Jenny is with her new baby girl and we will start seeing what we have to do to update the poles before the Fall. Hoping for a hurricane-free middle of the year. Enjoy your Sundays!

See everyone in September.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
Northern Parula	3	0	3
Totals	5	1	6

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 20th.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.

Gratitude

Andrew here.

It has been a long year and a half. It all started with Hurricane Milton that flooded the whole banding site for a while. My Mom sought shelter in Jacksonville, her home town, and died a few weeks later fom natural causes. Things have not the same for me of the banding site since.

This week was also the 10th anniversary of my Dad's death. I had never registered that is was Earth Day then, too.

This year has been full of adversity, especially from the bear that is roaming around bending of our poles and messing with things around the table and digging a large hole at the front gate to get in and out. I have been pretty depressed about banding for a while. Lower numbers of birds doesn't help, either.

Then, the Knighthawks arrived. Unannounced. They are a bird watching group from UCF. Ended up with dozens of students waiting to see the banding processes that we do here. Birds were sporatic and a few students were able to release the birds as we finished collecting data. The day was a pretty good success overall.

It made me change my brain a bit. I have been down for quite a while. Seeing these students come in and enjoy the banding process swung my mood around. When things were slow, they ventured off to study plants and insects, and whatever else was around. Much like what we core volunteers have done for 20 years. It gave me a sense of hope after all this time of dispare seeing them just soaking in the environment, learning everything they could, and enjoying the world. Maybe this year can brighten a bit before we close for the Summer...

I need to embrace the moments like this. As Connie Says, "It is what it is".

We hope for some birds this Sunday, as always.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Ovenbird	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	6	0	6
Northern Cardinal	1	1	0
Totals	7	1	8

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 26th.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Fickle Year

Sigh. What a weird year. Was getting busier and then silent again. What will next Sunday be?

Migration forecast looks to be a bit better. Shall see.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Parula	0	1	1
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
Totals	1	2	3

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 19th.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

Parents are getting a Workout

We could tell that the bear was still around during our absence since the hold at the front gate is deeper and has fresh claw marks in it. Fortunately, it left our poles undisturbed for the first time in months.

A bit more active today as we can hear chicks calling and the parents are busy fining food to stuff in those beaks. We ended up with more birds than we have had since last Fall.

Looks like a nice weekend ahead and hope to keep increasing our numbers..

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	2	1	3
Gray Catbird	3	0	3
Northern Cardinal	2	2	4
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	8	3	11

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 12th.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.

Still Too Quiet

Another morning of repairing poles bent by a bear as we set nets. Sigh. A very quiet day, again, as we wind down the year.

Our second run down the lanes found a recaptured White-eyed Vireo, first banded a year ago.



Just after that, we had a new male Northern Cardinal.



We then had a long spell of no birds until we recaptured another male Northern Cardinal. He was first banded 4 years ago. Still going strong.



After a morning of resetting poles, Jenny wanted to make a 'fruit picker' from one of the wounded poles. She seems to like these very sour oranges near the end of the lanes. Must be a craving thing...



With the holidays running us down quickly, we have decided to take next Sunday off. We will return the following Sunday, the first of the 2026 season. Happy holidays, everyone!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
White-eyed Vireo	0	1	1
Totals	1	2	3

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 4th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Another quiet weekend. Every migrant seems to have shifted West. Oh, well. But, we were joined by the UCF Knighthawks who got to spend some fresh air with us and got to see a few birds banded today.

We captuered an new Northern Cardinal which is odd. Thought we had them all banded. Maybe now.

Our next bird was a recaptured Common Yellowthroat. It seemed different from the last time we caught it a couple of weeks ago. It is showing a very pronouced yellow patch on its eyebrow.



The President of the Knighthawks got to release the Common Yellowthroat.



We finally got one of the passing Western Palm Warblers that hit Net 20.



Our new visitor, Conner, got to record and release our new Western Palm Warbler.



Temperatures are expected to increase this week. More so tham usual.Who knows what will arrive and stick around. We shall see.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Palm Warbler	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	0	1	1
Totals	2	1	3

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, November 23th.
All nets will be opened by 6:40 A.M.

A Couple of Interesting Catches

A cool morning. Still wearing light jackets as we set up. We were hoping for a wave of Indigo Bunting, but that never really turnded up. We did get 2 feamles and they were calling up and down the river. Maybe next week.

Gray Catbirds were still present in good numbers, yeilding 7 of them.

We finally caught a late arrival of a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Usually get them a bit earlier.



A couple of House Wrens were caught today.



Finally, a new Swainson's Thrush arrived a bit later than usual.



Several Common Yellowthroats were caught. One adult and two juvenile males.



Northern Cardinals have been very vocal but evading nets. Until this ragged male was caught in Net 7.



A few other birds were processed. An Ovenbird and an Eastern Phoebe that was calling all morning and finally hit a net.

We were closing up for the day and got our best bird right at the end. An adult Red-bellied Woodpecker! We usually catch juvenile woodpeckers out of the nests in the Spring, so this was a nice surprise to get an adult here in the Fall.



Birds are going to move back and forth through the country as a high closes in. At least it should push Melissa back away from us. How many new birds show up in Orlando? We shall see.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Swainson's Thrush	1	0	1
Ovenbird	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	6	1	7
House Wren	2	0	2
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
House Wren	2	0	2
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Common Yellowthroat	3	0	3
Indigo Bunting	2	0	2
Eastern Phoebe	1	0	1
Red-bellid Woodpecker	1	0	1
Totals	19	1	20

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 26th.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

Peak Happening Late

Peak Migration is happening a couple weeks late. Climate Change? I am no expert. Catbirds used to hit in force on Octoboer 1st. Now we are back to the 12th. A few were coming through in small numbers, but today was as if they were everywhere. They joined other migrants and locals as you will see below.

We had a nice cool blast to start the morning. Low 60s. We started the day with our first Indigo Bunting of the season. A young female. We also caught another adult female later.



Gray Catbirds ruled the count today with 9 birds. They typically hit on the 1st. We have been hearing a couple hear and there, but this is the first big rush through the area. One new volunteer showed up to release one of them.



House Wrens are showing up in bigger numbers, too.



It has been quite a while since we captured a Belted Kingfisher. This lady found Net 18 early on. Warning: they bite. HARD.



One of our 2 recaps was a female Northern Cardinal.



The second recap was a Common Yellowthroat and another new one.



We thought all of the Northern Waterthrushes were gone. Still got one and heard several during the day.



It is always nice to get a Gray-cheeked Thrush. This is the brief time in the season to find them here as they migrate through quickly



Ovenbirds are always a cute addition to the day.



Finally, we caught a recap Carolina Wren. They have been calling like crazy, but not moving through the lanes much.



Looks like the fronts are shifting. The bigger flow of birds might head down Texas instead of the East coast. We shall see what happens next Sunday.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Gray-Cheeked Thrush	1	0	1
Ovenbird	2	0	2
Gray Catbird	9	0	9
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
House Wren	2	0	2
Belted Kingfisher	1	0	1
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Common Yellowthroat	2	0	2
Indigo Bunting	2	0	2
Totals	21	2	23

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, October 19th.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.

Migrants Picking Up and...SNAKE!

Not a bad September morning. A few good migrants and several visitors. Still waiting for the waters to receed at the end of the lanes, but it might take another week or two before can get out by the lake. We started the morning with an Ovenbird. One of the most seen/heard species this time of year. We caughtt two today. Also hearing Red-eyed Vireos and other migrants.



Common Yellowthroats should have been showing up the last week or so. We did not get any last week. Now, they are beginning to trickle in. This is a juvenile male. We also had an adult female later in the day.



One of our visitors got to release that bird.



Carolina Wrens were hitting the nets, some escaping, and we did get one recapture near the end of the lanes. Another visitor got to release that wriggling bird.



Then our snake. Don't worry. It was not a danger. Someone pulled a folding chair from beneath the table and when it was opened, it contained a rather large Ring-necked Snake. These non-vemonous snakes are common in Florida and are usally found as 1-2 foot individuals. This was closer to 3 feet. Everyone held it for a bit and then released it back into the woods.



We were kind of expecting this bird a week ago, but it is always fun to have our first Thrushes of the year like this Veery. They come through in September and usher in the other Thrushes though the next months.



Our final capture of the day was a Northern Cardinal. As it was brought to the table, some worried it was in some heavy molt. Nope. Just a juvenile male hatched here in the Spring and making its way to adulthood.



No rain on the radar for next Sunday. More migrants should arrive. Fall starts the day after. Yay!

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Ovenbird	1	1	2
Verery	1	0	1
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Common Yellowthroat	3	0	3
Totals	6	2	8

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 21st.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Session 17 Ends

Andrew here. Yep. We are not banding for the month of May. I have 30 days to get all of our stuff out of our house of over 30 years into our new place. Don't feel like I can give up most of Sundays when I should be hauling stuff with the family. So, we will start Session 18 on August 31st. But, we did have some fun birds on our final Sunday.

It was starting slow but then we had a nice surprise. A Great-crested Flycatcher! Better yet, it was a recapture from last year.



Next up were a couple of Carolina Wrens.



Then, a migrant. A female Common Yellowthroat.



Northern Parula are not calling as much these days but they are here mostly feeding their chicks. A pretty male.



Then another female Common Yellowthroat.



As the day wound down we got a very vocal female Downy Woodpecker.



Finally, a female Northern Cardinal.



Thanks to everyone who volunteered and to those who joined us to release some birds and gain some knowledge of banding. See you all on August 31st! Enjoy the toasty, toasty Summer.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Carolina Wren	0	2	2
Downy Woodpecker	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	2	0	2
Great-crested Flycatcher	0	1	1
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	5	3	8

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, September 7th.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.

Slow Day

A pretty quiet day today. Looks like most migrants are headed up through Texas. We only had 3 species all morning.

First up, a Carolina Wren.



Next up a female Northern Cardinal.



Finally, a Gray Catbird.



Our latest visitor got to release the Gray Catbird.



Hope things pick up next week before we head in May and the local chicks we should be seeing.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	0	1
Carolina Wren	0	2	2
Gray Catbird	2	1	3
Totals	3	3	6

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 27th.
All nets will be opened by 6:50 A.M.