Frosty morning with icy net poles allowing gravity to overcome the friction of the nets on the pole… What I’m trying to say is, that as I tried to open the nets this morning, they would slip back down the pole, closing again. Years ago when I was a newbie, I was opening nets one morning with Rick when we encountered this same situation. I don’t know if he was leading me on or not, but he let me know that any bander worth their salt would thaw the pole with the heat from their hands so that the nets would stay up. Well, I guess I’m a bander not worth my salt. I’m not warming icy poles with my bare hands! (Rick was kidding, right?)

Once the sun was up, the temperature climbed rapidly; clear skies and no wind. But, as is often the case at Ruthven, on the nicest days we don’t get much action in the nets.

Banded 11:1 Tree Swallow
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 American Robin
3 Song Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows
2 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 13:
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Chipping Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows
1 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Red winged Blackbird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 36 spp.

A dozen birders (Guelph Naturalists) showed up for a hike, so they livened up the banding lab for a short time. It’s always nice to have visitors.

Loretta