This spate of bad weather continues. The rain and high winds in the Ruthven area prevented Nancy and Carol from opening nets and delayed the setting of ground traps. Consequently the number of birds handled – 16 – was down. But they did manage to get a good census in during which they recorded the first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the year.

Interestingly they retrapped 2 American Tree Sparrows that originally had been banded at the same time, on December 29, 2014…and they’re still hanging out together!

Banded 4:
1 House Finch
3 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 34 spp.

Fern Hill School in Burlington got back into action today. The weather wasn’t quite as bad at Ruthven. Janice and Katherine set out two traps fairly early and, when the rain subsided (and the wind dropped a little), they opened two nets. In the short time they were in operation they were pretty busy – many birds were around the feeders that they have been keeping well stocked.

Banded 17:
6 American Tree Sparrows
5 Song Sparrows
4 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 House Finch
1 Brown-headed Cowbird

ET’s: 30 spp.
Rick