The banding was lukewarm today – the number of birds trapped was low but interesting in regard to variety. Also, it was a good time to study the birds a little closer in regard to the different molt patterns in the young birds and the adult birds. The young birds have the fresh, new feathers while the adults (depending on the species) are unkempt while they begin to have a complete molt now that their energy and time is no longer focused on breeding and raising young. This is in preparation for the flight south during the fall migration. As far as the weather goes it was a warm morning to open, the full moon slowly waning and the heat of the day increasing once the sun was out. It didn’t take long to get muggy, the hot sun causing rivulets of sweat to run from head to toe.

The Purple Martins have been successful in establishing a colony and raising young!!! During one count today there were thirteen birds (including young). In an earlier blog this month there were four young Purple Martins banded as a first for Ruthven Park.

Banded 11:
1 Black-billed Cuckoo
2 Eastern Wood Pewees
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 House Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Gray Catbirds
1 Cedar Waxwing
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Retrapped 17:
3 Eastern Wood-Pewees
1 Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Gray Catbird
1 Yellow Warbler
3 Northern Cardinals
4 Song Sparrows
1 American Goldfinch
2 Eastern Tufted Titmice

ET’s : 33 spp’s

Nancy