Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Lake St. Clair Metropark banding report - September 1-15, 2017

The first half of September was very productive for banding, especially warblers and thrushes. Temperatures stayed around normal or slightly below, keeping it comfortable for birds and banders, and there was very little rain during the period which kept the net lanes and paths dry with very few mosquitos until September 15th. Banding was conducted on September 1, 3, 9, 10, and 15. All 5 days had 100 birds or more banded. On the down side, three nets had 6-foot holes put in them by deer running through, and two nets had 2-foot holes in top panels probably by a Red-tailed Hawk flying through.

The best warbler day was September 1, when more than 100 individuals of 18 species were banded, including not only a lot of firsts for the season, but some unusual numbers of species that historically have been banded in very small numbers back at the marsh station. Some expected firsts included Black-and-white, Tennessee, Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided, and Black-throated Blue warblers.
Hatch-year male Black-and-white Warbler















Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler















Hatch-year Blackpoll Warbler















Hatch-year male Chestnut-sided Warbler

















Hatch-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler















Hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler
















Among the numerous warbler species this day were Nashville, Magnolia, American Redstart, and Wilson's Warblers. Less frequently captured species included a single Black-throated Green Warbler, which was captured at an average of 1.4 per fall season between 2004-2014 at the marsh station.
Hatch-year male Black-throated Green Warbler
















Slightly less frequently captured, the three Blackburnian Warblers was a single-day record, and above the 1.3 per fall season average at the marsh station.
Hatch-year female Blackburnian Warbler















Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler















Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler
















Between 2004 and 2014, a total of only 7 Cape May Warblers were captured in the fall (none in spring) at the marsh station, so the FIVE captured today was remarkable. And the one-day record there was only two. There have been reports of increasing numbers of this species in the past couple years, so maybe this spruce budworm specialist is making a comeback?
Hatch-year female Cape May Warbler














Hatch-year male Cape May Warbler

















Hatch-year male Cape May Warbler

















It was a good day for vireos as well, with the first Red-eyed and Philadelphia vireos of the season.
Hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo














Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

















After such a great day on September 1st, it was hard to come up with new arrivals and highlights for the rest of the week. The Lincoln's Sparrow on September 3rd was the first of the fall, and was record early by 6 days.
Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow
















September 9 was a good day for flycatchers, with 5 species banded including the 4th Great Crested Flycatcher of the season, which was a record for a fall season.

Hatch-year Great Crested Flycatcher
















The 38 Swainson's and 5 Gray-cheeked (first of season) Thrushes on September 9th was a very good showing for thrushes, and the 45 Swainson's Thrushes on September 10th was a one-day record.

Hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush













There was a good opportunity for a side-by-side comparison of Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers on September 10th.
Least (left) and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers (both hatch-year)
















On September 15th, the season's first Wood Thrush was one of 5 thrush species (including American Robin, and a late Veery) for the day. The Gray-cheeked Thrush recaptured today had gained 6 grams in the 5 days since it was banded. Great berry crop this year!
Hatch-year Wood Thrush
















I would like to thank the following volunteers, without whose help banding on these 5 days would not have been possible: Jenifer Benke, John Bieganowski, Ana Boegehold, Terri Chapdelaine, Jacob Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Guadeloupe Cummins, Jean Gramlich, Stevie Kuroda, Jac Kyle, Dave Lancaster, Hannah Pelkey, Edie Schmitz, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke.

Detailed Bird Banding Results

September 1, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:57
Net Hours: 113.75
Temperature (F): 55-64
Cloud Cover: 50-90%
Wind Direction: ENE
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-12
Barometer: 30.27 - 30.27
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 140 (plus 11 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 37
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 135.4
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Guadeloupe Cummins, Jac Kyle (7.0 hrs), Jean Gramlich, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Flicker - 1
Least Flycatcher - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 7
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tufted Titmouse - 1
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Marsh Wren - 1
Veery - 2
Swainson's Thrush - 3
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
[Gray Catbird - 3 recaptured]
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 6
Nashville Warbler - 19
Yellow Warbler - 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 15
Cape May Warbler - 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Blackburnian Warbler - 3
Bay-breasted Warbler - 9
Blackpoll Warbler - 7
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 12
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 12 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Canada Warbler - 2
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

September 3, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:00 (rain delayed opening)
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  5:59
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 59-73
Cloud Cover: 100-90-100%
Wind Direction: WNW
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-7
Barometer: 29.94 - 29.98
Precipitation: Light rain @ 5:00 - 5:45
No. Banded: 100 (plus 16 recaptured,)
Species Captured: 28
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 195,9
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Terri Chapdelaine, Mike Charlebois, Jacob Charlebois (3.0 hrs), Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey (8.5 hrs), Bruce Watson.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Least Flycatcher - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 7
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Veery - 5
Swainson's Thrush - 13 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 3
Yellow Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Canada Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 4
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 5 recaptured]
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 20 (plus 2 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

September 9, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:15 (tangled nets delayed open)
Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:45
Hours Open: 7.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:06
Net Hours: 124.75
Temperature (F): 46-62
Cloud Cover: 40-60%
Wind Direction: NW-NE
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-12
Barometer: 30.45 - 30.48
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 146 (plus 15 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 24
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 130.7
Banding Assistants (10.0 hours worked): Ana Boegehold, Mike Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey (9.0 hrs), Bruce Watson (7.0 hrs). 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird -14
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 2
Least Flycatcher - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 1 recapture)
House Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Marsh Wren - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 5
Swainson's Thrush - 38 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 12
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 5
Northern Cardinal - 1
American Goldfinch - 44 (plus 9 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
-----------------------------------------------

September 10, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  6:07
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 46-70
Cloud Cover: 10-60%
Wind Direction: NW-E-S
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-10
Barometer: 30.498 - 30.50
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 127 (plus 21 recaptured)
Species Captured: 22
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 133.9
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Jenifer Benke, Mike Charlebois (3.0 hrs), Guadeloupe Cummins, Stevie Kuroda, Edie Schmitz, Bruce Watson (8.0 hrs), Blanche Wicke.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 11
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vire0 - 3
[Marsh Wren - 1 recaptured]
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 45 (plus 2 recaptured) [record!]
[Gray Catbird - 2 recaptured]
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
[Ovenbird - 1 recaptured]
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 37 (plus 11 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

September 15, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.50
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:12
Net Hours: 110.50
Temperature (F): 63-77
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind Direction: S-SE
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-7
Barometer: 30.08 - 30.13
Precipitation:  Fog in a.m.
No. Banded: 108 (plus 12 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 22
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 109.5
Banding Assistants (9.5 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird -5
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Flicker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 16
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 2
Nashville Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Song Sparrow - 5 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
American Goldfinch - 52 (plus 7 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
-----------------------------------------------

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