The nice weather continued but with a change: a cloud buildup through the morning leading to the wind picking up around noon and a VERY light sprinkle of rain. This didn’t produce any discernible change in the makeup of birds around the site other than the arrival of the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the year. It sang vociferously for awhile from the willow just outside the banding lab.

We captured 3 previously banded Eastern Tufted Titmice. I estimate that there are 3 breeding pairs within half of a kilometer of the historic Mansion area. Some folks drive a long way to Ruthven just to see them and often are disappointed – mainly because they’re not patient enough to get out of their cars and search for them. So I thought I’d post a picture just to let folks know they’re alive and doing well.

Banded 30:
1 Mourning Dove
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 American Robin
1 Chipping Sparrow
3 Field Sparrows
5 Song Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
13 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 26:
3 Eastern Tufted Titmice
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 American Tree Sparrows
4 Song Sparrows
3 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
12 American Goldfinches

Rick