Lake St. Clair Metropark bird banding report - April 20-29, 2018

Temperatures in the last half of April were better than the first half, but still didn't reach what is considered average for this time of year. Early migrants dominated through the end of the month, with unprecedented numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets much later than normal, with very few warblers. Yellow Warblers usually arrive before the end of April, but not this spring.

Highlights of the 74 birds banded on April 20 included the first Northern Flickers (2) of the spring.

After second-year male Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker

After second-year male Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker

The first (4) Yellow-rumped Warblers of the spring were captured today as well. Back at the marsh station, this species was not captured in late April very often even though they are usually fairly common then.

After hatch-year male Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

After hatch-year male Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

This bright White-throated Sparrow was the only one captured today, but was the first of the spring season.

After hatch-year White-throated Sparrow

The most interesting bird observed, but not banded, was a Pileated Woodpecker that flew over the banding station and landed briefly behind the nature center. A few years ago there were sightings of this species, the first ever in the park, but in recent years has remained very elusive. We also had flyover Common Loon, Purple Martins, and Pine Siskins, as well as nearby drumming Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

Highlights of the 80 birds banded on April 21 included 3 more Northern Flickers, and an excellent total of 13 Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Second-year male Golden-crowned Kinglet

Other early-season species captured today, some in good numbers, included Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included an American Bittern calling from the marsh far to the north, drumming Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, an Eastern Towhee, and a flyover Pine Siskin.

Highlights of the 108 birds banded on April 27 included the first (4) House Wrens of the spring, which were pretty much on schedule despite the tardiness of many early spring species.

After hatch-year House Wren

It was another good day for kinglets, with 10 Golden-crowned and 17 Ruby-crowned; the latter was nearly double the previous spring record (9 on 27 April 2007). And the 20 Hermit Thrushes beat the previous spring record of 12 set on 17 April 2013. Four more Yellow-rumped Warblers were nice, and a single Northern Waterthrush was unexpected, and a bit early.

After hatch-year male Northern Waterthrush

If you look carefully at the photo above (click on it to enlarge), you can see narrow white tips on the outer tail feathers, which suggests this is a male.

After hatch-year male Northern Waterthrush

The lightly spotted throat, narrower supercilium behind the eye, and smaller bill, distinguish the Northern Waterthrush from Louisiana Waterthrush, which migrates earlier but has only been banded in the park once. This nice male Eastern Towhee was the second of the spring.

Second-year male Eastern Towhee

Second-year male Eastern Towhee

A single American Tree Sparrow tied the record late date for banding this species in the park, although they have been seen as late as April 29 here.

After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow

The Dark-eyed Junco banded today was record late, but not too unexpected as they linger into early May in many years. Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included a Forster's Tern diving for fish in a small pond only about 20 yards behind the banding table, a singing Savannah Sparrow adjacent to the meadow, and a singing Purple Finch near the feeders that we were hoping would be captured, but it was not.

Highlights of the 47 birds banded on April. 29 included the 7th Northern Flicker of the spring, exceeding the previous spring record of 4, but still short of the fall record of 10. Golden-crowned Kinglets (3) today continued to be notable, as most have departed by April 20 most years.

Second-year female Golden-crowned Kinglet

All the Golden-crowned Kinglets in the past two days (10 on the 27th and 3 today) were females, indicating the end of their migration. Surprisingly, no Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen or heard in the banding area today, but one warbler was captured, an Orange-crowned.

After hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

The orange in the crown is nearly impossible to see in the field, and even in-hand can be overlooked unless the crown feathers are moved aside...they are barely visible in the photo below.

After hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler

 Among the small number of sparrows banded today was the 3rd Field Sparrow of the season.

Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included flyover Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Caspian Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Barn Swallow. There was also a single American Tree Sparrow at the Nature Center feeders (thanks Blanche!).

Banding on these 4 days would not have been possible without the help of the following volunteers: Jenifer Benke, John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Edie Schmitz, Michelle Serreyn, and Blanche Wicke.

Detailed Bird Banding Results

April 20, 2018

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 6.75
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:43
Net Hours: 107.75
Temperature (F):  34-52
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind Direction: NW-NE
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-10
Barometer: 30.42 - 30.50
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 74 (plus 17 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 23
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 86.3
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): John Bieganowski (8.25 hrs), Mike Charlebois (7.5 hrs), Blanche Wicke.

Northern Flicker - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Brown Creeper - 1
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 8
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Eastern Towhee - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 5 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 18 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 6
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 (plus 2 recaptured)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 8 recaptured)
House Sparrow - 1
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April 21, 2018

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  5:41
Net Hours: 113.25
Temperature (F): 32-50
Cloud Cover: 30-100%
Wind Direction: Calm-ENE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-7
Barometer: 30.50 - 30.45
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 80 (plus 29 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 20
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 97.1
Banding Assistants (10.0 hours worked): Jenifer Benke, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins.

Northern Flicker - 3
Tree Swallow - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
[White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 recaptured]
Winter Wren - 2
Brown Creeper - 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 9
American Robin - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 7
Fox Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 11 (plus 4 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Dark-eyed Junco - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
[House Finch - 1 recaptured]
American Goldfinch - 8 (plus 15 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
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April 27, 2018

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45 
Hours Open: 7.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:33
Net Hours: 116.00
Temperature (F): 43-63
Cloud Cover: 30-100%
Wind Direction: Calm-SW
Wind Speed (mph): 0-5-7
Barometer: 29.79 - 29.70
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 108 (plus 18 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 21
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 111.2
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Edie Schmitz, Blanche Wicke.

Northern Flicker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 7 recaptured)
Brown Creeper - 3
House Wren - 4
Winter Wren - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 17
Hermit Thrush - 20
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Eastern Towhee - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 6 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 26 (plus 5 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
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April 29, 2018

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.):  5:30
Net Hours: 116.00
Temperature (F): 34-54
Cloud Cover: 10-0%
Wind Direction: N
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-12
Barometer: 30.26 - 30.31
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 47 (plus 20 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 18
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 59.5
Banding Assistants (9.25 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Michelle Serreyn, Blanche Wicke.

Northern Flicker - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 8 (plus 1 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
European Starling - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (plus 5 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Finch - 5
American Goldfinch - 7 (plus 3 recaptured)
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