Final Sprucing Up Before Sunday

Our last maintenance check on the nets lanes was performed today in the stifling heat and humidity. Sweat was unavoidable and copious. But we soldiered on for a few hours to reposition net poles (to fit the brand new nets) and to plant the first of our native trees that are ready to help meet our goals of improving the environment and, hopefully, make this a great place for the birds.

Ranger Gary showed up right as we did and began mowing the net lanes so we don't have to wade through high weeds. What a great sight to walk into.



We installed the new nets and enjoyed the clean cut views.



All the way down to the pier.



As for the new trees, we planted 3 Yaupon Holly in the area where that first net lane picture was taken above.



Wax Myrtles are going in near the pier. We planted 4 today and will install up to 17 more as the year progresses. Can't wait for them to mature and for us to get a chance to maintain them and bring in the birds, which love Wax Myrtles.



Many insects were in the area, of course, but this Viceroy was making its presence known by hanging out when not chasing away other butterflies. Fun to watch.



Down by Net 14, a grouping of Scarlet Mourning Glory is spreading over the last year and attracting much attention from Spicebush Butterflies.



Another great sight is that of the berries ripening throughout the area. Black Cherry, Beautyberry, Elderberry, and the Muscadine grapes are laying out the banquet table for the incoming birds.



A not so welcome sight, a large Armored Catfish is nesting up river near the banding table.



Everything is in place for the start of the new season. Might be hot but we hope the banding will be even hotter!
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, August 8th.

All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.

Our Next Season Begins August 8th

We have checked the net lanes once and will do one more check this weekend before starting up the 2010-2011 banding season. Warblers are already being seen in the area and we are excited to get back out and see what we can find.
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, August 8th.

All nets will be opened around 6:20 A.M.

Raptor Banding

Not at Lake Lotus today but the gang was still busy banding.

We got the call to return to the Avian Reconditioning Center to see if we could band some raptors that were to be released back into the wild soon. Several species were represented plus a special 'bonus' bird we were not told of prior to arrival. I got there with the boys before 10 AM (much to their reluctance to wake on a day off) and Carol had to move one of the other birds that was not being banded so we all got a nice close up of a Barred Owl before things got underway.



Soon, the raptors were be gathered up and brought in for their new jewelry. First up was our surprise bird. A Burrowing Owl fledgling! A rare treat.



Next, it was time for the Cooper's Hawks. Several birds were ready to be banded and the boys got their first chance to watch the banding here. They have come with me banding at other locations to see smaller birds banded before but have had fewer chances to see larger birds up close. Except for the Cooper's Hawk I brought into the house after catching out back a couple years ago...



Carol brings out one of the Cooper's and shows us how some of the tail feathers were injured.



Then the bird gets its own special leg wear.



Allison, one of the volunteers today holds the next bird in line as Richard applies the band.



A beautiful bird close up.



Another special treat for the morning. A young Eastern Screech Owl.
Too cute!



The last species of the day, American Kestrels. We had three females to band before their release.



A closer look at a Kestrel. The images are darker as we need to close the door so these speedsters don't escape our grasp.



Banding was done but I had to take a look at a couple other birds in the cages. There was a nice Barn Owl fluttering around the enclosure.



Just behind the Owl was a very vocal Harris Hawk brought down from Tennessee. Scott hopes to teach it along with their resident Harris Hawk in the future.



More birds will get our attention for banding in the near future. Can't wait. Always an interesting time.

The Avian Reconditioning Center has a web site and are open to the public on Saturdays. Check for news and directions there. They also have an Adopt-a-Bird program if anyone is interested in helping with the funding to care for some of these remarkable birds.

Wrapping Up our Second Session

Well, the heat was down but it is almost preferred than having soaked feet beginning before dawn. It rained heavily throughout the area most of the night but cleared for our latest banding attempt. Once the Sun came up the grasses all looked like this.



Trees were dripping all morning. When the squirrels weren't causing small rain showers as they ran through the oaks we could still find some pretty views.



With all the extra water the river was up again. However, it is now a lovely color of chocolate milk!



Talked to rangers Frank and Gary and they say there is construction a bit up river but the silt is still flowing around the barriers. Must be Oompa Loompa Union 48...

Looking up river near the banding table, you can see that the silt is to blame as the water coming from Bosse Lake is as clear as ever as it reaches the Little Wekiva.



Birds were few and far between. Figure they are avoiding the extra wet conditions plus there are not as many insects out for the same reason. We did recapture a Blue Jay early on. The only other bird banded today was a adult male Mourning Dove.



As such, we continued some maintenance and made more discoveries. Like this probable last bloom of the Button Bush.



As that shot was being taken we noticed a Tiger Moth keeping dry.



The dragonflies were out hunting and besides our typical pondhawks there was a nice species we believe to be a Great Blue Skimmer.



The Elderberry plants have been spreading more and more as we remove the other, invasive species. This year is a bumper crop of berries already and the blooms are still going strong. Lots of food for Fall migration.



Other berries were found along the trail. Most likely, they belong to a Smilax laurifolia, or Greenbriar.



Close by, a lone yellow flower, a Chapman's Pea (Chapmannia floridiana), brightens the shaded greens.



Next to net 5 there were a bunch of tiny mushrooms sprouting up from the decaying leaves...



...while overhead the sun paints rainbows on the spider webs.



Lastly, we did have another bird sighting. A beautiful Green Heron was hunting along the edge of the muddy river. Always a joy to watch.



As the title of this post alludes to, this week wraps up our second full session of banding at Lake Lotus. We will take a 6 week break before beginning banding again in early August. We will return from time to time to keep the net lanes clear but other than that we will get some rest and avoid the heat for a while.

There may be a couple of posts along the way focusing on highlights from the past session. Stay tuned!
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, August 8th.

All nets will be opened around 6:30 A.M.

More Cardinal Babies

Expectations were downgraded as this high sits on top of us, bringing unseasonably hot weather and not much is moving through the state. It is also fledging time so birds here are busy feeding their young and are otherwise not as active.

So, Andrew brought his axe to remove some of the larger invasive trees while we waited to see what the day would bring. Luckily, we did catch 6 birds today starting with this Brown Thrasher right around sunup.



Right after that we got our first young Cardinal of the morning.



We followed up that bird with the next Brown Thrasher of the day.



This time of year we usually catch a lot of Carolina Wrens but this year they are avoiding the nets. We hear them all over the place but it took a few hours before we even got one and that was a recaptured adult. So, we go back to Cardinals! Maria and Ivana had to wrangle a rather feisty male recapture that showed how strong a bite can be.



Charles found a more calm Cardinal soon afterward. Fortunately, the young ones don't know how to bite so hard yet.



That wraps up the birds for today. On to the plants and wildlife! Near Net 3 Maria found a bunch of leftover egg shells. Probably turtle.



Lurking around the path between Nets 4 and 5 was a beautiful Argiope (Black and Yellow Garden Spider) displaying its intricate web structure.



Here is another round of "Where is the Toad?". Can you see it? Many small toads were hopping toward the river across our net lanes.



Along the river, the ever-present Dragonflies hunt for a meal.



Back at the table, we found an underwing moth hiding in the vegetation. Wish we had a better photo but it moved far too quickly for a great shot.



Nearby, the Swamp Lilies are back in bloom. This is the only bunch of this species we find along the banks.



The Beauty Berry plants are blooming and generating new fruit for the upcoming migration season. Mockingbirds, Catbirds, and other birds enjoy the berries and the insects that hang around them in the Fall.



Tread Softly plants are blooming most of the year. Their name comes from the fact that the plant is studded with sharp spines along its length.



Near Net 2, a Wild Potato Vine shows off its gorgeous flowers.



Finally, we observed the abundant fruits of the many wild Black Cherry trees along the river. More food for the upcoming migration season!



More discoveries as Summer gets closer. Been here for several weeks here. Whew! Hot...
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Next Banding Day: Sunday, June 20th.

All nets will be opened around 6:00 A.M.