Thursday, October 26, 2017

Lake St. Clair Metropark banding report - October 6-22, 2017

The intent at this station is to try to band two days each week, or two days out of every seven. The month of October got off to a good start, with banding three days in a row on the 6th, 7th, and 8th, but then due to both a lack of volunteers, then two days getting rained out, there was an 11 day gap with no banding until another three days in a row on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd. We will always wonder what we might have missed in those 11 days...surely a few White-throated Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes since they peak in mid-October, and possibly some of the last warblers of the season.

Highlights of the 113 birds of 23 species banded on Friday, October 6 included several first for the season, which was not surprising since the last day of banding was 7 days ago. Among these firsts was a Brown Creeper and several Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Hatch-year Brown Creeper















Hatch-year Brown Creeper

















Hatch-year female Golden-crowned Kinglet
















Among the 23 warblers of 8 species banded today was a one-day record of 7 Orange-crowned Warblers.
After hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

















Two of the warblers were somewhat late, a Chestnut-sided and a Wilson's.
Hatch-year Chestnut-sided Warbler















Hatch-year female Wilson's Warbler

















Sparrows had a fair showing, but far from what was expected as this is typically the peak for several species in this park. The 8 White-crowned Sparrows today was a fairly good number.
After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow

















The Eastern subspecies is discerned by the small black line connecting the front of the eye to the base of the black lateral crown stipe. Because we had a few to look at, we noticed some variation in the width of that small stripe, and wondered if it was related to the sex of the bird. As far as I know, nobody has studied this.
After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow















After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow


















On Saturday, October 7, only 46 birds of 18 species was banded. The main highlight was a somewhat late Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

















Among the few warblers captured today was the season's first Palm Warbler.
Hatch-year Palm Warbler
















Even fewer birds were banded on Sunday, October 8, with only 35 individuals of 21 species. But if not a good day for quantity, it was good for quality as the highlight of the day was this Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk
















Hatch-year Sharp-shinned Hawk

















Hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk

















Additional interesting birds banded today included a late-ish Swainson's Thrush, and somewhat late warblers including a Magnolia, two Blackpolls, and an American Redstart.

After an 11-day gap, results on Friday, October 20 were good, with 94 birds of 21 species banded. Highlights included two new species for this fall, one of them a result of audio-luring for Northern Saw-whet Owls before dawn...an Eastern Screech-Owl.This was the 4th screech-owl banded in the park, but the first rufous morph.
After hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl

















After hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl

















Not too unexpected was the first Field Sparrow of the fall.
Hatch-year Field Sparrow
















Hatch-year Field Sparrow

















A Common Yellowthroat was late, but not record late.
Hatch-year Common Yellowthorat

















The next day, Saturday, October 21, 70 birds of 19 species were banded with no new species for the fall. Perhaps the most unusual was the 2nd Field Sparrow of the season, and a Gray Catbird that tied the record late date for banding this species here.
Hatch-year Gray Catbird
















A couple of Orange-crowned Warblers, including one adult male, gave me a chance to take photos of some plumage characters that are difficult to photograph, like the "blurry" breast streaks, and of course the hidden orange crown.
After hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler















After hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler


















A non-bird highlight of the day was an Eastern Milk Snake discovered by Terri, right in the road between the banding station and the Nature Center. This may have only been the 2nd or 3rd time this species has been seen in this park.
Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
















Lower numbers were banded on Sunday, October 22, with only 30 individuals of 13 species. On these days, we can take a closer look at the birds we capture. Today's only Blue Jay was unusual in that it was an adult...vastly more hatch-years of this intelligent species are captured at most banding stations.
After hatch-year Blue Jay
















One character for determining age is that older birds have brighter blue on their primary coverts and alula, and also develop barring on those feathers. It was interesting that at a recent meeting of the Inland Bird Bander's Association, one presenter talked about a variety of issues in this species, including that it appears that some Blue Jays, maybe females, never get this barring. The photo below shows this barring, and if you look carefully perhaps you can see them in the photo above as well.
After hatch-year Blue Jay
















A House Wren today was a surprise, and it was a record late date (by two days) for banding in this park.
Hatch-year House Wren















Hatch-year House Wren

















Banding on these six days could not have been conducted without the capable help of the following volunteers: John Bieganowski, Terri Chapdelaine, Mike Charlebois, Guadeloupe Cummins, Stevie Kuroda, Jac Kyle, Dave Lancaster, Mitchael Neilson, Hannah Pelkey, Matthew Porter, Bruce Watson, and Blanche Wicke.

Detailed Bird Banding Results

October 6, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:15
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 5.25
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:35
Net Hours: 78.875
Temperature (F):  57-63
Cloud Cover: 100-95-100%
Wind Direction: Calm-SE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-3-5
Barometer: 30.13 - 30.07
Precipitation:  Intermittent light rain (delayed open, and forced 1-hour close in a.m.)
No. Banded: 113 (plus 15 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 23
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 163.5
Banding Assistants (10.5 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Jac Kyle, Blanche Wicke.

Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 2
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 1
Winter Wren - 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 16 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Hermit Thrush - 5
Orange-crowned Warbler - 7
Nashville Warbler - 7
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 6
White-crowned Sparrow - 8
Northern Cardinal - 3
House Finch - 3
American Goldfinch - 31 (plus 13 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

October 7, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  6:36
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 64-79
Cloud Cover: 100-20%
Wind Direction: SSE
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-12
Barometer: 29.71 - 29.81
Precipitation: Intermittent light rain in a.m.
No. Banded: 46 (plus 24 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 18
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours):  65.2
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Mike Charlebois (5.0 hrs), Dave Lancaster, Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5
Hermit Thrush - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Palm Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
[White-crowned Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 19 (plus 16 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
-----------------------------------------------

October 8, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15 
Hours Open: 6.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:37
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 64-73
Cloud Cover: 100-10%
Wind Direction: SW-S
Wind Speed (mph): 7-12-5
Barometer: 29.78 - 29.93
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 35 (plus 11 recaptured)
Species Captured: 21
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 41.6
Banding Assistants (8.0 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey (7.0 hrs), Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke. 

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
[Winter Wren - 1 recaptured]
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Hermit Thrush - 2
Gray Catbird - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
[Wilson's Warbler - 1 recaptured)
[Song Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
White-throated Sparrow - 2
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 4 (plus 4 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

October 20, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.5 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:45 - 6:15)
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  6:51
Net Hours: 110.5
Temperature (F): 45-68
Cloud Cover: 0-10%
Wind Direction: Calm-NW-SSE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-3-7
Barometer: 30.26 - 30.26
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 94 (plus 16 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 21
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 101.4
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Guadeloupe Cummins, Mike Charlebois, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.

Eastern Screech-Owl - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 3 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 1
[Carolina Wren - 2 recaptured]
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 18
Hermit Thrush - 5
Nashville Warbler - 1
[Magnolia Warbler - 1 recaptured]
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 7
Dark-eyed Junco - 5
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
House Finch - 2
American Goldfinch - 29 (plus 9 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

October 21, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.75 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:52
Net Hours: 111.0
Temperature (F): 55-70
Cloud Cover: 15-60%
Wind Direction: S
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-10
Barometer: 30.24 - 30.24
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 70 (plus 20 recaptured)
Species Captured: 19
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 81.1
Banding Assistants (8.0 hours worked): Terri Chapdelaine, Mike Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey, Mitchael Neilson, Bruce Watson (7.0 hrs). 

[Downy Woodpecker - 2 recaptured]
[Hairy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Black-capped Chicakdee - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
Brown Creeper - 4
Winter Wren - 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10 (plus 2 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 3
American Robin - 2
Gray Catbird - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 2
Field Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
Northern Cardinal - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 25 (plus 10 recaptured)
House Sparrow - 2
-----------------------------------------------

October 22, 2017

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:00
Hours Open: 6.5 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  6:53
Net Hours: 108.5
Temperature (F): 55-72
Cloud Cover: 40-10%
Wind Direction: SSE-S
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-7
Barometer: 30.21 - 30.19
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 30 (plus 15 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 13
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 42.4
Banding Assistants (8.0 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey, Matthew Porter, Bruce Watson (7.5 hrs), Blanche Wicke. .

 Downy Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 3 recaptured)
[Carolina Wren - 1 recaptured]
House Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Hermit Thrush - 3
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 3 recaptured]
American Goldfinch  - 9 (plus 6 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------

No comments: