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Fall Bird Banding 2025 - November & Season Totals
Daylight Saving Time ended on November 1st, which reduced the time we were able to audio-lure in the morning for owls by an hour on the last three banding days of the fall. Despite this being the last week of banding, we were affected by precipitation. The last day was scheduled to be November 9th, but rain and snow crept into the forecast, so it was moved to November 8th. Temperatures were still a bit above normal on the 2nd and 6th, and cooler and more normal on the 8th. Migration in the first week of November usually slows down, with species diversity reduced as well. So it was surprising that seven new species for the season were captured. On the down side, kinglet numbers did not increase and we finished the season well below last year for both species.
Sunday, November 2, 2025
A chilly start with fog gave way to warmer temperatures and sunny skies. The Field Sparrow today was the second of the season. The early morning light in the photo below gives the bird richer colors than normal.
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| Hatch-year Field Sparrow |
Three new species for the fall were captured today, two of them fairly common; White-breasted Nuthatch and House Finch.
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| Hatch-year female White-breasted Nuthatch |
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| Hatch-year female White-breasted Nuthatch |
Some hatch-year male House Finches don't have any red in their plumage in late fall, so their sex cannot be determined by plumage characters. Luckily, the one today had plenty of red.
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| Hatch-year male House Finch |
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker captured today was a highlight for two reasons. I have captured very few over the years (this was only my 15th in 28 years). And, they typically migrate through our area from late September through mid-October. The brown barring on the back indicate that it is a hatch-year, and the lack of red on the throat indicates female.
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| Hatch-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
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| Hatch-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
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| Hatch-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
The three Fox Sparrows today was the peak for the season, as was the 8 Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Banding Results for November 2, 2025
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 6:30 (5.25 net hrs) audio luring for owls
16.5 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (99.0 net hours)
Temperature: 35-54
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind Direction: Calm-SW
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.20-30.20
Precipitation: Fog
Sunrise: 7:06
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 8
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Winter Wren - 2
Hermit Thrush - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 2
House Finch - 3
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal - 2
No. of species captured: 17
No. banded: 41
No. recaptured: 10
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 52.5 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Wren Haynes, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke, Sue Wright.
Visitors: 4
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Thursday, November 6, 2025
It was another clear sunny day, but this time the cloud cover increased by the time we closed to nearly overcast, which may have helped us catch more birds. There were lots of American Robins flying over, and through, the banding area today, so while the 5 we banded was an increase it was less than it could have been. The one in the photo below is an adult male. In fall their head feathers have pale fringing.
A surprising new species for the season today was two American Goldfinches. This is a common species and last year we caught a dozen of them despite that abbreviated banding season. 
After hatch-year male American Robin
Hatch-year female American Goldfinch
It was apparently warm enough today for a Butler's Garter Snake to be active. It may have been heading toward a pile of rocks to hibernate for the winter. Wren and Alexa managed to get three photos showing distinctive characteristics of this species. The first shows the blunt nose and arrangement of stripes on the sides.
Hatch-year female American Goldfinch
The second is the black-tipped tongue, although I'm not sure this is diagnostic.
Butler's Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri)
The third character is the tiny yellow dots on the parietal scales on the top of the head.
Butler's Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri)
Banding Results for November 6, 2025
Butler's Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri)
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 6:45 (6.56 net hrs) audio luring for owls
16.5 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (99.0 net hours)
Temperature: 39-51
Cloud Cover: 0-90%
Wind Direction: W
Wind Speed: 1-3-7 mph
Barometer: 30.20-30.20
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:11
Downy Woodpecker - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Brown Creeper - 1
Winter Wren - 2
Hermit Thrush - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 5
American Goldfinch - 2
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 11 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 1
No. of species captured: 16
No. banded: 40
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 46.5 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Wren Haynes, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 2
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Saturday, November 8, 2025
Temperatures started out a bit warmer this morning, but dropped down a bit before rising back to where it started. So fairly typical for early November. The trace of rain before sunrise was not in the forecast, and did not show on the radar. But it was brief and light. Despite the lateness of the season, three new species for the fall were captured today. Audio-luring for owls produced our second owl of the season, this one an Eastern Screech-Owl.
After hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl
The second new species, a Mourning Dove, is a common species but unexpected because they don't hang out in the habitats where the nets are set up, and they are big enough to get out of nets if they're caught. 
After hatch-year Eastern Screech-Owl
And the third new species for the season was overdue, as we would have expected them earlier in October, this Blue-headed Vireo was rather late. 
Hatch-year male Mourning Dove
After hatch-year Blue-headed Vireo
And to close out the season, the completely overcast sky all day turned a bit more interesting in late morning; a fitting way to end an interesting banding season.
After hatch-year Blue-headed Vireo
Banding Results for November 8, 2025
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 6:45 (6.56 net hrs) audio luring for owls
16.5 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (99.0 net hours)
Temperature: 44-41-43
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind Direction: N
Wind Speed: 5-7-10 mph
Barometer: 29.80-29.90
Precipitation: Trace rain
Sunrise: 7:14
Mourning Dove - 1
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Blue-headed Vireo - 1
Winter Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 2 (plus 2 released unbanded)
American Goldfinch - 2
Fox Sparrow - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
[White-throated Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 19
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 24.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Marissa Jardine, Guy Lenk, Lily Pagac, Erika VanKirk, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 3
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2025 Fall Bird Banding Season Totals
Banding was conducted on a total of 29 days, with nets open for 173.0 hours, plus audio-luring for owls for 19.0 hours. To compare between seasons and between stations, we calculate the number of hours and number of nets open as "net hours". One 12-meter net open for 1 hour equals one net hour. The standard is to calculate the number of individuals banded per 100 net hours. At the beginning of the season, 12 nets were open by later in the fall the number of nets was increased to 16.5. So the season total for net hours was 2258.25, plus 101.25 net hours audio luring for owls.
A total of 77 species and 896 individuals was banded. The totals for all species is shown below, with the number per 100 net hours in parentheses. For Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and the two species of owls, number per 100 net hours is calculated on fewer total net hours because hummingbirds are no longer in the area after late September, and audio-luring for owls was not conducted for the entire fall season.
It was a good season for thrushes and sparrows, but the number of insectivores like warblers and flycatchers was disappointing. The prolonged near-drought conditions this season may have been a factor.
Mourning Dove - 1 (0.04)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 19 (1.58)
American Woodcock - 1 (0.04)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (0.04)
Cooper's Hawk - 1 (0.04)
Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 (0.99)
Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 (0.99)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 (0.04)
Downy Woodpecker - 14 (0.62)
Northern Flicker - 2 (0.09)
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
Acadian Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
Alder Flycatcher - 2 (0.09)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 4 (0.18)
Least Flycatcher - 1 (0.04)
Eastern Phoebe - 1 (0.04)
White-eyed Vireo - 1 (0.04)
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 (0.04)
Philadelphia Vireo - 6 (0.27)
Red-eyed Vireo - 11 (0.49)
Blue Jay - 5 (0.22)
Black-capped Chickadee - 2 (0.09)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 22 (0.97)
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 25 (1.11)
Cedar Waxwing - 2 (0.09)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1 (0.04)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 (0.04)
Brown Creeper - 4 (0.18)
Northern House Wren - 37 (1.64)
Winter Wren - 27 (1.20)
Gray Catbird - 66 (2.92)
Brown Thrasher - 1 (0.04)
Veery - 2 (0.09)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 5 (0.22)
Swainson's Thrush - 105 (4.65)
Hermit Thush - 114 (5.05)
Wood Thrush - 2 (0.09)
American Robin - 14 (0.62)
House Finch - 3 (0.13)
Purple Finch - 1 (0.04)
American Goldfinch - 4 (0.18)
Field Sparrow - 3 (0.13)
Fox Sparrow - 7 (0.31)
American Tree Sparrow - 6 (0.27)
Dark-eyed Junco - 14 (0.62)
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (0.04)
White-throated Sparrow - 118 (5.23)
Song Sparrow - 71 (3.14)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 6 (0.27)
Swamp Sparrow - 36 (1.59)
Eastern Towhee - 2 (0.09)
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (0.09)
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (0.31)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 (0.04)
Ovenbird - 10 (0.44)
Northern Waterthrush - 2 (0.09)
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Connecticut Warbler - 4 (0.18)
Mourning Warbler - 3 (0.13)
Tennessee Warbler - 3 (0.13)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Nashville Warbler - 9 (0.40)
Common Yellowthroat - 15 (0.66)
American Redstart - 6 (0.27)
Magnolia Warbler - 4 (0.18)
Bay-breasted Warbler - 10 (0.44)
Blackburnian Warbler - 2 (0.09)
Northern Yellow Warbler - 3 (0.13)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Blackpoll Warbler - 2 (0.09)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 2 (0.09)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 9 (0.40)
Wilson's Warbler - 1 (0.04)
Northern Cardinal - 13 (0.58)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 (0.04)
Indigo Bunting - 5 (0.22)
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Fall Bird Banding 2025 - October
Moderate drought continued across southeastern Michigan well into October, with no rain until the 19th, and only about an inch or so that day. The above-normal temperatures continued into mid-month as well, with temperatures reaching the 70s on the 2nd and 18th, and to the 80s on the 5th. Most of the 9 days of banding this month had very clear skies, making nets more visible than on cloudy days, and wind was a factor on four days. Audio luring for Northern Saw-whet Owls was begun on the 2nd, with three stations set up by 5:30 a.m. and operated for about 2 hours until first light, after which the remaining nets were opened for songbirds for the standard 6 hours. The station was open for one day more than the established protocol of 8 days due to the configuration of the calendar this year. September is warbler month, which was disappointing, while October is sparrow month, which was definitely better.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Today's warm temperatures were more like September than October, but a few first arrivals for the season were banded today including Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco.
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| Hatch-year female Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
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| Hatch-year Brown Creeper |
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| Hatch-year female Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco |
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| Hatch-year female Red-winged Blackbird |
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| Hatch-year female Red-winged Blackbird |
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| Hatch-year "Traill's" Flycatcher |
Banding Results for October 2, 2025
6 nets open 5:30 - 7:00 (9.0 net hrs) audio luring for owls
12 nets open 7:00 - 13:00 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 55-72
Cloud Cover: 50-80-50%
Wind Direction: NE-NW
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.31-30.29
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:30
Downy Woodpecker - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 8
Brown Creeper - 2
Northern House Wren - 2
Winter Wren - 2
Gray Catbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Swamp Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (plus 2 released unbanded)
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
No. of species captured: 17
No. banded: 51
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 3
Capture Rate: 79.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Olive Ballard, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Wren Haynes, Dave Lancaster, Erika VanKirk.
Visitors: 4
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Sunday, October 5, 2025
Today's near-record temperatures and southwest winds did not bode well for a big day, and the numbers were lower than we'd hoped. Both Winter and Northern House Wrens were captured again today, providing a good side-by-side comparison at one point for the only photo highlight of the day.
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| Winter (left) and Northern House Wrens |
Banding Results for October 5, 2025
6 nets open 5:30 - 7:00 (9.0 net hrs) audio luring for owls
12 nets open 7:00 - 13:00 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 66-82
Cloud Cover: 40-0%
Wind Direction: SW
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.15-30.16
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:34
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Northern House Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Winter Wren - 3 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 2
Hermit Thrush - 2
[Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 recaprtued]
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Ovenbird - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 22
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 36.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Kaina Gonzalez, Danielle Hawkins, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 9
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Thursday, October 9, 2025
More seasonal temperatures and northerly winds overnight brought a good number of migrants into the area. It also brought some cloud cover early, which has been rare enough this season that I had to take photos of the sunrise, for the only photo highlights of the day.
Banding Results for October 9, 2025
5 nets open 5:30 - 7:00 (7.5 net hrs) audio luring for owls
12 nets open 7:00 - 13:00 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 45-56
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind Direction: N-NE
Wind Speed: 1-3-7 mph
Barometer: 30.49-30.51
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:38
Blue Jay - 1
Brown Creeper - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3
Winter Wren - 5
Hermit Thrush - 15 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 8
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 27 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Northern Cardinal - 2
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 75
No. recaptured: 2
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 109.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 3
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Saturday, October 11, 2025
It was another busy day, but dominated by three species; Hermit Thrush, Song Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow. So, no photo highlights today, not even a sunrise with clouds as it was clear and sunny most of the day.
Banding Results for October 11, 2025
5 nets open 5:30 - 7:00 (7.5 net hrs) audio luring for owls
12 nets open 7:00 - 13:00 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 52-62
Cloud Cover: 0-90%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.08-30.10
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:40
Blue Jay - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Winter Wren - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 1
Hermit Thrush - 20 (plus 6 recaptured)
[Swainson's Thrush - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 18
Swamp Sparrow - 6
Song Sparrow - 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 63
No. recaptured: 7
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 98.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Tori Guido, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Guy Lenk, Nolan Lenk.
Visitors: 8
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Friday, October 17, 2025
Today was another day dominated by Hermit Thrushes and White-throated Sparrows. The cloud cover, and trace of rain at dawn, perhaps kept birds low enough to catch. Golden-crowned Kinglets had not yet arrived, so today's first ones of the season were welcome if not overdue. The Nature Center staff brought a school group over to the banding table to observe the process and learn about our research.
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| Hatch-year male Golden-crowned Kinglet |
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| Hatch-year Field Sparrow |
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| Hatch-year Field Sparrow |
Banding Results for October 17, 2025
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 7:15 (9.2 net hrs) audio luring for owls
14.25 nets open 7:15 - 13:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 44-64
Cloud Cover: 50-90%
Wind Direction: Calm-SSW
Wind Speed: 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.12-30.00
Precipitation: Trace rain
Sunrise: 7:47
[Black-capped Chickadee - 2 recaptured]
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Winter Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 18 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 17 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 6
Swamp Sparrow - 5
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 54
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 67.8 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Marissa Jardine, Dave Lancaster, Lily Pagac, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, October 18, 2025
We don't normally band two days in a row, but rain popped up in the forecast for the 19th and my wonderful volunteers switched days on short notice! The Nature Center staff brought a school group over to the banding table to observe the process and learn about our research. I have been looking at a relatively new tool to monitor over night migration, BirdCast. Sometimes there are thousands of birds, rarely a million or more, over Wayne County. But last night's report was, well, very disappointing.
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| Hatch-year Black-capped Chickadee |
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| Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) |
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| Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) |
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 7:15 (9.2 net hrs) audio luring for owls
15.75 nets open 7:15 - 13:15 (94.5 net hours)
Temperature: 61-73
Cloud Cover: 80-40%
Wind Direction: S
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.83-29.72
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:48
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Winter Wren - 2
Hermit Thrush - 4 (plus 3 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 9
No. banded: 22
No. recaptured: 5
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 29.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Marissa Jardine, Lily Pagac, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Temperatures dropped to more normal levels, and there was a good migration overnight, so we had a decent day today with five new species for the season! Four of these new species were expected, and included our first Eastern Phoebe.
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| After hatch-year Eastern Phoebe |
 |
| After hatch-year Eastern Phoebe |
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| Hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
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| Hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
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| Hatch-year Fox Sparrow |
 |
| Hatch-year Fox Sparrow |
 |
| After hatch-year male Eastern Towhee |
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| After hatch-year male Eastern Towhee |
 |
| Hatch-year Northern House Wren |
 |
| Hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
 |
| Hatch-year White-eyed Vireo |
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 7:30 (10.5 net hrs) audio luring for owls
15.75 nets open 7:30 - 13:30 (94.5 net hours)
Temperature: 46-52
Cloud Cover: 100-70%
Wind Direction: W
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.85-29.98
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:54
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Winter Wren - 3
Northern House Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 18 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 14 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
Eastern Towhee - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 64
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 72.0 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Guadalupe Cummins, Wren Haynes, Marissa Jardine, Dave Lancaster, Averi Lohman, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, October 26, 2025
The early morning hours of setting up a few nets with audio lures for Northern Saw-whet Owls paid off this morning, with a second-year female captured on the 6:30 a.m. net run. The crisp temperatures, and lack of wind, were perfect conditions for catching owls.
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| Second-year female Northern Saw-whet Owl |
 |
| Second-year female Northern Saw-whet Owl |
Sometimes birds with minor deformities are captured. Today we had a Hermit Thrush with a slightly overgrown and curved upper mandible. It has survived so far, so it will probably be fine.
 |
| Hatch-year Hermit Thrush |
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 7:30 (10.5 net hrs) audio luring for owls
15.75+ nets open 7:30 - 13:30 (96.0 net hours)
Temperature: 39-52
Cloud Cover: 10-0%
Wind Direction: N-NE
Wind Speed: 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.50-30.40
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:58
Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
[White-eyed Vireo - 1 recaptured]
Blue Jay - 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 5
Winter Wren - 3
Hermit Thrush - 20 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Fox Sparrow - 1
[Dark-eyed Junco - 1 recaptured]
White-throated Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 4
Eastern Towhee - 1
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 44
No. recaptured: 5
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 53.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Tori Guido, Wren Haynes, Guy Lenk, Nolan Lenk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, October 31, 2025
Numbers were back down again today, perhaps mostly due to the windy conditions exposing the nets to view. The only highlight today was a rather late (but not record late) Blackpoll Warbler. It was only the second one of the season. Normally about 10 times as many would be expected.
 |
| Hatch-year Blackpoll Warbler |
 |
| Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) |
Banding Results for October 31, 2025
5.25 nets open 5:30 - 7:30 (10.5 net hrs) audio luring for owls
16.5 nets open 7:30 - 13:30 (99.0 net hours)
Temperature: 41-54
Cloud Cover: 70-90%
Wind Direction: W-WNW
Wind Speed: 5-7-15 mph
Barometer: 29.70-29.70
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 8:04
Downy Woodpecker - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Winter Wren - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 6
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 2
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 12
No. banded: 22
No. recaptured: 6
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 28.3 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Guadalupe Cummins, Wren Haynes, Dave Lancaster, Averi Lohman, Erika VanKirk, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
====================================================
Fall Bird Banding 2025 - September
The dry conditions from August continued through September. The nearly 1 inch of rain on September 24th was almost the entire rainfall for the entire month. Insects (except for grasshoppers) and fruit were in short supply in the banding area. Along with these dry days, temperatures were 10-15 degrees above average, with most banding days also having no cloud cover, so our nets were more visible to the birds. The number and diversity of warblers this month was lower than expected, possibly due to the heat and drought. But the number of interesting species captures somewhat offset the low numbers. We did band two days each week, for a total of 8 days, meeting the established protocol. One day was rescheduled due to rain in the forecast, but the rain did not materialize that day.
Just to continue from late August's insect identifications, here are a few more from the last week of August before we get into the bird banding results below.
 |
| Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) chrysalis |
 |
| Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron) caterpillar |
 | |
| Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) on the banding table...they're everywhere! |
It eventually got too windy today to band, but not before our normal closing time. But a White-tailed Deer running through (and destroying) a net at 7:30 reduced the number of nets used for the rest of the day. I don't put another net up the same day at a site that had a deer near it. Only 11 warblers of 9 species were banded today, but included some firsts for the season like this Black-and-white Warbler.
 |
| Hatch-year female Black-and-white Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
Banding Results for September 5, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (66.75 net hours)
Temperature: 56-72
Cloud Cover:10-100-50%
Wind Direction: S-SW
Wind Speed: 5-7-15 mph
Barometer: 29.73-29.70
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:01
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Northern House Wren - 2
Gray Catbird - 6
Swainson's Thrush - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Ovenbird - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Indigo Bunting - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 17
No. banded: 27
No. recaptured: 1
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 44.9 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Luke Grange, Kathy McDonald, Jacob Pitcher, Nate Spala, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Another fairly slow day, but with highlights including the first Philadelphia Vireo of the season.
 |
| Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo |
 |
| Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo |
 |
| Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler |
 |
| After hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
 |
| After hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year Purple Finch |
 |
| Hatch-year Purple Finch |
Banding Results for September 7, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 49-66
Cloud Cover:10-50%
Wind Direction: Calm-WNW
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.10-30.14
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:04
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 2 recaptured)
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 9
Purple Finch - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Nashville Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Connecticut Warbler - 1
[American Redstart - 1 released unbanded]
Blackburnian Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 23
No. recaptured: 2
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 36.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke, Sue Wright.
Visitors: 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, September 12, 2025
An increase in numbers captured today may have been partly caused by the fog that was present for the first couple hours that the nets were open. But the fog burned off quickly and it became sunny and hot for the remainder of the day. Among the many Swainson's Thrushes today was the first Gray-cheeked Thrush of the season.
 |
| Hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush |
 |
| Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow |
Banding Results for September 12, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 57-75
Cloud Cover:0-10%
Wind Direction: Calm-E
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.24-30.21
Precipitation: Fog
Sunrise: 7:09
Philadelphia Vireo - 3
Northern House Wren - 2
Gray Catbird - 2
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 14
[American Robin - 1 released unbanded]
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 5
Ovenbird - 2
Nashville Warbler - 4
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 5
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 45
No. recaptured: 0
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 63.9 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Pierre Hendricks, Lily8 Rhiannon-Pagac, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 14, 2025
It was another hot and sunny day, with fog in the early morning. More than half the birds captured today were Swainson's Thrushes. Only 5 warblers of 5 species were captured today, but included the season's first Yellow-rumped Warbler, a molting adult female.
 |
| After hatch-year female Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Banding Results for September 14, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 56-75
Cloud Cover:0%
Wind Direction: Calm-NE
Wind Speed: 0-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.07-30.09
Precipitation: Fog
Sunrise: 7:11
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
[Philadelphia Vireo - 1 recaptured]
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
Gray Catbird - 9 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 23 (plus 2 released unbanded)
American Robin - 2
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Ovenbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 42
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 66.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Cass Arsenault, Shelly Andrews, Mike Charlebois, Hank Haynes, Wren Haynes, Mary Jo McLellan, Jacob Pitcher, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, September 18, 2025
A third day of fog, but slightly reduced numbers of birds, and eventually also a clear blue sky along with the highest temperature so far this month. There were several highlights today, including the first Brown Thrasher of the season. The best way of ageing them is by eye color; dull yellow in hatch-year and bright yellow in after hatch-year. This one seems to have dull yellow eyes.
 |
| Hatch-year Brown Thrasher |
 |
| Hatch-year Brown Thrasher |
 |
| Hatch-year Northern Waterthrush |
 |
| Hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year male Red-breasted Nuthatch |
 |
| Hatch-year male Red-breasted Nuthatch |
 |
| Hatch-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
 |
| Hatch-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
Banding Results for September 18, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 62-83
Cloud Cover: 90-20%
Wind Direction: Calm-W
Wind Speed: 0-1-3 mph
Barometer: 30.03-30.04
Precipitation: Fog
Sunrise: 7:15
Philadelphia Vireo - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Northern House Wren - 4
Brown Thrasher - 1
Gray Catbird - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 13
American Robin - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 14
No. banded: 37
No. recaptured: 2
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 54.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke
Visitors: 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, September 20, 2025
I had to include a sunrise photo from the banding area, if nothing more than to prove that once in a while there is a cloud in the sky! Venus is near the top, and a very slender crescent moon is near the bottom.
There were several firsts for the season today. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird was the first one since September 5th. The nectar sources, including Wild Bergamot, did not bloom as long as they typically do likely becuase of the drought conditions since early August. The two Wood Thrushes were likely migrants, and the first of the fall.
 |
| Hatch-year Wood Thrush |
 |
| Hatch-year male Wilson's Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year White-throated Sparrow |
 |
| Hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk |
 |
| Hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk |
Banding Results for September 20, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 61-73
Cloud Cover: 50-80%
Wind Direction: ENE
Wind Speed: 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.14-30.15
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:17
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
[Northern Flicker - 1 recaptured]
Red-eyed Vireo - 4
Northern House Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 15
Wood Thrush - 2
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3
[Northern Waterthrush - 1 recaptured]
American Redstart - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
[Indigo Bunting - 1 released unbanded]
No. of species captured: 17
No. banded: 38
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 56.9 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Leah Stafford, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, September 26, 2025
It was yet another warm and sunny day. Thrush numbers were down, but included the first Hermit Thrush of the season, signaling a turn in the season from earlier long-distance migrants to shorter-distance migrants.
 |
| Hatch-year Hermit Thrush |
 |
| Hatch-year Hermit Thrush |
 |
| Hatch-year Swamp Sparrow |
 |
| Hatch-year Swamp Sparrow |
Banding Results for September 26, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 60-76
Cloud Cover: 0-10%
Wind Direction: Calm-WSW
Wind Speed: 0-1-3 mph
Barometer: 29.86-29.89
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:24
Northern House Wren - 3
Gray Catbird - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 6 (plus 2 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 1
[Nashville Warbler - 1 released unbanded]
Common Yellowthroat - 4
No. of species captured: 10
No. banded: 26
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 41.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Dave Lancaster, Joshua Samuels, Erika VanKirk, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Finally, a cloudy start to the morning that became completely overcast soon after sunrise. But eventually, the sky became the clear, cloudless blue we've come to expect. Season firsts continue to roll in, like this Winter Wren.
 |
| Hatch-year Winter Wren |
 |
| Hatch-year Winter Wren |
 |
| Hatch-year male Orange-crowned Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year female Cooper's Hawk |
 |
| Hatch-year female Cooper's Hawk |
 |
| Hatch-year male Sharp-shinned Hawk |
Banding Results for September 28, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 64-74
Cloud Cover: 50-100-0%
Wind Direction: W-NE
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.02-30.14
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:26
Cooper's Hawk - 1
[Philadelphia Vireo - 1 recaptured]
Winter Wren - 1
Northern House Wren - 3
Gray Catbird - 6 (plus 1 recaptured)
Hermit Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 7
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Ovenbird - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 5
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 27
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 41.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Nolan Lenk, Rebecca Lenk, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
===========================================================
Fall Bird Banding 2025 - August
The month of August was drier than normal with little rain, after above average precipitation during June and July. The vernal pond between nets 7 and 8 was dried up, and there wasn't even any mud in the area. Three visits were done, one in late June and two in July, to keep the net lanes clear of the fast-growing vegetation. Banding began on August 3rd, with the goal of continuing to document the breeding success of local species. In addition, the first migrants can be expected early in the month. Banding was conducted on 9 days this month, with nets closed early on one day due to the heat. One day was covered with 11 nets instead of 12 after a White-tailed Deer ran through and destroyed net #8 about an hour after the station was open. The first two days of banding were fairly good, with mainly locally breeding species captured and a couple of migrants. The rest of the month was slow, due to the low number of migrants captured. But despite this, each day was interesting. Efforts continued to document the vegetation within the 10-acre circle surrounding the 12 nets, and interesting insects were documented also, possibly because the slow capture rate gave us time to pursue these interests.
Sunday, August 3, 2025
It was a nice surprise today to band the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the fall season, which was a hatch-year female that likely was hatched on the island. Another surprise was catching what appeared to be a mated pair of Indigo Buntings, which appeared to be feeding fledglings hiding somewhere between nets 6 and 7.
 |
| After hatch-year male Indigo Bunting |
 |
| After hatch-year male Indigo Bunting |
 |
| After hatch-year female Indigo Bunting |
 |
| After hatch-year female Indigo Bunting |
 |
| Hatch-year female Downy Woodpecker |
 |
| Hatch-year male Brown-headed Cowbird |
The only migrant today was an adult female Tennessee Warbler.
 |
| After hatch-year female Tennessee Warbler |
 |
| After hatch-year female Tennessee Warbler |
 |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) |
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 57-76
Cloud Cover: 0% (smoke from Canadian wildfires)
Wind Direction: Calm-E
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.21-30.19
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:26
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Northern Flicker - 1
Northern House Wren - 1
Gray Catbird - 5
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 1
[Yellow Warbler - 1 recaptured]
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Indigo Bunting - 2
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 22
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 34.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Kal Al-Rajhi, Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Casey Fazio, Wren Haynes, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, August 7, 2025
With five banded on the first day, and three banded today, it was quickly becoming clear that Gray Catbirds had a good breeding season on Belle Isle. The young are easily recognized by their heavy molt.
 |
| Hatch-year Gray Catbird |
 |
| Hatch-year Yellow Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year Acadian Flycatcher |
 |
| Hatch-year Acadian Flycatcher |
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 71-81
Cloud Cover: 20-50%
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.21-30.19
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:31
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 1
[Northern Flicker - 1 released unbanded]
Acadian Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
Northern House Wren - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3
Song Sparrow - 2
Yellow Warbler - 3
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Indigo Bunting - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 12
No. banded: 19
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 31.9 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Pierre Hendricks, Nate Spala, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 9, 2025
No migrants today, and a significant drop in numbers captured. The heat and humidity forced us to close an hour early today. A heavily molting Great Crested Flycatcher was determined to be a female by the presence of a brood patch, confirming nesting on the island.
 |
| After hatch-year female Great Crested Flycatcher |
Their impressive bill is surely very effective at catching larger insect prey.
 |
| After hatch-year female Great Crested Flycatcher |
 |
| Hatch-year male Cedar Waxwing |
12 nets open 6:15 - 11:15 (60.0 net hours)
Temperature: 74-83
Cloud Cover: 10-30-0%
Wind Direction: S
Wind Speed: 1-3-7 mph
Barometer: 30.09-30.11
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:33
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Northern House Wren - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 2
Gray Catbird - 1
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 5
No. banded: 6
No. recaptured: 1
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 11.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Erika VanKirk, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, August 15, 2025
It was another slow, hot, and humid day, but we lasted our standard 6 hours, but short one net as a White-tailed Deer ran through and destroyed net 8 at 9:15. The adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird banded today could have been a local breeder or a migrant, as adult males migrate earlier than females and young. It was heavily molting its body feathers, as most adults do during August (and perhaps continuing to molt through their southward migration.
 |
| After hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
 |
| Hatch-year male Bay-breasted Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year male Bay-breasted Warbler |
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (69.0 net hours) (1 net destroyed by deer @ 9:15)
Temperature: 69-83
Cloud Cover: 20-60%
Wind Direction: Calm-SE
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.10-30.12
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:39
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
Song Sparrow - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 6
No. banded: 6
No. recaptured: 1
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 10.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, August 17, 2025
It was another warm and humid day, with only a few birds and no migrants. A Baltimore Oriole, the second of the fall season, was a hatch-year which likely confirms breeding of this species in the banding area. The only photo highlight from today is this sunrise, taken while we were opening nets.
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 75-81
Cloud Cover: 100-60%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed: 3-5-10 mph
Barometer: 29.94-30.00
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:41
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Northern House Wren - 1
Gray Catbird - 2
Song Sparrow - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Northern Cardinal - 2
No. of species captured: 6
No. banded: 8
No. recaptured: 0
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 11.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Cass Arsenault, Olive Ballard, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes.
Visitors: 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, August 21, 2025
We got some relief from the heat today, but numbers captured was still quite low. It was the best day so far for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and included 3 hatch-year males and 1 hatch-year female, all of which could have been fledged on the island. Note the single red throat feather on the hatch-year male below.
 |
| Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
 |
| After hatch-year male American Woodcock |
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 67-70
Cloud Cover: 100-50%
Wind Direction: NE
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 30.04-30.05
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:45
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
American Woodcock - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
No. of species captured: 3
No. banded: 6
No. recaptured: 0
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 8.3 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Mike Charlebois, Katy Mendez, Hayley Penn, Newt Wheeler, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Another day with reasonable temperatures saw an uptick in numbers banded, including four migrants. The Alder Flycatcher was keyed out after I got home and was not photographed. The other three migrants were warblers; American Redstart, Ovenbird, and Mourning Warbler. The redstart was a hatch-year male, showing orangeish breast patches.
 |
| Hatch-year male American Redstart |
 |
| Hatch-year Ovenbird |
 |
| Hatch-year female Mourning Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year female Mourning Warbler |
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 61-74
Cloud Cover: 20-60%
Wind Direction: W
Wind Speed: 3-5-10 mph
Barometer: 29.88-29.85
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:48
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Northern House Wren - 2
Gray Catbird - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Ovenbird - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
No. of species captured: 7
No. banded: 12
No. recaptured: 1
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 19.4 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Casey Fazio, Kaina Gonzalez, Audrey Haynes, Wren Haynes, Blanche Wicke, Nick Yerkes.
Visitors: 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, August 29, 2025
The weather this morning was unseasonably chilly, which may have brought the first significant (but small) influx of migrants along with the northwest winds. The first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher of the season was captured today.
 |
| Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
 |
| Hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
 |
| Hatch-year female Connecticut Warbler |
Banding Results for August 29, 2025
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 53-66
Cloud Cover: 20-60%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.12-30.10
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:54
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Northern House Wren - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3
Swainson's Thrush - 1
Song Sparrow - 3
[Ovenbird - 1 recaptured]
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Bay-breasted Warbler - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 14
No. banded: 17
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 29.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Dave Lancaster, Mitch Nickert, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke, Sue Wright.
Visitors: 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, August 31, 2025
It was another chilly start, but the temperature got quite comfortable fairly soon. Modest numbers were again captured today. All three warblers species captured were new for the season, and included likely breeding Common Yellowthroats, and migrant Nashville and Black-throated Blue Warblers. The latter was a hatch-year female.
 |
| Hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler |
Banding Results for August 31, 2025
12 nets open 6:15 - 12:15 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 54-70
Cloud Cover: 0-10%
Wind Direction: Calm-NE
Wind Speed: 0-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.24-30.28
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:56
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Northern House Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Song Sparrow - 1
Nashville Warbler - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Indigo Bunting - 1
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 19
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 30.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Olive Ballard, Guadalupe Cummins, Audrey Haynes, Wren Haynes, Mary Jo McLellan, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
August Insects
Here is a gallery of some of the insects and other invertebrates we found during August within the banding area, including mostly common species but a few that are uncommon to rare.
 |
| Common Checkered Skipper (Burnsius communis) |
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| Monarch (Danaus plexippus) |
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| Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) |
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| Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) |
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| Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon), male |
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| Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon), female |
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| Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) |
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| Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) |
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| Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis |
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| Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) |
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| Pandorus Sphinx (Eumorpha pandorus) |
 |
| Gray Furcula Moth (Furcula cinerea) |
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| Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) |
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| Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), female |
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| Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), male |
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| Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) |
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| Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa), male |
 |
| Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia), immature male |
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| Goldenrod Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) |
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| Dogbane Leaf Beetle (Chrysochus auratus) |
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| Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) |
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| Thread-waisted Sand Wasp (Ammophila pictipennis) |
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| Fraternal Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus) |
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| Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana) |
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| Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) |
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| Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) |
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| Tiger Bee Fly (Xenox tigrinus) |
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| Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) |
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| Banded Garden Spider (Argiope trifasciata) |
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| 6-inch long Leopard Slug (Limax maximus), non-native |
===========================================================
Spring Bird Banding 2025
The month of May was cooler than average, by about 10 degrees. Several days were in the 40s and 50s, where normally 50s and 60s, and even 70s, are expected. Also, winds were fairly strong on many days, making for some chilly conditions. About half of the banding days had very little cloud cover which made it more comfortable for banding volunteers, but combined with the wind made it easier for birds to see and avoid our nets. One banding day was rained out but was rescheduled, so no days were missed. Two days had some rain that reduced the number of hours of operation, and toward the end of the month fog and haze from Canadian wildfires was evident. The net lanes remained muddy for the entire month, and by the end of May the vernal pond with Wood Frog tadpoles was mostly dried up, and had hundreds of American Toad tadpoles as well. We pushed our opening time earlier as the month progressed, but by the end of May we were still just getting the nets open right at sunrise, rather than the 30 minutes before as had been our goal earlier in the spring.
One photo that I forgot to include on the April 27th entry was of this Butler's Garter Snake, which is a species of special concern in Michigan, and Belle Isle is a good place to see them. They were encountered on several days in April and early May, but this is the only day I got photos.
 | |
| Butler's Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri) |
Friday, May 2, 2025
There were several firsts for the season today, including this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird which was the first hummingbird banded on Belle Isle as previous banding efforts on the island were not in the appropriate season for them.
 |
| After hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
 |
| After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow |
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| After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow |
 |
| After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow |
 |
| Second-year Veery |
 |
| After second-year female Yellow Warbler |
 |
| Second-year Solitary Sandpiper |
 |
| Second-year Solitary Sandpiper |
 |
| Second-year Solitary Sandpiper |
 |
| Second-year Solitary Sandpiper (Bird #1) |
 |
| Second-year Solitary Sandpiper (Bird #2) |
Banding Results for May 2, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 59-67
Cloud Cover: 100-50-90%
Wind Direction: WSW
Wind Speed: 5-7-10 mph
Barometer: 29.76-29.81
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Solitary Sandpiper - 2
Tree Swallow - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Northern House Wren - 1
Gray Catbird - 14
Hermit Thrush - 1
Veery - 1
American Robin - 2
Yellow Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Palm Warbler - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 4
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
White-throated Sparrow - 15
White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Red-winged Blackbird - 6 (plus 1 released unbanded)
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 22
No. banded: 75
No. recaptured: 2
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 109.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Erin Ford, Dave Lancaster, Mark Schaller, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Rain today forced us to close the nets after having them open only 3.5 hours. The second Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the season was banded today, this one an adult male. Lighting conditions weren't ideal for bringing out the colors of this species.
 |
| After hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
 |
| After second-year male Baltimore Oriole |
 |
| Second-year Wood Thrush |
 |
| Second-year Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
12 nets open 6:30 - 10:00 (42.0 net hours)
Temperature: 44-52
Cloud Cover: 80-100%
Wind Direction: N-NNE
Wind Speed: 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 29.91-29.89
Precipitation: Trace of rain at close, rain forced early close
Sunrise: 6:22
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Warbling Vireo - 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Wood Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Ovenbird - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 14
No. banded: 17
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 47.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Cass Arsenault, Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Margaret Cortese, Guadalupe Cummins, Guy Lenk, Nolan Lenk, Nate Spala, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Have you ever had the feeling that the weather was aiming directly at you? Well, today we had proof as the screen capture of the weather radar below shows...a line of rain coming right over Belle Isle.
We had to close the nets for an hour (7:30-8:30) due to rain, and even a few seconds of hail! That was not in the forecast at all for today! Luckily, the Detroit high school environmental studies class arrived after all this, and got to see several birds in-hand. One of the highlights was this adult male Black-throated Blue Warbler.
 |
| After second-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler |
 |
| After hatch-year Veery |
I was happy to get the Certificate of Appreciation from the Bird Banding Lab showing that this Veery was banded on 19 August 2023 as a hatch-year, at Black Swamp Bird Observatory in northwestern Ohio. In banding terms, this is called a Foreign Recapture, and is a very rare occurrence. But is the second one since this station started in October 2024.
Veeries spend the winter in the Amazon, so this individual spent the winter of 2023-24 there after migrating from Ohio, then it migrated back north in spring 2024, then migrated back south again for the winter of 2024-25, and was recaptured on Belle Isle today on its second trip north to its breeding grounds.
Banding Results for May 8, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 13:00 (66.0 net hours)
Temperature: 46-44-52
Cloud Cover: 100-20%
Wind Direction: NE
Wind Speed: 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 30.17-30.20
Precipitation: Intermittent light rain (closed for 1 hour)
Sunrise: 6:17
Least Flycatcher - 2
Blue Jay - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4
Northern House Wren - 2
European Starling - 2
Gray Catbird - 10
Veery - 5 (plus 1 foreign recapture)
Swainson's Thrush - 2
[Wood Thrush - 1 recaptured]
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Nashville Warbler - 7
Yellow Warbler - 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Ovenbird - 8
Northern Waterthrush - 3
Lincoln's Sparrow - 4
Song Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 12 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
No. of species captured: 23
No. banded: 78
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 127.3 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Pierre Hendricks, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 10, 2025
It was another chilly start today but warming up nicely for a change, and not too much wind. We had a group visit us today, the Oakland Bird Alliance young birders (The Owlets).
 |
| Oakland Bird Alliance young birders club |
Banding Results for May 10, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 49-75
Cloud Cover: 80-15%
Wind Direction: WSW
Wind Speed: 3-5-7 mph
Barometer: 30.14-30.09
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:15
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Blue Jay - 4
Tree Swallow - 2
European Starling - 1 (plus 2 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown Thrasher - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 1
[Wood Thrush - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 1 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Yellow Warbler - 6 (plus 2 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
[Northern Waterthrush - 1 recaptured]
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (plus 2 released unbanded)
No. of species captured: 19
No. banded: 38
No. recaptured: 10
No. released unbanded: 5
Capture Rate: 73.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, May 16, 2025
Today was more seasonal as far as temperatures, but with mostly clear skies all day and gradually increasing winds. Among the 8 species of warbler banded today was this nice Magnolia Warbler. Not the first of the season, but always worth a photo.
 |
| Second-year male Magnolia Warbler |
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| After second-year male Mourning Warbler |
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| After hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush |
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| After second-year male Orchard Oriole |
 |
| After second-year female Orchard Oriole |
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 60-78
Cloud Cover: 20-0%
Wind Direction: S
Wind Speed: 3-5-10 mph
Barometer: 29.62-29.65
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:09
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Blue Jay - 1
European Starling - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 5 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 7
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 9
Magnolia Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 5 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Mourning Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
[White-crowned Sparrow - 1 released unbanded]
Orchard Oriole - 2
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 7 (plus 2 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 1
American Goldfinch - 1
No. of species captured: 23
No. banded: 58
No. recaptured: 6
No. released unbanded: 3
Capture Rate: 93.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Dave Lancaster, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 6
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Sunday, May 18, 2025
Temperatures today were close to normal for the season, with variable clouds but windy. The wind was borderline for most of the day, but eventually became too strong by the time we closed. There is only a single photo highlight from today as I was occupied with holding down all the equipment on the banding table against the wind. That highlight was the first Wilson's Warbler of the spring.
 |
| After second-year male Wilson's Warbler |
Banding Results for May 18, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 56-64
Cloud Cover: 20-80-40%
Wind Direction: W-NW
Wind Speed: 7-10-15 mph
Barometer: 29.75-29.87
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:07
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
Northern Flicker - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
Northern House Wren - 2
European Starling - 2 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Brown Thrasher - 1 recaptured]
Swainson's Thrush - 1
American Robin - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 8 (plus 4 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 3
Mourning Warbler - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
[Song Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Baltimore Oriole - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Red-winged Blackbird - 1 released unbanded]
No. of species captured: 20
No. banded: 38
No. recaptured: 12
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 72.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Dick Filby, Wren Haynes, Blanche Wicke, Sue Wright.
Visitors: 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, May 23, 2025
Conditions today returned to chilly, sunny, and windy, as we've experienced more than we'd like this month. The result was a rather low capture rate today with the only highlights being the first Canada Warbler of the spring.
 |
| After second-year male Canada Warbler. Photo by Dick Filby |
 |
| Second-year female Wilson's Warbler. Photo by Dick Filby |
Banding Results for May 23, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 44-53
Cloud Cover: 20-100%
Wind Direction: NW-WNW
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 29.92-29.96
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:04
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Blue Jay - 1
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown Thrasher - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 6
[Wood Thrush - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 1
[Common Yellowthroat - 1 recaptured]
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
[Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 recaptured]
Song Sparrow - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 17
No. banded: 21
No. recaptured: 12
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 45.8 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Jacob Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Dick Filby, Dave Lancaster, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Another chilly, sunny, somewhat windy day with not a lot of birds. We did have a good number of volunteers today (not everyone is in the photo below).
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| After second-year male Mourning Warbler |
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| After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow |
 |
| Hatch-year American Robin |
 |
| Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) |
 |
| Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) |
 |
| Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) |
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 45-62
Cloud Cover: 10-70%
Wind Direction: W-NW
Wind Speed: 1-3-12 mph
Barometer: 30.25-30.24
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:01
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 2
Alder Flycatcher - 1
[Blue Jay - 1 recaptured]
Tree Swallow - 1
[Black-capped Chickadee - 1 recaptured]
[European Starling - 1 recaptured]
[Gray Catbird - 3 recaptured]
Swainson's Thrush - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2 (plus 4 recaptured)
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Mourning Warbler - 1
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (plus 4 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 5 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 1
American Goldfinch - 2
No. of species captured: 21
No. banded: 25
No. recaptured: 17
No. released unbanded: 1
Capture Rate: 59.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Jacob Charlebois, Mike Charlebois, Wren Haynes, Nate Spala, Erika VanKirk, Blanche Wicke, Nicholas Yerkes.
Visitors: 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Seasonally normal temperatures, good cloud cover, light winds, and brief fog combined today for what I'd consider ideal conditions for banding. Two new species for the season were banded today, including four (!) Yellow-bellied Flycatchers.
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| After hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
 |
| After second-year female Black-and-white Warbler |
And insects were starting to become more prevalent. I was able to identify this interesting moth as a Delicate Cyncia Moth.
 |
| Delicate Cyncia Moth (Cyncia tenera) |
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 56-63
Cloud Cover: 100-20-90%
Wind Direction: SW-W
Wind Speed: 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.01-29.98
Precipitation: Brief fog
Sunrise: 5:59
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
[Northern Flicker - 1 recaptured]
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 4
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Gray Catbird - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 3
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Redstart - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
[Song Sparrow - 2 recaptured]
Baltimore Oriole - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 16
No. banded: 27
No. recaptured: 11
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 52.8 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Dick Filby, Wren Haynes, Pierre Hendricks, Elizabeth Watling, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, June 1, 2025
It was another chilly morning for our last day of banding. Another factor today was haze created by smoke from Canadian wildfires in Saskatchewan and Manitoba blowing over the Great Lakes, reducing air quality as well as darkening the skies somewhat. Continuing to band into the first few days of June is dictated by the fact that several species continue to migrate at that time. One of those late species is Canada Warbler, and the second of the season was banded today. Males have a bold black "necklace", while females are paler grayish there.
 |
| Second-year female Canada Warbler |
 |
| Second-year male American Redstart |
 |
| After hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush |
Banding Results for June 1, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours)
Temperature: 47-60
Cloud Cover: 95-100%
Wind Direction: WNW
Wind Speed: 3-5-10 mph
Barometer: 29.81-29.86
Precipitation: Haze
Sunrise: 5:57
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
European Starling - 4 (plus 2 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 5 recaptured)
Swainson's Thrush - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1
American Robin - 3
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
[Yellow Warbler - 4 recaptured]
American Redstart - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
[Baltimore Oriole - 4 recaptured]
Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 24
No. recaptured: 18
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 61.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Danielle Hawkins, Wren Haynes, Nate Spala, Blanche Wicke.
Visitors: 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
============================================================
APRIL 2025
Spring has begun, and the first week of April saw the beginning of the 2025 bird banding season at a new station for me, Belle Isle Bird Observatory in Wayne County, Michigan. This new site is at the east end of a road (Oakway Trail) that was removed about 3 years ago to improve the hydrology on the island. The site is also close to the Nature Center which allows for public education opportunities. It is hoped that this station will be operated long-term, and the plan is to train my replacement from the volunteers and interns of under-served communities in the Detroit area. The station consists of 12 nets set up in an area that is contained within a circle of approximately 10 acres. Six of the nets are on the edges of the removed roadside, and 6 are in an adjacent second-growth woodland. In the coming years, data will show how the regeneration of these roads affects the bird life using them. The banding table, currently operated out of the back of my car, is set up at the end of the parking lot for the ADA Playground, adjacent to the parking for the Nature Center.
To start, banding will be conducted two days each week, depending on weather and availability of volunteer assistants. The spring banding season will run from the first week of April to the first week of June, and the fall banding season will run from the first week of August to the first week of November. Nets will be opened for 6 hours, starting as early as is practical, attempting to be open by sunrise, or before. After getting the net poles set up on March 27th, we opened nets for the first time this spring on April 4th. What follows includes daily reports of results, and photo highlights.
Friday, April 4, 2025
The weather in early April can sometimes be brutal, as winter is reluctant to give way to spring. My personal banding protocol early in the season is to not open nets unless it is at least 32 degrees. Mostly there are winter residents that can tolerate the cold, but care is always taken to avoid birds getting chilled, which can include more frequent net checks. Fortunately, this first day was chilly, but not cold, and we had a good opening day. I got to the site early to open 4 nets set up with audio lures to try to catch Northern Saw-whet Owls, which mainly migrate north during March, but my hope was that there might be some stragglers. That didn't happen this morning, but we had a good diversity of other species captured once the sun came up. As expected an over-wintering American Tree Sparrow was among the species captured.
 |
| After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
 |
| After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow |
 |
| After hatch-year Eastern Phoebe |
A few Fox Sparrows overwinter in Michigan, but they are also early migrants. So it is not clear what the status was of this one banded today.
 |
| After hatch-year Fox Sparrow |
 |
| After second-year male Common Grackle |
 |
| After hatch-year Eastern Phoeb |
We discovered some frog eggs in a small vernal pond in the middle of part of the removed road, which we determined were Wood Frog eggs. This photo shows one of the dozen or so egg masses.
Banding Results for April 4, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours), plus 4 nets open for audio luring from 5:45 - 6:45.
Temperature: 42-47
Cloud Cover: 0-100%
Wind Direction: N-NE
Wind Speed: 1-3-10 mph
Barometer: 30.29-30.35
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:08
[Downy Woodpecker - 2 recaptured, banded last October]
Northern Flicker - 2 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Eastern Phoebe - 1
American Robin - 9 (plus 2 released unbanded)
[Black-capped Chickadee - 2 recaptured, banded last October]
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 released unbanded)
Song Sparrow - 9 (plus 1 recaptured - banded last October)
Red-winged Blackbird - 14 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Common Grackle - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 44
No. recaptured: 5
No. released unbanded: 6
Capture Rate: 76.4 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Marilynn Crowley, Mark Schaller, Leah Stafford, Erika Van Kirk, Blanche Wicke.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Today was a bit colder and windier than the first banding day, but with good diversity although lower numbers. Several volunteers came out to help today. Here is a photo of them happily making the rounds to check nets in their winter attire.
Audio luring for owls was done again this morning, but no owls were caught. But the early start allowed us to hear American Woodcocks displaying before dawn, and once the nets were open 30 minutes before sunrise, we had one in the nets!
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| Second-year female American Woodcock |
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| Second-year female American Woodcock |
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| After hatch-year Brown Creeper |
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| After hatch-year Field Sparrow |
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| After hatch-year Field Sparrow |
Banding Results for April 6, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 12:30 (72.0 net hours), plus 4 nets open for audio luring from 5:30 - 6:30.
Temperature: 38-42
Cloud Cover: 100-80%
Wind Direction: N-NE
Wind Speed: 7-10 mph
Barometer: 30.11-30.11
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 7:05
American Woodcock - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Blue Jay - 1
[Tufted Titmouse - 1 recaptured, banded last October]
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Brown Creeper - 2
Hermit Thrush - 1
European Starling - 4
American Tree Sparrow - 3
Field Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 10 (plus 2 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
No. of species captured: 16
No. banded: 33
No. recaptured: 3
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 50.0 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, Guadalupe Cummins, Mark Schaller, Ben Sehl, Blanche Wicke, Nicholas Yerkes.
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Friday, April 11, 2025
Today was another chilly and windy day, with lower numbers than the first two days. Little migration occurs this early in April. Three more Field Sparrows today were a pleasant surprise.
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| After hatch-year Field Sparrow |
Banding Results for April 11, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours).
Temperature: 35-47
Cloud Cover: 100-20-40%
Wind Direction: N-NE
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 30.17-30.18
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:56
Brown Creeper - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
American Robin - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Field Sparrow - 3
Fox Sparrow - 1
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 3 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 1
Northern Cardinal - 2
No. of species captured: 11
No. banded: 18
No. recaptured: 8
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 36.1 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews.Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Marilynn Crowley, Diana Dugall, Erin Ford, Erika Van Kirk, Sue Wright.
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Sunday, April 13, 2025
Warmer conditions today brought some (human) visitors to the station for the first time this spring, as well as our first Tree Swallow.
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| After hatch-year male Tree Swallow |
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| After second-year male Northern Flicker |
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| After second-year male Northern Flicker |
Banding Results for April 13, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours).
Temperature: 43-58
Cloud Cover: 90-40-70%
Wind Direction: WSW-SW
Wind Speed: 5-7-12 mph
Barometer: 30.14-30.07
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:53
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
Northern Flicker - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Blue Jay - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
American Robin - 2
[European Starling - 1 recaptured]
American Tree Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
No. of species captured: 13
No. banded: 16
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 30.6 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Danielle Hawkins, Wren Haynes, Vikay Kaz, Guy Lenk, Nolan Lenk, Mark Schaller, Sue Wright.
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Thursday, April 17, 2025
Winter asserted itself once again, with the coldest start so far. Volunteer assistants were still bundled up at the start of the day, but the temperatures reached into the 50s and the wind was not a factor for the first time this spring.
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| Second-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
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| Second-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
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| After hatch-year female Eastern Towhee |
Banding Results for April 17, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 12:45 (72.0 net hours).
Temperature: 34-55
Cloud Cover: 10-20%
Wind Direction: Calm-SE
Wind Speed: 0-5 mph
Barometer: 30.21-30.16
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:47
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Brown Creeper - 1
Hermit Thrush - 3
American Robin - 3 (plus 3 recaptured)
European Starling - 1
Field Sparrow - 2
Fox Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3 (plus 3 recaptured)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 5 (plus 3 recaptured)
Eastern Towhee - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 16
No. banded: 29
No. recaptured: 10
No. released unbanded: 0
Capture Rate: 54.2 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Nancy Butler, Mike Charlebois, Marilynn Crowley, David Dimitrie, Mark Schaller, Nate Spala, Blanche Wicke.
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Saturday, April 19, 2025
Finally, a day with normal temperatures for this time of year, although once again the wind was a factor. And rain was a factor too, although for most of the morning there were intermittent brief periods of light sprinkles, not lasting long enough to get out to close nets. But eventually the steady rain moved in, forcing us to close the nets an hour early.
Today's highlights included some species we'd been hearing in the banding area for a couple weeks. One of those was a Brown Thrasher.
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| Second-year Brown Thrasher |
We had been hearing a Winter Wren singing for a couple weeks, and today finally caught one. It was overshadowed, though, by a rather early House Wren which we only started hearing singing today. Changes in bird names occur every year, and now our birds are called Northern House Wrens because those in South America are considered a separate species now (along with the ones on Cozumel, and on some islands in the Caribbean).
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| After hatch-year Northern House Wren |
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| After hatch-year male Yellow-rumped Warbler |
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| Green Darner (Anax junius) |
Banding Results for April 19, 2025
12 nets open 6:45 - 11:45 (60.0 net hours).
Temperature: 69-64
Cloud Cover: 100%
Wind Direction: SW-W
Wind Speed: 7-10-12 mph
Barometer: 29.78-30.00
Precipitation: Trace rain in a.m., rain forced early close
Sunrise: 6:43
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Winter Wren - 1
Northern House Wren - 1
Hermit Thrush - 8
American Robin - 1
Brown Thrasher - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Field Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 56 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Swamp Sparrow - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 3
Red-winged Blackbird - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 31
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 61.7 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Alexa Blankenship, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Pierre hendricks, Nate Spala, Erika Van Kirk, Blanche Wicke.
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Thursday, April 24, 2025
The weather today swung to warmer than normal, resulting in good diversity that included three species of warbler, none of them the expected Yellow-rumped. Another early migrant warbler is the Palm Warbler, so the two banded today were pretty much on time.
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| After hatch-year male Palm Warbler |
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| After hatch-year male Palm Warbler |
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| Second-year Ovenbird |
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| After hatch-year Northern Waterthrush |
The very similar Louisiana Waterthrush migrates earlier in April, with Michigan at the northern edge of its breeding range. But despite this bird's bright white supercilium, the spotting on the throat is diagnostic for Northern as Louisiana has a clean white throat (and a notably larger bill).
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| After hatch-year Northern Waterthrush |
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| Second-year male Eastern Towhee |
This one was a good lesson in using more than one character to determine a bird's age. Eye color can be helpful, with juveniles in fall having brown eyes which can be either brown or red by the following spring. This one with red eyes was showing some duller primaries and secondaries mixed in with blacker ones, and also had a couple of juvenile-type coverts with tiny spots on them (not, it isn't a Spotted Towhee!).
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| Second-year male Eastern Towhee |
Another Tree Swallow was banded today, and also two non-natives; European Starling and House Sparrow. Many stations do not band non-natives, but given our location within an urban setting, we will band whatever birds we catch in the hopes that we will learn something, and allows for educational opportunities with the public. A handful of visitors stopped by today.
Banding Results for April 24, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 11:30 (72.0 net hours).
Temperature: 41-77
Cloud Cover: 10-50%
Wind Direction: WNW-SW
Wind Speed: 1-3-5 mph
Barometer: 30.18-30.14
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:36
Northern Flicker - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Tree Swallow - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Hermit Thrush - 4
American Robin - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Brown Thrasher - 1
European Starling - 1
House Sparrow - 1
Ovenbird - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Palm Warbler - 2
American Tree Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 12
Song Sparrow - 2 (plus 2 recaptured)
Eastern Towhee - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 4 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Brown-headed Cowbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
No. of species captured: 18
No. banded: 40
No. recaptured: 4
No. released unbanded: 2
Capture Rate: 63.9 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Mike Charlebois, Marilynn Crowley, Erin Ford, Blanche Wicke.
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Sunday, April 27, 2025
Today was near normal temperatures (a bit cool) with sunny conditions and yet again wind was a factor. A few warblers had come in since the 24th, as we had an increase in Yellow-rumped and Palms, along with two more somewhat early Northern Waterthrushes. A new species for the spring was a male Common Yellowthroat.
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| After second-year male Common Yellowthroat |
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| After second-year male Common Yellowthroat |
The first Gray Catbird of the season was banded today, which had only recently arrived a few days before.
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| Second-year Gray Catbird |
A few visitors came by today, including the naturalist at the Nature Center with two dozen Girl Scouts. A noisy American Robin that I was banding at the time drew their attention, which allowed us to invite them over to watch it, and a recaptured Brown Thrasher, being processed at the banding table.
Banding Results for April 27, 2025
12 nets open 6:30 - 11:30 (72.0 net hours).
Temperature: 43-59
Cloud Cover: 0-20%
Wind Direction: W-NE
Wind Speed: 5-7-10 mph
Barometer: 30.32-30.33
Precipitation: None
Sunrise: 6:32
[Downy Woodpecker - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
[Brown Thrasher - 1 recaptured]
[European Starling - 1 recaptured]
Northern Waterthrush - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Palm Warbler - 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8 (plus 2 released unbanded)
Field Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 8
Swamp Sparrow - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Song Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 9 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
[Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 recaptured]
No. of species captured: 15
No. banded: 38
No. recaptured: 6
No. released unbanded: 3
Capture Rate: 65.3 per 100 net hours
Bander: Allen Chartier
Banding
Assistants: Shelly Andrews, Alexa Blankenship, April Campbell, Mike Charlebois, Kaina Gonzalez, Guy Lenk, Nolan Lenk, Matthew Porter, Blanche Wicke.
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2 comments:
I captured a photo of a Song sparrow with a band at St. Clair Metropark on 10 Dec 2023 on the trails near the nature center. Unfortunately, the numbers cannot be read in the photo but it is clearly banded.
Thad, Thanks for mentioning this. Most Song Sparrows leave southeastern Michigan in the winter, but some to stay over the winter.
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