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
oNrthern Parula	3	0	3
Totals	5	1	6

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

Feels Like a Summer Day...

Meaning is that it was super still. Like it gets in the middle of many Summer days. Very quiet, very still. Nothing moving. But, without the heat and humidity, thankfully.

We had a few visitors and the same number of birds. So, at least everyone got to release a bird. Other than that...at least it seems like the bear has moved along. Knock silicon...

Rain is expected this weekend so feel free to sleep in.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
Common Yellowthroat	2	0	2
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	4	1	5

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 10th.
All nets will be opened by 6:25 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.

Migrants are on the Way

Nearing peak migration today, and we started kind of busy and things died down for the rest of the day. Not the big bang we were expecting. With a smaller crew, that was OK.

Will be gathering photos from the volunteers and banders through the week so they will not be loaded until, probably Friday. Andrew is off to Maine for a much needed vacation until then.

Here is a total for today and it looks like next Sunday should get things hopping. Our Tropical storm looks to be turning East, so no worrys for that. We hope to get going Sunday for the main event of full-on migration. Stay tuned!.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Waterthrush	1	0	1
Ovenbird	1	1	2
Common Yellowthroat	4	0	4
Carolina Wren	0	1	1
Northern Parula	2	0	2
Veery	1	0	1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	1	0	1
Totals	10	2	12

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sudayday, October 5th.
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.

Catbirds are Restless and We Wait for Other Migrants

It was a warm but exciting day as we head into Sping Migration. Birds are getting busy, either preparing to leave or preparing for chicks.

Gray Catbirds beginning to feast on local berries as seen by this captured bird covered in stains from fruits. We caught 8 today.



Northern Cardinals are preparing nests and getting active as well. This female is ready to get back to her activities after getting new band.



Jenny likes to take shots in what she calls thier 'Muppet face'. This time from an adult male.



Our second most captures were Carolina Wrens.



Carolina Wrens are showing signs of chicks about to arrive. This one has an egg just to be layed as seen in the belly ready to be dropped.



Tussock Moth caterpillars are active, as well. They are feeding and dropping on nets and tables.



Next, we had a recaptured Brown Thrasher first banded as a juvenile last year.



House Wrens have been very shy this year, but we did get one new one this morning.



As we began to wrap up, Andrew was clearing leaves from Net 21. When he turned around he found a Green Heron trapped in the net behind him. The heron was heard all morning in the marsh and flying back and forth and eventually ended up hitting the net.



This is only the 2nd Green Heron to be captured over the years. We cannot band waders nor waterfowl, so we released it back into the marsh nearby.



Jenny likes to smell the birds we get and says it smells like fish. That is what it eats. Makes sense.



As we closed nets we had one last bird. A female Northern Parula. They usualy have a lot of chicks at the end of April. The adults will be flying more and more in search of food for their hungry chick for the next few weeks.



Looking forward to next Sunday and hoping to see Spring Migrants making the way back North.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	3	1	4
House Wren	1	0	1
Gray Catbird	7	1	8
Carolina Wren	1	3	4
Brown Thrasher	0	1	1
Green Heron	1	0	1
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	12	8	20

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 13th.
All nets will be opened by 7:00 A.M.

Understaffed and Less Time

We had our time change and Sprung Forward. Unfortunately, only Andrew and Connie showed up. Others had other planned outtings or had previous plans. Also, since the time changed, we were only out a shorter time. Although, being shourt-handed, it did time out to 3 hours which is about what we usually end up doing during Standard time.

Our first birds were a couple recaptured Hermit Thrushes. Migration is gearing up as migrants start to get ready to head North.



Gray Catbirds are still being secretive, but we did get one today.



Next we caught a Carolina Wren and a Yellow-rumped Warbler that is quickly transitioning to its Spring plumage.



House Wrens are getting ready to leave but not without some jewelry.



We got two Northern Cardinals this morning.



Down at Net 13, we found a nice set of captures. Two Northern Parula males were side by side, maybe 4 inches apart. Probably chasing one another defending territory. Nesting is in full-swing for them. One was a recapture and the other new.



Finally, we caught one more Yellow-rumped Warbler.



Next week will see a cold front arriving bringing high winds and rain so we are skipping the 16th. Hoping to get back out on the 23rd.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	1	1	2
Hermit Thrush	0	2	2
Gray Catbird	1	0	1
House Wren	1	0	1
Carolina Wren	1	0	1
Northern Parula	1	1	2
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle Warbler)	2	0	2
Totals	7	4	11

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 23rd.
All nets will be opened by 7:20 A.M.

What Are You Doing Here?

May is typically a month of local adult birds and thier newly hatched chicks leaving the nests. This Sunday, however, we captured several birds still migrating North. Really running late!

The day started normally with a recaptured adult Carolina Wren. By the end to the day we recaptured a total of 3.



Then the surprises began with a Northern Waterthrush. It should be the last one we see until the Fall. We also banded 3 of this species today.



We managed to pick up a couple of male Northern Parulas who were out looking for food for their chicks.



Great-crested Flycatchers are as elusive as ever, but we did get a female today.



There was a family of Tufted Titmice around Net 15. They kind of dispursed and the one bird lagging behind as a fledgling. It was exploring the trees right next to Andrew as he stood and observed. After a few minutes it couldn't get past the end of the net and was captured.



The baby Tufted Titmouse gave Andrew one last bite before flying back towards its parents.



Our final bird of the day was a nice surprise. Another late migrant: a female Black-throated Blue Warbler!



Can't wait to see what awaits us before the end of our banding season.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	0	3	3
Northern Parula	1	1	2
Great-crested Flycatcher	1	0	1
Northern Waterthrush	3	0	3
Tufted Titmouse	1	0	1
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	0	1
Totals	7	4	11

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 19th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

Now We Settle in for Locals

By May our migrants are pretty much gone and we prepare for locals to breed and unleash thier young upon us by the end of the month. At least the wind left us alone.

Our first bird of the day was an adult Carolina Wren, with a brood patch. We first banded this bird as a juvenile last year.



Next up, we caught a male Northern Parula. He was busy gathering food for their chicks and can be heard up and down the lanes. This was a newly banded bird.



You can easily tell a male Northern Parula from the female by the 'necklace' on their breast.



Northern Parulas are typically seen from below. If you do see them from above you notice the yellow-green on their backs.



In the same net, another male Northern Parula was captured. This one was a recapture, first banded in March.



We were wondering where all the birds have gone from the marsh. Net 21 has been fairly quiet this year. But, on the last net check we found an adult male Downy Woodpecker in the net.



With just a few weeks in the season we will probably get some babies and usually more reckless adults trying to feed them and not paying attention. They will all be treated with great care as the bird population at Lake Lotus continues to thrive.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Carolina Wren	1	1	2
Northern Parula	1	1	2
Downey Woodpecker	1	0	1
Totals	3	2	5

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 12th.
All nets will be opened by 6:15 A.M.

A Familiar Face Before the Wind

Two weeks in a row? Weather is beginning to be a little more cooperative. But, it didn't last too long for today.

First bird of themorning was a new Gray Catbird.



Then we got a nice migrant. A Northern Waterthrush. Better yet, it was a recapture. We had to dig through our data and were pleasently surprised to find we banded this bird as an adult almost excatly 6 year years ago! In the same area it was first captured. Thats site fidelity for ya.



Alex got to release our Northern Waterthrush.



Next up was a new Carolina Wren. Very sharp claws on this little bird.



We caught a recaptured female Northern Cardinal banded not too long ago. Seems she has chipped her bill up somehow since we saw her last.



Our final bird of the morning was an adult male Northern Parula.



The winds were steadily increasing all morning and we threw in the towel a half hour earlier than normal. Nets were way to visible and winds also send the insects into the woods and away from the net lanes so the birds don't move through them as much. Next Sunday looks to be a very nice day.

Today's Totals

Birds Processed	New	Recaptured	Total
Northern Cardinal	0	1	1
Northern Waterthrush	0	1	1
Carolina Wren	1	0	1
Gray-catbird	1	0	1
Northern Parula	1	0	1
Totals	3	2	5

______________________________________
Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, March 31st.
All nets will be opened by 7:15 A.M.