A ‘V’ of Tundra Swans heading SW toward the Turkey Point marshes. -M. Gibson
After the topsy turvy weather we’ve been having, with temperature spikes as high as +19 degrees, it was refreshing to walk out into sub-zero weather this morning. I’m sorry, but I like cold and snow – two things that make us Canadian – especially in the Winter. Still, the warm weather has certainly initiated migration and there was evidence of it today. The most noticeable was the continued flights of Tundra Swans; we saw several flocks. All were headed SW, directly toward the Turkey Point marsh area. Once this thing gets rolling it would take a lot of adverse weather to stop it.
A larger flock of Tundra Swans. -M. Gibson
Due to the wind we opened only 1 net (1A) but set out a number of traps. We ended up handling 39 birds but only 5 of them were “new”; 34 were retraps (some 2+ years old).
Kim with her first banded bird: an American Goldfinch. -M. Gibson
Banded 5:
1 Black-capped Chickadee (unbanded chickadees at this time of year are a rarity)
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Red-winged Blackbird
2 American Goldfinches
Lovely male Red-winged Blackbird. -M. Gibson
ET’s: 23 spp.
Rick