Baltimore Oriole enjoying some orange slices across the river at Fred Smith’s place. -F. Smith
It’s been a busy-hectic few days – in the midst of terrible weather. So much rain! Many of the lawns and fields at Ruthven are rice paddies and the River Trail is under water with the river actually flowing down parts of it. It must be taking a terrible toll on early migrants. Sadly, we found the body of an adult male Purple Martin in the parking lot – emaciated. We have seen very few migrants in the woods during census and species counts have been going down rather than up.
Either Mike or I have been on site every day to do a (rain-soaked) census and try to catch birds during any lull – thank goodness for American Goldfinches and the hanging trap! But here we are, a quarter of May gone, and the bulk of the migration has yet to appear.
Following are daily banding totals and a compendium of pictures sent to me from a variety of people – some from days on which there was actual sunshine (if you’re wondering) and, so, before the 4th or today.
May 4th; Banded 35:
1 Mourning Dove
3 Downy Woodpeckers
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Gray Catbird
2 Western Palm Warblers
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
3 White-throated Sparrows
2 Red-winged Blackbirds
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
16 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 53 spp.
May 5th; Banded 7:
7 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 35 spp.
May 6th – Ruthven; Banded 13:
3 Mourning Doves
1 Yellow Warbler
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1 Chipping Sparrow
7 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 41 spp.
May 6th – Fern Hill Oakville; Banded 13:
1 Blue Jay
1 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Red-breasted Nuthatch
6 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Common Grackle
2 American Goldfinches
Red-breasted Nuthatch at Fern Hill Oakville! -KAP
ET’s: 30 spp.
Aidan came to Ruthven to celebrate his 14th birthday – and was gifted with a Chipping Sparrow. -K. Petrie
May 7th; Banded 28:
2 Mourning Doves
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Blue Jay
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Gray Catbird
2 Yellow Warblers
3 Chipping Sparrows
1 Field Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow
2 Brown-headed Cowbirds
12 American Goldfinches
ET’s: 50 spp.
Photo Gallery:
On their annual birding pilgrimage: Joanne, Dorothy, and Dianne.
A late-leaving Dark-eyed Junco. C. Scholtens
Laura and Mathew with the Red-breasted Nuthatch. -KAP
Engorged tick in the ear of a Chipping Sparrow.
Natasha with her first banded bird – Black-capped Chickadee. -KAP
Western Palm Warbler
Second-year male Orchard Oriole. -C. Scholtens
Male Indigo Bunting just coming into adult plumage (still has quite a few brown feathers). -C. Scholtens
Chimney Swift. -C. Scholtens
There are a couple of male Indigo Buntings hanging around the parking lot. -C. Scholtens
Preening Chipping Sparrow. -C. Scholtens
Long-distance shot of a Bobolink checking out the Butterfly Meadow. -C. Scholtens
A female Red-bellied Woodpecker giving my fingers a going-over. -A. Morgen
This Rose-breasted Grosbeak was banded last year – and has just made the long flight back from Central/South America. -A. Morgen