Bird Banding Blog

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All banding, marking, and sampling is conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab (BBL).
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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

It was also a good day for sparrows, with our first White-crowned Sparrow of the season among the 5 sparrow species captured today.

After hatch-year White-crowned Sparrow

This one had a lot of mud on its bill, hiding the bright orange that we expected to see. A Lincoln's Sparrow today was another sparrow first for the season.

After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

 

After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

As May begins, we expect to catch far fewer Hermit Thrushes (only one today) and start catching all the other species. This second-year Veery, aged by the retained buff-spotted juvenile wing coverts, was the first one this spring.

Second-year Veery

Yellow Warblers can sometimes be expected in late April, and they did indeed arrive on the island a few days before we caught our first one today.

After second-year female Yellow Warbler

Completely unexpected today, as they would be at any time, was not one but TWO Solitary Sandpipers. They do prefer wet patches in woodlands and open areas more than other shorebird species, but are always a treat to catch. Both were in the same net, but not at the same time.  

Second-year Solitary Sandpiper

Second-year Solitary Sandpiper

Second-year Solitary Sandpiper

I don't have a lot of experience with ageing this species in-hand, as these were only the 4th and 5th I've ever captured. Complicating the process is that they have a juvenile plumage in fall, which is very similar to the basic plumage of adults, and an alternate plumage in spring that is not significantly different. It was a team effort that led to both birds, with somewhat different-appearing upper wings (see photos below), being aged as second-year. I'm open to suggestions from more experienced banders on these.

Second-year Solitary Sandpiper (Bird #1)

Second-year Solitary Sandpiper (Bird #2)

A total of 6 species of warbler today was a sign of things to come, and the 14 Gray Catbirds banded was, well, a bit much! The four Tree Swallows captured today was an unexpected number.

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 

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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

The first Baltimore Oriole of the spring was right on time, and was a brilliant after second-year male.

After second-year male Baltimore Oriole

The first Wood Thrush of the spring was this second-year, aged by the buff-spotted retained juvenile wing coverts.

Second-year Wood Thrush

An unexpected capture, just as we were closing the nets ahead of the rain, was this Northern Rough-winged Swallow. If you click on the photo below, you just might be able to see the "rough" leading edge of the outermost primary wing feather. The pale-tipped wing coverts are retained juvenile feathers that indicate the age as second-year.

Second-year Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Banding Results for May 4, 2025

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

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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

The lighting conditions, the number of birds captured, and the number of visitors, made photographing other highlights difficult. Some of these included several Nashville Warblers, the first Least Flycatchers of the spring, several Ovenbirds and Northern Waterthrushes, the first Swainson's Thrushes of the spring, and a good number of Veeries. One of the Veeries, however, begged to be photographed, because the band number was not one of mine. 

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

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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

The Owlets, and their parents, got to see several species in-hand before moving into the nearby Nature Center for additional programming. It was a bit busy today so there are no photo highlights. Interesting captures included a Magnolia Warbler, a somewhat late Hermit Thrush, four Baltimore Orioles, and another Brown Thrasher (3rd of the season).  

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

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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

Mourning Warblers are later migrants, so our first of the season today was just about on time.

After second-year male Mourning Warbler

The first Willow and Alder Flycatchers of the season were also banded today, and fortunately one of each keyed out using a formula comparing bill length with several measurements comparing certain primary wing feathers. It was a good day for Swainson's Thrushes with 7 banded, and we also had the first Gray-cheeked Thrush of the season.

After hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush

The clear highlights of the day were the two Orchard Orioles, both after second-year; one male and one female. They are likely breeding in the area as a male was heard singing from the banding station all season.

After second-year male Orchard Oriole

After second-year female Orchard Oriole

Banding Results for May 16, 2025

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

Other highlights today included two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the first Tennessee Warbler of the season, the second Mourning Warbler of the season, and flycatchers including Least and Alder. 

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

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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

We had another Wilson's Warbler today too, this one a female.

Second-year female Wilson's Warbler. Photo by Dick Filby

Other highlights today included a late Veery, the 4th Brown Thrasher of the season, and a recaptured Wood Thrush suggesting that breeding might occur in the banding area. 

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

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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).

Despite the low number of birds captured, there were several highlights, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Least, Willow, and Alder flycatchers. We banded the third Mourning Warbler of the season today.

After second-year male Mourning Warbler

Late migrants were also captured including single Tennessee and Magnolia warblers, a Swainson's Thrush, and this Lincoln's Sparrow.

After hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

Breeding activity was also documented today, including the first fledged American Robins of the year.

Hatch-year American Robin

A non-bird highlight was two recently hatched Northern Water Snakes around the "vernal pond" in the road between nets 7 and 8 where there were hundreds of tadpoles.

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Banding Results for May 25, 2025

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

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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.

After hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

The other new species was a surprise in that we would normally expect Black-and-white Warblers earlier in the month.

After second-year female Black-and-white Warbler

Other interesting species captured today included an American Redstart, a Wilson's Warbler, a Veery, and three Swainson's Thrushes.  The vernal pond in the removed road between nets 7 and 8 was dwindling to an alarmingly small puddle. So, Wren decided to move them to a bigger area of water, since she just happened to have a dip net in her car (don't ask!). 

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)

Banding Results for May 29, 2025

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

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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

American Redstarts actually start migrating fairly early in May, but have a longer migration period than some other species. They take two years to attain their bold black-and-orange breeding plumage, with second-year birds looking more female-like with mottled black on their faces and throats, and more orangey breast patches.

Second-year male American Redstart

Thrushes are often overlooked in early June, perhaps because many of them could be females (which migrate later than males) and are not singing. So sightings are rather rare, but capturing them at a banding station at this time is not uncommon. Today we had two Swainson's Thrushes and a single Gray-cheeked.

After hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush

An Eastern Wood-Pewee banded today was the first of the season, and was probably a local breeding individual. Breeding evidence today was provided by the capture of several recently fledged European Starlings as well as another American Robin and Gray Catbird females with incubation patches.

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

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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

With their rufous caps, they are sometimes confused with Chipping Sparrows, are almost non-existent in Michigan in winter. And in winter, Chipping Sparrows have a lot less rufous on their caps, and have pinkish bills (black in summer). The American Tree Sparrows have black-and-yellow bills, which can be seen well in the photo below.

After hatch-year American Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrows also have a rufous stripe behind the eye, which is black in Chipping Sparrows. A more delicate species was an Eastern Phoebe, which is the northernmost wintering flycatcher species in eastern North America. None of them stay in Michigan during winter, but survive not too far south of us by feeding on berries rather than insects. This one did fine, and was banded and on its way in a few minutes.

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

A splash of color was provided by this Common Grackle, which is another early migrant with very small numbers over-wintering.

After second-year male Common Grackle

The most common species captured today was Red-winged Blackbird, followed by Song Sparrow and American Robin, all of which are early migrants. The two White-throated Sparrows captured today were almost certainly over-wintering as their spring migration typically peaks in the first week of May. 

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.

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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!

Second-year female American Woodcock

I walked her over to the edge of the woods to release her, and she slowly walked off as if she thought I couldn't see her. To be honest, she's not that easy to see in the photo below.

Second-year female American Woodcock

Brown Creepers are expected early migrants, with our first two captured today.

After hatch-year Brown Creeper

Less expected was this Field Sparrow, which is extremely scarce in Michigan in winter, so this was clearly a migrant, a bit early.

After hatch-year Field Sparrow

Field Sparrows can be told apart from American Tree Sparrows by their pink bills and prominent white eye ring.

After hatch-year Field Sparrow

More American Tree Sparrows were banded today, and new arrivals incl8uded Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, and Swamp 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.

After hatch-year Field Sparrow

The day was dominated by winter residents and early migrants, including American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown Creeper, and Fox 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.

After hatch-year male Tree Swallow

For the 4th banding day in a row, a Fox Sparrow was banded. And another Northern Flicker today was more than I had been expecting.

After second-year male Northern Flicker

The eastern subspecies used to be considered a separate species, called the Yellow-shafted Flicker, which is obvious when you see its spread wings.

After second-year male Northern Flicker

This also allows a bander to evaluate the bird's molt, with older and newer feathers appearing subtly different, and allowing it to be aged.

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.

One of the highlights today was a nice female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Females have white throats while males have red throats.

Second-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Second-year female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Another highlight today was a female Eastern Towhee. This one had a reddish-brown eye but no signs of molt contrast, so was difficult to age more precisely than after hatch-year.

After hatch-year female Eastern Towhee

A few more Hermit Thrushes were banded today, and the streak of Fox Sparrows continued (5 days, 5 Fox Sparrows banded). More Field Sparrows and a Northern Flicker brought the season totals higher than was typical at my previous banding stations. A handful of visitors stopped by the station today.

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. 

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).

After hatch-year Northern House Wren

Yellow-rumped Warblers are among the earliest warblers to arrive, and we had been hearing them for about a week before finally catching one today.

After hatch-year male Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yet another Field Sparrow was banded today, along with several Hermit Thrushes and the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season. The warm conditions brought out some dragonflies, all of them Green Darners which are migratory but also breed locally.

Green Darner (Anax junius)

The one caught in the nets today was quite fresh, so I'm guessing it was a local. Only a couple visitors came by today.

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.

 

After hatch-year male Palm Warbler

The extent of chestnut on the crown can be useful for determining the sex of Palm Warblers, but this is based on measurements not on an approximate visual assessment as there are many intermediates.

After hatch-year male Palm Warbler

The other two warbler species banded today were both somewhat early, including this Ovenbird. The pale fringes on the coverts and very narrow cinnamon edges on the tertials allowed it to be aged as second-year.

Second-year Ovenbird

A Northern Waterthrush today was also unexpected and early. 

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).

After hatch-year Northern Waterthrush

The first influx of migrant White-throated Sparrows came in today. Other highlights included a late American Tree Sparrow, and another Brown Thrasher. The season's second Eastern Towhee today was a male. 

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!). 

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.

After second-year male Common Yellowthroat

Males with some mottled brown in the black mask are likely second-year birds, but those with all-black can be either second-year or after second-year. So, looking at the shape and wear of the primary coverts is necessary to determine their age more precisely. Some are intermediate so can only be aged as after hatch-year.

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. 

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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