Highlights of the 96 birds of 17 species banded on October 27 included not just one, but TWO White-eyed Vireos.
 |
| Hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
Only 16 White-eyed Vireos have been banded in the park between 1994 and 2009, and none of them in the fall. Typically, this rare breeding species in the southernmost portions of Michigan has departed by late September, so their presence here this late is very unusual. A strong weather system flowing up from Texas may have brought them, and some other late birds today, to us.
 |
| Hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
Hatch-year White-eyed Vireos have gray eyes, and there seemed to be a slight difference in color between the two.
 |
| Hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
The Nashville Warbler today was a couple days short of being the latest ever banded here, but was the first since October 20.
 |
| Hatch-year female Nashville Warbler |
But the Magnolia Warbler was a record late date by a week.
 |
| Hatch-year Magnolia Warbler |
Much more expected was the good number of both species of kinglet, and Hermit Thrushes, as well as the first American Tree Sparrow of the season.
 |
| After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
 |
| After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
A highlight among the recaptures was a female Northern Cardinal that was originally banded as an adult at the marsh station 0.4 miles away in 2009, making her at least 9 years 4 months old.
Results from October 28 were not particularly impressive, with only 28 birds of 9 species banded. On October 29, numbers were a little better, with 38 individuals of 13 species banded. The number of kinglets and Hermit Thrushes were down. It was a fairly good day for sparrows, considering the lateness of the season, with a surprising 5 White-throated Sparrows.
 |
| Hatch-year White-throated Sparrow |
Numbers of White-throats this fall (and last fall) have been far short of what had been expected at the marsh station where the 10-year fall season average was 217. So far this fall, less than 40 have been banded. It is possible there has been a downturn in numbers, as there were low numbers at the marsh station in 2014 too, with "only" 95 that fall. Interesting birds observed, but not banded on October 28 included two flyover GreaterYellowlegs,
With only two volunteers, fewer nets were open on November 3, but there were good results with 51 individuals of 18 species banded. Highlights included the 80th species of the fall (the record is 81 species in 2013), a common bird that usually bounces out of our nets, two Mourning Doves.
 |
| After hatch-year male Mourning Dove |
 |
| After hatch-year male Mourning Dove |
And the 81st species of the fall was another common resident species, but not often captured as there are few large trees in the banding area, a White-breasted Nuthatch.
 |
| After hatch-year male White-breasted Nuthatch |
A truly shocking capture was a record late Yellow-bellied Flycatcher! In 2015, one banded on October 7 was the first ever banded here in October, so one in November is extraordinary.
 |
| Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
A single Yellow-rumped Warbler was record late, by 3 days. And back to the more mundane, today saw the 500th American Goldfinch of the season banded. Only two previous fall seasons had more than 500 goldfinches, 2010 (512) and 2013 (749).
 |
| After hatch-year male American Goldfinch |
Interesting birds observed but not banded on November 3 included a flyover American Pipit, a flock of 8 Red Crossbills that circled over a nearby pine tree before continuing south (only 2nd or 3rd park record), and a flyover Common Redpoll. A Fox Sparrow was observed for only the second time this fall. They seem to have eluded capture this fall, for the first time EVER.
The last day of banding, November 4, was very good for so late as far as number of individuals banded (65) and species captured (14). This included a new species for the fall, and American Woodcock, setting a new record of 82 species this fall, and was only the 10th woodcock banded in the park (5 of them in 2015 at this new meadow station).
 |
| Hatch-year female American Woodcock |
 |
| Hatch-year female American Woodcock |
Just for fun, here is a close crop of a photo of the woodcock's back pattern.
 |
| Hatch-year female American Woodcock |
Two Winter Wrens today were two days shy of a record late date.
 |
| Hatch-year Winter Wren |
It was a good day for Golden-crowned Kinglets (16), American Tree Sparrows (7), White-throated Sparrows (4), and a record day for Dark-eyed Juncos, with 17. This single day exceeds any previous entire fall season at the marsh station!
 |
| Hatch-year female Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco |
Banding on these 5 days could not have been done without the help of the following volunteers: John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Stevie Kuroda, Dave Lancaster, Mitchael Neilson, Hannah Pelkey, Alexander Reiber, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke.
Detailed Bird Banding Results
October 27, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 7.0 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 6:59
Net Hours: 113.5
Temperature (F): 50-59
Cloud Cover: 40-100-90%
Wind Direction: SE-SW
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-12
Barometer: 29.77 - 29.79
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 96 (plus 19 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 17
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 104.0
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Phoebe -1
White-eyed Vireo - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown Creeper - 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 18 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Hermit Thrush - 18 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Cardinal - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 19 (plus 13 recaptured)
House Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
-----------------------------------------------
October 28, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.75 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:00
Net Hours: 111.25
Temperature (F): 39-46
Cloud Cover: 100-60-100%
Wind Direction: SW-NW-SW
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-10
Barometer: 29.85 - 29.85
Precipitation:None
No. Banded: 28 (plus 16 recaptured)
Species Captured: 9
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 39.6
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey (7.5 hrs), Bruce Watson .
[Black-capped Chickadee - 2 recaptured]
Winter Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 (plus 3 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
American Goldfinch - 12 (plus 9 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------
October 29, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.75 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:02
Net Hours: 111.25
Temperature (F): 41-50
Cloud Cover: 100-95%
Wind Direction: WSW-NW
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-7
Barometer: 29.88 - 29.84
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 38 (plus 30 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 13
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 62.0
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Hannah Pelkey (7.0 hrs, Bruce Watson.
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 3 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Winter Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6 (plus 4 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 (plus 5 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 13 (plus 15 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------
November 3, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.75 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:08
Net Hours: 73.75
Temperature (F): 46-52
Cloud Cover: 80-50%
Wind Direction: NW-N
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-12
Barometer: 30.13 - 30.33
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 51 (plus 18 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 18
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 94.9
Banding Assistants (9.5 hours worked): Guadalupe Cummins, Dave Lancaster.
Mourning Dove - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Brown Creeper - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Finch - 2
American Goldfinch - 17 (plus 12 recaptured)
-----------------------------------------------
November 4, 2017
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:30
Hours Open: 6.75 (audio luring for NSWO from 5:30 - 6:30)
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 7:09
Net Hours: 111.25
Temperature (F): 41-55
Cloud Cover: 100-60%
Wind Direction: NE-ENE
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-12
Barometer: 30.32 - 30.17
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 65 (plus 11 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 14
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 69.2
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Mitchael Neilson (7.0 hrs), Alexander Reiber (7.5 hrs), Bruce Watson.
American Woodcock - 1
Mourning Dove - 1
[Downy Woodpecker - 3 recaptured]
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 16
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Dark-eyed Junco - 16
[Northern Cardinal - 2 recaptured]
House Finch - 1
American Goldfinch - 12 (plus 5 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
House Sparrow - 1
-----------------------------------------------
