Highlights of the 169 birds banded on May 4, which was shortened to only 4.5 hours of effort by high winds, included a good late-season showing by Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and the first Veery and Gray Catbirds of the season. Most years, Yellow Warblers arrive here in late April, and nearly always are captured before the end of that month. But this year we had to wait until today for our first splash of Yellow, with a good bunch of them banded (17).
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| After second-year male Yellow Warbler |
Among the 8 species of warbler banded today was a good total of 8 Palm Warblers, the first of the spring.
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| After second-year male Palm Warbler |
Other first warblers of the season was an Ovenbird, and 10 Common Yellowthroats.
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| After hatch-year Ovenbird |
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| After second-year male Common Yellowthroat |
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are typically banded in this park in small numbers, and sometimes none in any given year. Today's was a nice male, showing off his powerful beak.
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| Second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
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| Second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
Record late was an American Tree Sparrow, the first ever banded in the park in the month of May.
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| After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
Today's Field Sparrow was the 4th of the spring, which is above average for this park, while the Savannah Sparrow was only about the 10th ever banded here.
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| After hatch-year Savannah Sparrow |
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| After hatch-year Savannah Sparrow |
The White-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrows (6) that were the first of the season today, were right on schedule.
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| After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow |
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| After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow |
An unexpected capture, even though 3 were banded in early April, was a male Pine Siskin that was even more unusual because it had a cloacal protuberance, a sign of local breeding. Most years, if Pine Siskins come as far south as our station, they typically head back north by the end of March. In 2009 there was an unusual breeding event that was widespread across the entire southern Lower Peninsula.
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| Second-year male Pine Siskin |
An important food source for migratory birds in spring, especially along the Great Lakes shorelines, is the hatch of tiny flies called midges (Chironomidae). Some are about the size of mosquitos (maybe 10mm long), but the ones that were prevalent today were tiny, only about 2 mm long, and the high winds were keeping them low to the ground, which surely contributed to the large number of birds banded today.
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| Midge sp. (Chironomidae) |
Among the interesting species observed but not banded today were two flyover calling Common Loons, a flyover Osprey, and a singing Yellow-throated Warbler, possibly only the 2nd or 3rd for the park, that was tantalizing us all morning as it sang nearly non-stop for hours starting at about 7 a.m. Eventually other birders found it and got good photos.
Highlights of the 126 birds banded on May 6 included the third White-eyed Vireo at this new site, the 12th in the park since 2004, and 19th since 1994.
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| After hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
A Winter Wren was record late, and the first ever banded in the park in the month of May.
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| After hatch-year Winter Wren |
The only previous May record of a Golden-crowned Kinglet in the park that I'm aware of was one that had a minor healed wing injury that was recaptured after it was banded in late April. This spring, multiple individuals were still hanging around past the first week of May, which is very unusual.
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| Second-year female Golden-crowned Kinglet (caught here blinking) |
It was another good late-season day for Ruby-crowned Kinglets (12), and the first Swainson's Thrush of the season was banded today. Northern Parulas are captured very infrequently in this park, and very rarely in spring, so it was nice to have one today.
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| After second-year female Northern Parula |
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| After second-year female Northern Parula |
Two more first of season warblers today were single Magnolia and Black-throated Green, and 2 Black-and-whites. Of these, the Black-throated Green is the most unusual with typically only one or two in any season banded.
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| After second-year male Magnolia Warbler |
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| Second-year male Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Second-year male Black-and-white Warbler |
It was a good day for warblers overall, with 59 individuals of 11 species captured, and the 20 Yellow-rumped Warblers was an excellent number. Today's male Indigo Bunting was a nice surprise, as only one or two are banded here each year, while the season's first Baltimore Oriole was a little overdue.
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| Second-year male Indigo Bunting |
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| After second-year male Baltimore Oriole |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included a Red-headed Woodpecker calling briefly, singing Tennessee and Bay-breasted Warblers, and a somewhat late singing Eastern Towhee.
Highlights of the 61 birds banded on May 12 were hard-earned and largely undocumented by photos. Rain delayed our opening a reduced number of nets, and once the rain cleared we only got a couple more hours of catching before the rain returned, more serious and continuous. I was concentrating on getting the last 40 birds from the last net run banded rather than on photography. Thanks to the Nature Center for providing a pop-up canopy for us to work under, since my own canopy had gotten blown over earlier in the morning by the only gust of wind (!), which broke two of its legs. A second-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk was notable, as this species is only captured once ever 2-4 years here. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers seemed to be very sparse in late April, when they are typically quite common, so the season's first banded today was considered overdue.
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| Second-year male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
The first Blue-winged Warbler at the new meadow station, and only the 12th banded in the park since 1992.
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| Second-year male Blue-winged Warbler |
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| Second-year male Blue-winged Warbler |
Among the highlights that were not photographed there was a male Blackpoll Warbler, which was only the 8th in the park in spring. They are much more commonly banded in fall. So, I have cheated a bit to include a photo of male Blackpoll that was taken at another station, the E.L. Johnson Nature Center in Oakland County, on a great day we had on May 15 (4 male Blackpolls banded!).
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| After second-year male Blackpoll Warbler |
And since I'm cheating now, I have to indulge myself a bit to include another bird banded on May 15 at E.L. Johnson, a beautiful male Scarlet Tanager, only the 3rd banded there in 29 years (only 6 have been banded at Lake St. Clair Metropark since 1989).
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| Second-year male Scarlet Tanager at E.L. Johnson Nature Center |
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| Second-year male Scarlet Tanager at E.L. Johnson Nature Center |
Today's interesting insect came off the Sharp-shinned Hawk. It was a species of fly that is flattened as an adaptation to living among bird feathers, where they drink the blood of the birds, most often at the bases of feathers growing in when they have a blood supply. Often called "flat flies", the correct name is Louse Flies (Hippoboscidae), and this one was bigger (1/2 inch) than others I've seen on sparrows and thrushes.
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| Louse Fly (Hippoboscidae) |
Interesting birds observed today, but not banded, included a briefly singing Mourning Warbler, and a somewhat late White-throated Sparrow.
Highlights of the 132 birds banded on May 18 included the first (4) Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the spring. Today's Gray-cheeked Thrush was the first of the spring, while the season's first Tennessee Warbler was unusual because like Blackpolls, they are much more commonly captured in fall.
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| After second-year male Tennessee Warbler |
Today's Northern Parula, a somewhat dull second-year male, was the 3rd this spring, which is more than normal.
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| Second-year male Northern Parula |
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| Second-year male Northern Parula |
The first Wilson's Warblers of the spring made a bit splash, with 8 banded today.
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| After second-year male Wilson's Warbler |
Always rare, especially in spring, was a Connecticut Warbler, which was only the 20th ever banded in the park, and only the 4th in spring.
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| After second-year male Connecticut Warbler |
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| After second-year male Connecticut Warbler |
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| After second-year male Connecticut Warbler |
Among the 83 warblers of 12 species, four warbler species dominated the captures today, with 15 Yellow, 20 Magnolia, 18 American Redstarts (first of season!), and 14 Common Yellowthroats.
Undetected in the banding area until today, it was surprising to catch the 3rd Orchard Oriole at this station, and only the 4th ever in the park.
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| Second-year male Orchard Oriole |
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| Second-year male Orchard Oriole |
Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included singing Eastern Wood-Pewee and Eastern Kingbird, flyover Purple Martins, and singing Blackburnian, Blackpoll, and Black-and-white warblers,
I want to thank the following volunteers, without whom banding could not have been conducted on these four days, but who also endured sometimes difficult conditions to get the job done. Thanks to John Bieganowski, Jacob Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Tamika Jaja, Jac Kyle, Dave Lancaster, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Tessa Lau, Michelle Serreyn, and Blanche Wicke.
Detailed Bird Banding Results
May 4, 2018
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 10:15
Hours Open: 4.5
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:23
Net Hours: 72.25
Temperature (F): 57-72
Cloud Cover: 100-60%
Wind Direction: SE-WSW
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-15+ (high winds forced early close)
Barometer: 29.75 - 29.69
Precipitation: Trace rain after close
No. Banded: 169 (plus 14 recaptured, 4 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 30
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 258.8
Banding Assistants (9.25 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Dave Lancaster (8.5 hrs), Blanche Wicke.
Blue Jay - 1
House Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 16
Veery - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3
[American Robin - 2 recaptured]
Gray Catbird - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 2
Yellow Warbler - 17 (plus 4 recaptured)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 12 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Palm Warbler - 8
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 10
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Savannah Sparrow - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 6
Swamp Sparrow - 16
White-throated Sparrow - 27
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[Northern Cardinal - 2 recaptured]
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 20 (plus 3 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 1
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Pine Siskin - 1
American Goldfinch - 12 (plus 2 recaptured)
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May 6, 2018
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.00
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:20
Net Hours: 116.00
Temperature (F): 55-66
Cloud Cover: 100-60-80%
Wind Direction: Calm-SE-NE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-5-7
Barometer: 29.98 - 29.97
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 126 (plus 19 recaptured, 6 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 35
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 130.2
Banding Assistants (9.25 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Tamika Jaja (7.5 hrs), Jacob Charlebois (4.25 hrs), Michelle Serreyn, Blanche Wicke.
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Blue Jay - 2
Tree Swallow - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
House Wren - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 12
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 1
European Starling - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 3
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 15 (plus 7 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 20
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 5
Black-and-white Warbler - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 1
[Common Yellowthroat - 2 recaptured]
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 32 (plus 2 recaptured, 4 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
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May 12, 2018
Time open (E.S.T.): 6:45 (rain delayed open)Time closed (E.S.T.): 8:45 (rain forced early close)
Hours Open: 2.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:13
Net Hours: 23.00
Temperature (F): 43-46
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind Direction: NE
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10-12
Barometer: 30.08 - 30.17
Precipitation: Rain @ 8:30+
No. Banded: 61 (plus 9 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 23
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 313.0
Banding Assistants (8.0 hours worked): Mike Charlebois, Jac Kyle (6.5 hrs), Blanche Wicke.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
House Wren - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 4
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 2
Blue-winged Warbler - 1
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 9 (plus 5 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8
Palm Warbler - 7 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Canada Warbler - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 6
Swamp Sparrow - 6
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
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May 18, 2018
Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:45
Hours Open: 7.0
Sunrise (E.S.T.): 5:07
Net Hours: 116.00
Temperature (F): 50-71
Cloud Cover: 40-70%
Wind Direction: NNE
Wind Speed (mph): 7-10
Barometer: 30.20 - 30.17
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 132 (plus 23 recaptured, 3 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 33
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 136.2
Banding Assistants (9.5 hours worked): John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Tessa Lau, Blanche Wicke.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
House Wren - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 6
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 2
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 15 (plus 10 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 18
[Northern Waterthrush - 1 recaptured]
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 14
Wilson's Warbler - 8
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 4
Swamp Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 10 (plus 5 recaptured)
Common Grackle - 2
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured)
Orchard Oriole - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
[American Goldfinch - 1 recaptured]
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