Windy Fest Ends with a Bang

It was our pleasure to once again be invited to do demonstration banding at the Orlando Wetlands Festival this year. Glad to have the invasive fencing absent from two years ago but the winds, gusting to 30 mph at times, dampened expectations and captures through the day. However, we did capture several birds. One deserves special mention but you will have to wait until the end as we did.

Gray Catbirds were very vocal as we set nets before dawn and the first bird of the day we captured was one of them. Though we didn't get a great shot, this one does show something we teach for aging. Catbirds are born with white/pink interiors of their bills. Once they are adults it becomes black. Can you guess the age of this bird?



Next up was a male Common Yellowthroat flying against the wind.



More surprising was a male Painted Bunting caught a short time later. Rainbows in the morning are always a treat.



Andrew was watching a female Painted Bunting for quite a while as the morning wore on an she fed 2 feet behind Net 34. Eventually, she headed into the nets giving us a complete set.



One of the festival's early visitors got to release our female Painted Bunting.



Before the festival officially opened, Richard got his bird boxes situated near the bus drop-off not far from the banding table behind him.



Down in the "Critter Crawl" pond between our net set up, Momma American Alligator was lurking as we got things set but headed to the bank once the day got a little warmer. Oddly, she stayed there in the sunlight all day making her on of the most popular photo ops of the festival on this side of the activities.



Just around the corner, a few baby American Alligators were hanging out in a smaller pond.



Out in the cells, migrating American Coots mingled around with our local Common Gallinules.



Christine found a Purple Gallinule nearby.



White Ibis were flying over most of the day but some were hanging out with Glossy Ibis in the cells.



With the high winds all day we had ample opportunities to watch Black Vultures forming kettles overhead. A few Turkey Vultures joined in from time to time.



While some of us were doing a quick tour of the cells, and Ovenbird was captured and processed by Jenny.



We watch nets flapping in the wind for quite awhile most of the day. At one point, the volunteers began to rush from one area to another and it seemed like maybe a new bird had hit a net. Nope. They were more interested by a newly emerging Dragonfly from the demonstration vegetation vats across the lanes.



At one point today, Connie found a Rainbow Scarab Beetle, our local dung beetle in Florida.



Lunch was well behind us when we caught another male Common Yellowthroat.



Fortunately, a group of visitors was nearby (actually spotted the bird in the net before us) and one of the young ladies got to release the Common Yellowthroat.



Then, our last male Common Yellowthroat was brought in for a band.



Only a few people were around but this couple got to observe and release the Common Yellowthroat.



Clouds were beginning to thicken as the day was drawing to a close. Every now and then a sprinkle was felt and we decided to call it a day about 3 PM. As we started to close nets by the table it was clear there was something in the net at the end of the lane. Jenny yelled asking how to ID a certain bird as Susan thrusted her arms in victory of a Life Bird addition as guests looked on. Andrew took the bird out of the bag and confirmed our catch.

Two years ago, the last festival, we captured and banded a Yellow-breasted Chat. A Chat had been reported and seen for the past couple of weeks in the nearby area and we were hoping we could get some info on the bird. Could it be the same individual? Yes! Just as we were about to leave, here was our bird. As expected, everyone still in the area flocked to the table to see this beautiful bird.



Part of our research involves site fidelity (birds returning to the same spot year after year during migration) and this Yellow-breasted Chat is showing us that. Good protection, good habitat, good food. "I'm going near Disney World!" Welcome back, dear friend.



Two visitors were their way out of the festival after spending time heading here for the sole purpose of locating the Yellow-breasted Chat. Just so happened that they were by the net when the Chat flew in and was being extracted. Knowing this, Andrew called Lydia over and asked her to release the bird back into the scrub. A perfect end to a frustratingly windy day. Connections like that are the best part of festivals.



We need to mention that one of our volunteers, Kate, actually had a nice display by the bus drop off. A painting of Ospreys with chicks in a nest that she painted that was a photo board for visitor picture memories. From top to bottom, left to right: Connie, Susan, Kate (the artist!), and Christine. Great job, Kate!!



Sliding scale? Despite the 30 mph wind gusts, 8 bird captures was fairly surprising. Where were common birds like Cardinals? Weird. Great-crested Flycatcher out of season? Very weird. Yellow-breasted Chat recaptured? Spectacular.

Might have to call this a solid 7 after over a decade of festivals here. Next week we head back home as we inch toward Spring. Robins are already turing North...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 23rd.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.

Foggy Sunday

The first of a projected series of cold fronts is creeping down and a little rain is sweeping through. Radar shows birds moving, but they are most likely ducks instead of warblers. Will still set in for a day as the morning was brought with fog. It got thicker and thicker before dawn becoming a misty air in the dark.

This shot ws taken later but still shows he extent of the fog out near the lake lingering approaching 9 AM.



Our first bird in the morning was a recaptured House Wren. A second was not far behind with a Catbird, told below.



Hermit Thrushes typically arrive so much earlier, so it was nice to get our first ones today. This one was a juvenile.



Our one Gray Catbird flew in early and was next to our second House Wren in Net 9. Most of our birds were captured before 7:30 today.



Yet another new Northern Cardinal male was captured. Cardinals do not really migrate, so where is this guy coming from? Somewhere nearby, for sure.



A second Hermit Thrush was waiting at the table when we brought the other back. This one was an adult bird.



Another of our juvenile Carolina Wrens hit the nets. Kids still not learning.



As we waited for a hopeful next feeding wave, we looked around the property and were surprised to find several species of fungi all over the place. It has been a very wet couple of years and now it is very dry. The fungus has decided to thrive on the snags and undergrowth. We took time to take photos of all of the varieties along the way, starting with the big growth in the net lanes.



But, 'skeeeeeetch!" Where did this Purple Aster come from? It is now blooming just behind Net 9.



Up in the pine flat wood region of the property we found many different fungus. This patch was circling a trunk of a small snag.



Another trunk was circled from top to bottom.



On that same tree, a small branch was growing out and also being ringed by fungus.



Most were brown and tan were punctuated by a bit of yellow deep in the woods.



Behind Net 15, a bit of shelf fungus was seen by the oak felled by Hurricane Matthew.



One of the fun things about the fog is that is shows off all of the Bowl-and-Doily Spiderwebs all up and down the lanes.



Jenny spotted a turtle at that same spot when the rest of us missed it. It seems rather beat up but she says it shows some sign of Life. We shall see in the week to come.



In the wooded area near Nets 16-17, there is now a White Aster putting on a show.



Back at Net 15, signs of Tent Caterpillars are spinning homes in the holly.



Near the table, Andrew spotted a few other fungus features. This one was another ringing a small branch.



A step to the side revealed a more yellow growth in the shade.



As we wrapped up the day and headed back to the table after net gathering, Kate noticed a flash of orange off to the left along the path we have walked all day. There is a huge fungus growth there 5 yards off to the left.



Just behind the orange bloom was a set of white mushrooms sharing the same tree.



Net 3 was alos hiding a nice colony of caps.



Our final bird of the day was one we were wondering about. Where were the Ovenbirds? Quiet but still here.



One the way home, Andrew found some of the birds at Maitland Center. We are now up to 4 Hooded Mergansers in the parking lot pond.



Also feeding along the pond's edge was a Little-blue Heron...



...and several White Ibis.



We will dip into the 30s this week but should be back into the 80s by next Sunday. Maybe we can get some new migrants in the area with this new cold front? Fingers crossed...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 2nd.
All nets will be opened by 6:30 A.M.