Banding at the CNC station 7/29 and 8/11

I'm playing catch-up posting banding results from the second to last and last summer banding days at Chippewa Nature Center.  Neither day was particularly busy and both produced lots of HY birds as one would expect.

For 29 July we had a total of 19 captures of nine species of which 13 were new and six were recaps.

Here's the catch:

Black-capped Chickadee  1 N
House Wren  1 N
Wood Thrush  1 N
American Robin  2 N
Gray Catbird  5 N,  2 R
Ovenbird  1 R
Song Sparrow  1 N,  1 R
Northern Cardinal  2 R
American Goldfinch  2 N

For 11 August we had a total of 20 captures of nine species of which 17 were new, two were recaptrues and one was unbanded.  This was our last banding day of the summer breeding study.  It was what one might expect in early August.  A lot of young birds and a few early migrants.  Neither of the recaptures (a Common Yellowthroat and a Song Sparrow) were unusual, both being banded earlier this summer.

A Willow Flycather was a pleasant surprise as they occasionally nest here but we don't often catch them.

Willow Flycatchers were heard infrequently this summer and never enough to verify they were on territory much less mated.  So, this is probably a wandering individual from another nearby location.

A molting adult male Blue-winged Warbler was the second for the summer, the first being caught way back on the 15th of May.  The earlier bird was probably a returning migrant but probably not returning here as we didn't hear any Blue-wings singing this summer.  This bird was probably also an individual from another location wandering around as it completed its molt before migrating south.

In this image you can see that the flight feather molt is completed as well as the body molt.  So, he's all set for the journey south.

Finally, a definite migrant was this AHY female Canada Warbler.

                                     

They definitely do not nest locally and are coming from further up-state.  We have often caught Canadas during our final banding session in August.

Here's the catch:

Downy Woodpecker  1 N
Willow Flycathcer  1 N
Black-capped Chickadee  6 N
Gray Catbird  2 N
Blue-winged Warbler  1 N
Common Yellowthroat  1 R
Canada Warbler  1 N
Song Sparrow  3 N,  1 R,  1 U
Northern Cardinal  1 N

Pay attention to announcements from Chippewa Nature Center about the fall migration banding weekend we will have Friday and Saturday September 17th and 18th.  Hope to see you out there.

banding at the Vestaburg station

This year's summer banding went out with a whimper today.  We opened all of the nets (29) and still only caught 18 individuals of 10 species of which 16 were new, one was a recapture and one was unbanded.  Ovenbirds ruled the day of mostly one hit wonders.  We captured a total of five ovenbirds and they were all HY birds that had already completed or were finishing up their pre-formative molt.  So, they all looked nice and fresh like this individual.

We had an early migrant Swainson's Thrush that was enjoying the fruit selection in the old field.  It was in the process of going through its pre-basic molt in preparation for its journey south.

A female second year Black-and-white Warbler was a nice addition to our list.  While we are within the breeding range for this species they don't nest at the bog.  So, this female undoubtedly finished her breeding somewhere else, probably nearby, and is completing her molt before migration.

Another probable migrant was this Winter Wren.  Winter Wren have nested at the bog and nest locally.   However, we had no evidence of a pair nesting here this summer.  We never had a male singing nor did we catch any individuals earlier in the season.  So this HY individual more than likely wandered into our station during its pre-migration dispersal.

We also still have babies coming off of the nest as evidenced by this juvenile Veery.  It is just beginning its pre-formative molt that will shed its spotty juvenal plumage for more adult-looking outerwear.

A Northern Waterthrush was a nice surprise as our own breeding individuals down in the bog seemed to be on break this summer.  Earlier in the season we only ever heard one singing male and only caught one individual at that time.  No more turned up in the nets throughout the summer.  This was a HY bird but it is hard to say whether it was born here or wandered in from elsewhere.

Finally, this Gray Catbird, while common showed incriminating evidence as to its lunch.  It was also captured in the field feasting on the assortment of berries found there and the tell-tale stains on its face (and adorning our carrying bags) are proof.

Here's the tally:

Black-capped Chickadee  1 R
Winter Wren  1 N
House Wren  2 N  1 U
Veery  1 N
Swainson's Thrush  1 N
Wood Thrush  3 N
Gray Catbird  1 N
Black-and-white Warbler  1 N
Ovenbird  5 N
Northern Waterthrush  1 N