Blue Jays have been on the move in the past 2 days. -A. Wilcox
I figured I had pretty well missed Winter with trips to Kenya and Costa Rica through February and March. But, no, Mother Nature still had some up her (parka) sleeve…as we’ve been experiencing for the past week. Saturday morning was just a couple of degrees below freezing but the strong, gusting northerly winds went right through you. Due to the wind we opened only a couple of nets. And then last night the temperature dropped to -7; fortunately, though, the wind dropped. So this morning we were able to open all the nets (except 10 which we haven’t put up yet).
On Saturday the Killdeer were back in the area of their old nest, searching through the grass for anything to eat.
But we’re not catching much; or, at least, not much that’s new. On Saturday we handled 64 birds and today 83 but on both days retraps made up 75% of the catch. We have a logjam of birds waiting for a positive change in the weather so they can head north. [And as I’m writing this I am looking out the back window to watch snow falling – we’re supposed to be getting up to 10 cm through the night.]
It’s been a hard time for early migrants. The Killdeer pair, that had an egg, come back to the nest area sporadically to check it out (and make sure no interlopers have taken their spot). But they’re not showing any nesting-type behaviour – they’re waiting. Yesterday we didn’t see any swallows; today I saw just two – the swarms of midges that should be fueling them just aren’t around. The 2 Purple Martins that arrived on April 1st haven’t been seen since the 3rd – I hope they headed back south to sit this out!
It will be interesting to see what happens when the warm weather, predicted to arrive early this week, makes itself felt.
April 9th; Banded 16:
1 Mourning Dove
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
5 American Tree Sparrows
2 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
5 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 39 spp.
April 10th; Banded 21:
1 Blue Jay
2 American Tree Sparrows
3 Song Sparrows
5 Dark-eyed Juncos
10 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 37 spp. (including a Pied-billed Grebe in the river)
Gallery:
Lauren from the University of Western dropped off this large trap/holding cage for Brown-headed Cowbirds. Once again we will be shipping our cowbirds to Western, hopefully reducing the amount of nest parasitism in the immediate area.
Alessandra presents Stephanie Oldfield with the Creeper Award…..no, no…..with a picture of a Creeper in thanks for driving the Baggers for so many weeks.
Alessandra’s drawing of a Brown Creeper.
Micah showing off an American Goldfinch he has just banded. Goldfinches have been numerous, hitting the feeders hard.
Caleb making notes to himself…..pick up milk…bread…and, oh ya, a Rough-legged Hawk.
Sunday’s Bagger Crew – Alessandra, Samuel, Ben and Giovanni – modelling bander fashions. They worked really hard setting up for the new season.
Rick