3rd Annual Birdapalooza

Today was the 3rd Annual Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza held at Magnolia Park on the eastern shore of Lake Apopka in Central Florida. I t was hard to determine if this year had larger or smaller attendance but one thing was for sure. Our new 'keep out' sign did the trick and left our nets undisturbed by families looking for the main trail to the North.

Would have been nice to have had it last year when we were swarming with Yellow-rumps, but... This year the Gray Catbird was the most populous species caught.



Fortunately, we had birds in hand when visitors stopped by. In the first large group was sometime volunteer Eddie and his parents. We showed them the net lanes we have set during this event along the edge of the lake.



Ruby-crowned Kinglets were all over the trees and shrubs today but they remained quiet for the most part. We only caught in the early afternoon.



Phyllis and Becki banded another Catbird and explained the process to another interested group.



Next to the banding table, Richard had his nest boxes and gave information about native plants and environmentally smart suggestions for the yard.



There were few Western Palm Warblers this year so we were happy to have at least one in hand.



This male Northern Cardinal was flying back and forth all day and even hit the nets earlier but escaped. Eventually we netted him.



We enjoy letting someone from the crowd release our newly banded birds. Usually we give this duty to children but if they are not willing then we turn the job over to one of the adults. The expression is almost the same no matter the age.



We mentioned above that last year there were hundreds of Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warblers around. This year we only managed to catch one.



A female Northern Cardinal added to our total for the day. Possibly the mate of the previously banded male.



A nice surprise as we wound down for the afternoon was an Eastern Phoebe. Usually they stay out in the open but this one was deep in the brush.



The last big group of the day got to see one of our most adorable birds. An Ovenbird. Those tiny hands can't resist a chance to touch such a beautiful bird.



Now it is ready for its close-up before being released.



Overall, a successful event, again. We look forward to next year and prepare for tomorrow back at Lake Lotus.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 15th.
All nets will be opened by 6:35 A.M. Sunday.

Recapture Day.

We began our day at 45 degrees and hoped that the predicted winds would hold off long enough for a chance to catch some birds today. The Sun was still there to the East, as always, but the clouds kept us from getting too much warmth until late in the morning.



All of our birds today were recaptures. This Gray Catbird has now been recaptured three times after its first banding and it has been caught in three separate nets but they are all in the same area. Guess it loves that spot.



Just behind the table, Susan brought back a Hermit Thrush. This bird was first banded in November of 2012. Nice to see some birds still called Lake Lotus their Winter home.



The latest trees to begin blooming are the Cherry Laurels and our Black Cherry trees. Hopefully, some Waxwings or Robins will stick around to enjoy the fruit in a while.



This is the first year we have noticed a large eruption of Oxalis. A common plant but it had not gotten established here before. Now, it is all over the place.



Last week we posted a shot of a Bobcat track in the mud near the lake. Today, Andrew ventured back out to check the area but found another print in the same location. It appears to be canine and probably a Coyote. Bobcats do not leave claw marks behind like dogs do.



Speaking of claws, near Net 21, we noticed slide marks in the soft sand on the banks. Closer to the lake you can also see wide claw marks. Seems one of our American Alligators has been slithering around not too long ago.



Things were growing quiet but on the next run we spotted a shape in Net 11. A White-eyed Vireo was waiting near the Southern Elderberry.



Once the number was recorded on the band first placed a year and a half ago, the White-eyed Vireo posed for a much more distinguished look.



There were not too many birds around the lake but a fisherman was headed out near the Window on the Lake.



Around the mouth of the river the grasses were full of dew as the sunlight broke through for a couple of minutes.



Next to Net 14, Tent Caterpillars are busy emerging once again.



Our final recapture of the morning was a Western Palm Warbler down near the lake. Warblers are few and far between this year but they are stopping by the willows every now and then.



We posted a shot of one of our resident American Alligators last week. Sometimes folks remark that we are too close to these critters and worry about our safety. Or sanity. Aren't you in danger!?!



Not really. American Alligators are usually very afraid of humans and will haul themselves back into the water if approached too closely. This gator has come to love this spot once the light comes over the trees. The zoom lens photos make it seem like we are really close but as you can see from this shot from a camera phone at the same spot it is very far away.

Christine remarked how prehistoric this view was with the gator on one side and an Anhinga on the other with the weathered banks of the river. If only the yellow chains weren't there...



Next Saturday we will be at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival and Birdapalooza at Magnolia Park. We will be setting nets for the third year in a row in hopes of catching and banding some birds for the public during the event. Come out if you can! We will then be back at 'home' Sunday morning.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Saturday, February 7th (9-3) and Sunday, February 8th for the usual pre-dawn opening.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M. Sunday.

Pretty Day

It was a pretty day, though chilly before the sunlight made it over the trees. There still are not a lot of birds around and most of our captures were recaptures. We did end up with a new Gray Catbird among the others.



Hermit Thrushes are usually found in the lower half of the nets but this recaptures was way up top.



We had a couple of visitors and they were allow to learn about the birds we caught and then got to release them back into the woods.



House Wrens have been around but quiet. Another recapture. Two new Palm Warblers were brought in before the end of the morning.



Despite the cold, the Florida fauna is fairly convinced that Spring is basically right around the corner. Most trees are blooming or pushing out fresh growth like the Willows toward the lake.



For the second weekend in a row we had a male Anhinga hanging out and fishing in the river before spending some time in the breeze drying his feathers. He shows no fear unlike most of his species.



Yellow-rumped Warblers have been few and far between this Winter but we did see at least 3 of them today.



The resident Little Blue Heron was finding a nice resting spot in the neighbor's Bottlebrush tree.



The sand around Net 21 revealed some nice tracks but they were carelessly stepped on by all of us before a picture was taken. Fortunately, the cat seemed to have come from the lakeside and left more tracks in the mud. We haven't spotted the Bobcat this Winter but it is out there.



As we headed home, the American Alligator that now calls this part of the river home was up basking in the sunlight. I am sure we will see it again next week.



One more week before the Birdapalooza Festival on Feb. 7th. Waiting for more birds in the area.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, February 1st.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

Quite a Mix of Encounters

It wasn't a terribly busy day but we did find some fun discoveries, as always. The morning started off in a familiar way with the capture of a Northern Cardinal we first banded 3 1/2 years ago.



We mentioned last week that the Ruby-crowned Kinglets more numerous and active now and we did catch a couple today. Last year we caught mostly females but the males were on display today. Think Andrew has had to dig in the soil already today?



Richard got to band the second male Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the day.



As the morning wore on we spotted our now resident American Alligator below the banding table. Oddly, it had a mouthful of what appeared to be a garbage bag. When we have heavy rains, like we did again last week, tons of trash washes down the river from the city. Maybe our gator found something interesting smelling? The bag didn't seem to be choking the animal but we called the rangers to let them know what we were seeing. As Andrew was taking photos he began to form a possible reason for this incident...



Once the photos were opened on the computer it was made more clear what was going on and suspected. There was, indeed, something about that bag that attracted the gator. Maybe it was tangled up before but we could now make out that there is a duck in that mass. The first thought of the bird being banded was wrong. It was just flaps of skin. So, our gator was just having breakfast. A bit later it was seen moving up to its usual sunning spot and doing just fine.



Richard brought out the ladder to check on the nest boxes for the first time of the year. Flying Squirrels nearly often make a home for themselves in some of the boxes. We count at least 5 in this one.



At Net 21, now partially flooded again after the latest rain, we found a male Anhinga flying about and drying on a branch a short distance from the net. Just stay on that side and out of the net!



The Anhinga spent a lot of time here and even dropped down for a drink and took some time to catch a fish to eat before posing for us once more before heading out toward the lake.



We found two birds that we have previously banded today. One was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher busily foraging next to the river.



Becki refound one of our Orange-crowned Warblers. Maybe the one we banded last week or the one we banded two years ago that has been around, too.



Pileated Woodpeckers have been very vocal of late and the male flew in close to the net lanes in a burst of noise and color.



A Gray Catbird added to our captures for the day.



We also caught our first Myrtle Warbler of the season today. Checking the records, we were catching them almost exclusively last year here at Lake Lotus and at every event we were at through February. There just have not been very many of them here this year. Nice to get the first one under our belts.



Andrew checked the retention ponds on the way home, of course. A few Hooded Mergansers are in their usual spot.



Next Saturday we hope to help our friend, Marianne, in rounding up sparrows and then will be back home next Sunday.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, January 25th.
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.