Two Tree Swallows hunkered down in the lee of the east bank looking for insects emerging.
It was raining when I got to Ruthven’s front gate at 6:15. And it was raining when I left that gate at 2:30. But for a couple of hours in-between the rain stopped and we were able to open a few nets and set the traps. But, boy it was chilly. The damp NE wind seemed to cut into you. I had to admire the Tree Swallows hunkered down in the lee of the river’s east bank scanning the passing water for insects. Occasionally one would drop to the surface and pick up….something…and then return to it perch, very much like a flycatcher. These are tough times for insectivores.
This Tree Swallow was like a flycatcher: he’d sit on his perch until he saw some tidbit floating by on the surface of the water at which point he’d drop and pick it up and return to his perch.
These three Purple Martins, despite the terrible weather, have been staking out the nesting gourds and boxes for the last 4 days.
In about 4 hours we handled 71 birds: 32 banded and 39 retraps.
This Pine Siskin, that we think of as a denizen of Algonquin Park, was VERY impressed by Matt’s Bird-a-thon poster in the background. He would encourage your support of the Ruthven Ringers Birdathon Team and, as a consequence, your support of him and his ilk.
The next time you’re at the banding lab check out two new displays Nancy and Carol put up today. The 1st is Matt Timpf’s Birdathon poster. Matt heads up the Ruthven Ringers, our Birdathon team and one of the most competitive in the province in terms of numbers counted – they’re aiming for 150 this year. Your support would be greatly appreciated and would help fund the activities of the banding program.
These wonderful maps, donated by Janice from the University of Guelph, give you a good idea of the range of migrating passerines.
The 2nd consists of 2 maps showing Ruthven at the centre and then concentric circles giving you an idea of the flight distances “our” birds might fly to get here or will go when they take off on their next flight. Small birds heading north in the Spring have to traverse the Hamilton-Niagara corridor, then Lake Ontario, and then the bright lights and big buildings of Toronto. Their flights, when you begin to chart them out, are truly amazing.
A bird flying 30 km/hour could make the south end of Georgian Bay in less than 7 hours – a comfortable night’s flight.
Carol assures me that Snowdrops are at least a month behind.
Banded 32:
3 Mourning Doves
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 American Robin
6 American Tree Sparrows
8 Dark-eyed Juncos
4 Brown-headed Cowbirds
1 House Finch
1 Pine Siskin
3 American Goldfinches
Species Count: 36 spp.
Rick