Lake St. Clair Metropark bird banding report - September 4-14, 2016

Migration clearly improved during this period, with good numbers and species diversity captured. Banding was conducted on four days, although on September 10 rain in the morning and afternoon bracketed only a few dry hours when only hummingbirds were targeted for a public program sponsored by the Nature Center. The weather was good on September 4 and 11, and on the 14th there was rain when we arrived, which delayed opening a bit, and there were a few brief sprinkles until noon.

One of the highlights of late August that I did not mention in my previous posting was the presence of good numbers of dragonflies and butterflies. The photo below, taken by volunteer Stevie Kuroda, is of a Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra) that we removed from the mist nets. This species was not known from Macomb County until a few years ago when we started catching them in our nets, and have encountered them every year since. We also "rescued" Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta) and several Green Darners (Anax junius).

Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra)

Highlights of the 54 birds banded on Sunday, September 4 included 7 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. As with the Point Rosa Marsh station, most individuals have been hatch-year, but unlike that site the majority so far have been females.

Hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

It was a good day for flycatchers, and perhaps the most interesting was this Great Crested Flycatcher.

After hatch-year Great Crested Flycatcher

After hatch-year Great Crested Flycatcher

Always very uncommonly captured, and the first of the season, was this Philadelphia Vireo.

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

The short bill, rounded head, large eye, and lack of black above the pale supercilium distinguishes the Philadelphia from Red-eyed Vireo. Many young Warbling Vireos can be quite yellow on the underparts, but they do not show yellow on the throat as the Philadelphia does, and also lacks distinctive dark lores.

Hatch-year Philadelphia Vireo

Today was the first good thrush day of the season, and the 4 Veeries banded was more than in any fall season day back in Point Rosa Marsh

Hatch-year Veery

A little later than expected was the first Tennessee Warbler of the fall.

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

A view birders often get of migrant warblers is a "vent view", which is hard to obtain on a bird in hand without fingers getting in the way, but I have tried to show how the bright white under tail coverts on the Tennessee Warbler really stands out.

Hatch-year Tennessee Warbler

The first Black-throated Blue Warbler of the season, a female, was captured last month. The first male was captured today...always a photo highlight.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler

The young males tend to have white mottling on the chin, which can be retained into the following spring.

Hatch-year male Black-throated Blue Warbler

Another species very uncommonly captured here is the Blackburnian Warbler. It tends to be an earlier migrant, so this might be the only one we catch this fall.

Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler

Hatch-year male Blackburnian Warbler

Interesting birds observed, but not banded, included a Merlin that sat in a tree near the banding station with prey (a bird) in its talons. An Olive-sided Flycatcher and Red-breasted Nuthatch gave us good views right above the banding table. Warbler species observed, but not banded, included Cape May, Black-throated Green, Palm, Bay-breasted, and Blackpoll.


On Saturday, May 10 only 3 nets were open for 3 hours in the morning in the Meadow, and a single trap was open for an hour at the Nature Center, targeting hummingbirds for the public program. I worked alone on this day, but 9 hummingbirds were netted and one more was captured in the trap. The photo below was not taken today, but is one of few that shows the band on a hummingbird as it paused briefly on a volunteer's hand before flying off.

Hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The Merlin (presumably the one from last week) flew past in the morning and landed in the same tree again, this time with an American Redstart in its talons.

Highlights of the 93 birds banded on Sunday, September 11, included 8 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and 11 flycatchers of 4 species. The season's second Philadelphia Vireo was appreciated by all the volunteers. It was definitely a good day for thrushes, with a total of 5 Gray-cheeked captured.

Hatch-year Gray-cheeked Thrush

And a one-day record of 20 Swainson's Thrushes banded allowed for good comparisons with Gray-cheeked.

Swainson's (top) and Gray-cheeked Thrushes

It was also a good day for warblers, with 31 individuals of 10 species banded. Warbler firsts for the season included Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, and Blackpoll.

Hatch-year male Black-and-white Warbler

Hatch-year male Chestnut-sided Warbler

Hatch-year Blackpoll Warbler

A "vent view" of the Blackpoll shows the bright white undertail coverts, which helps distinguish it from Bay-breasted which tends to be buffy there.

Hatch-year Blackpoll Warbler

Interesting birds observed but not banded included a somewhat late Eastern Kingbird, Tennessee, Palm, and Bay-breasted Warblers, and Indigo Bunting.

Highlights of the 51 birds banded on Wednesday, September 14 included 7 Ruby-throated hummingbirds. one of the hatch-year males had a much more boldly spotted throat than average.

Hatch-year mal Ruby-throated Hummingbird

A Veery captured today had more retained juvenile wing coverts than average.

Hatch-year Veery

Among the warblers banded today was the second Northern Waterthrush of the season. A photo is included here because that first one escaped as I was reaching for my camera.

Hatch-year Northern Waterthrush

Some hatch-year waterthrushes (and ovenbirds) show narrow pale tips on their tertials, potentially allowing them to be aged in the field with good views. And the first Lincoln's sparrow of the season was captured today.

Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

Hatch-year Lincoln's Sparrow

I greatly appreciate all the volunteers who helped make banding possible on these four days: Terri Chapdelaine, Jacob Charlebois, Stevie Kuroda, Dave Lancaster, Bruce Watson, and Blanche Wicke.

Bird Banding Results

September 4, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:15
Hours Open: 6.75
Net Hours: 109.062
Temperature (F): 57-79
Cloud Cover: 0-20%
Wind Direction: Calm-NW-NE
Wind Speed (mph): 0-5
Barometer: 29.60 - 29.63
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 54 (plus 2 recaptured)
Species Captured: 26
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 51.3
Banding Assistants (7.0 hours worked): Terri Chapdelaine, Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Least Flycatcher - 2
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 3
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1
House Wren - 1
Marsh Wren - 1
Veery - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 10 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Robin - 2
[Gray Catbird - 1 recaptured]
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Nashville Warbler - 2
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Blackburnian warbler - 1
American Redstart - 2
Ovenbird - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Song Sparrow - 4
Northern Cardinal - 1
-----------------------------------------------

September 10, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 7:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 10:30
Hours Open: 3.00 (only 3.75 nets open, targeting hummingbirds)
Net Hours: 11.25
Trap Hours: 1.0 (11:45 - 12:45 at Nature Center)
Temperature (F): 70-75
Cloud Cover: 100-90-100%
Wind Direction: NE-SW
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-12
Barometer: 29.13
Precipitation: Rain in a.m.
No. Banded:  10
Species Captured: 1
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 80.0
Capture Rate (#/ trap hour): 1.0
Banding Assistants (6.5 hours worked): Allen Chartier only. . 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 10

-----------------------------------------------

September 11, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 6.75
Net Hours: 109.062
Temperature (F): 59-73
Cloud Cover: 20%
Wind Direction: WNW
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-10
Barometer: 29.46 - 29.56
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 93 (plus 8 recaptured, 2 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 27
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 94.4
Banding Assistants (9.0 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 8
[Northern Flicker - 1 recaptured]
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 4
Least Flycatcher - 2
Alder Flycatcher - 1
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Philadelphia Vireo - 1
Black-capped Chickadee - 1 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
Tufted Titmouse - 1
House Wren - 4 (plus 1 recaptured)
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 5
Swainson's Thrush - 20 (plus 1 recaptured)
[American Robin - 1 recaptured]
[Gray Catbird - 2 recaptured]
Nashville Warbler - 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 8
Ovenbird - 5
Common Yellowthroat - 1 (plus 1 released unbanded)
Wilson's Warbler - 3
Song Sparrow - 7 (plus 1 recaptured)
American Goldfinch - 3
-----------------------------------------------

September 14, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.):  6:00
Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.0
Net Hours: 112.375
Temperature (F): 63-75
Cloud Cover: 100-30%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-10
Barometer: 29.50 - 29.61
Precipitation: Intermittent Light Rain in a.m.
No. Banded: 51 (plus 5 recaptured)
Species Captured: 20
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 49.8
Banding Assistants (10.0 hours worked): Jacob Charlebois, Dave Lancaster. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Least Flycatcher - 2
Black-capped Chickadee - 2
House Wren - 2 (plus 1 recaptured)
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 5
Swainson's Thrush - 6 (plus 2 recaptured)
Gray Catbird - 3 (plus 1 recaptured)
Nashville Warbler - 3
Tennessee Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 3
Blackpoll Warbler - 2
Black-and-white Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 5
Wilson's Warbler - 2
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
-----------------------------------------------

Lake St. Clair Metropark Bird Banding Report - August 21-28, 2016

The last half of August was just as hot and steamy as the first half, so migration seemed to be a bit slow in getting started, and it was still tough getting volunteers to help, so only three days were covered for a total of 5 days in August versus the planned 8 days. Hopefully everything will pick up in early September.

Highlights of the 14 birds banded on Sunday, August 21, included four Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (always a highlight), but only two actual migrants, a Magnolia Warbler and an American Redstart.

Hatch-year Magnolia Warbler

There are still no known in-hand criteria that are 95% reliable for determining the sex of hatch-year Magnolia Warblers, although several field guides show "extremes" that presumably correlate to some degree with the sexes.

Hatch-year female American Redstart

Interesting birds observed, but not captured, included flyover Chimney Swifts, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and a few (18) migrating Purple Martins.

Highlights of the 8 birds banded on Wednesday, August 24 included 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which included an adult male.

At this station, during fall, very few adult hummingbirds are captured, and even fewer are adult males. The explanation for this is not known, but might have something to do with the marshy habitat and "coastal" location. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was the only other interesting capture, and we closed the nets early due to the heat (86 degrees F) and humidity (90%). An interesting non-bird highlight was a caterpillar found by Jacob who visited the site briefly on his rounds working in the park.

Raphia frater (The Brother) caterpillar

Initially I thought it might be a species of skipper, but it turned out to be a moth, which the field guide calls "The Brother (Raphia frater). It is a species I have not seen before. There were also other dragonfly highlights today including Lance-tipped Darner and Mottled Darner.

Highlights of the 33 birds banded on Sunday, August 28, again included Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (4). An interesting trend has begun, which may change, but more hatch-year females have been banded than males, which is the opposite of what we experienced back at the Point Rosa Marsh banding location.

Hatch-year female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Hatch-year birds are characterized by their newer feathers, which in this species show broad buffy fringes, which at this time of year allows them to be aged in the field as youngsters. Later in September though, a few adult females that have completed their post-breeding molt will be lingering and will also show these pale fringes, but on adults it tends to be concentrated only on the crown.

A smattering of migrants today included the season's first thrushes, a Veery and two Swainson's Thrushes. Most years back at the Point Rosa site these species were captured before mid-August, so it isn't clear if the difference is because of the new location, or the hot, dry summer climate this year.

Hatch-year Veery

Hatch-year Swasinson's Thrush

The first Ovenbirds and Northern Waterthrushes of the season were banded today. The waterthrush is another species that was often banded before mid-August at the Point Rosa site, but is just turning up at this new site in late August.

Hatch-year Ovenbird

After not capturing any for almost three weeks, it was a bit of a surprise to catch our second Yellow Warbler of the fall. Also surprising was that it was an adult male...the first was an adult female. Clearly we completely missed the chance to capture any of the young fledged in the park this summer (they are a very common nesting species).

After hatch-year male Yellow Warbler

A few pinfeathers can be seen on his crown; there were many more pinfeathers beneath the surface, so he was in heavy molt even though he looked fairly "clean" otherwise.

After hatch-year male Yellow Warbler

Other migrant warblers captured today included singles of Nashville and Black-throated Blue, and two Wilson's.

Hatch-year female Nashville Warbler

Hatch-year male Wilson's Warbler

Both Nashville and Wilson's warblers can be sexed by their crown color and pattern. The Nashville completely lacked chestnut in the crown, so was female, and the Wilson's had a more extensive black crown than a female would.

Hatch-year female Black-throated Blue Warbler

The female Black-throated Blue Warbler that we captured almost completely lacked the main field mark that many birders depend on for identification...a white patch at the base of the primaries. I see these very lightly marked individuals every fall season.

Nine more Magnolia Warblers were banded today, after the first one was captured on the 21st. One was unusual in that it had apparently lost half of its tail and grown it back, presenting an interesting opportunity to see the difference in the shapes of the rectrices in adult-type and juvenile-type.

Hatch-year Magnolia Warbler with
juvenile-type (left) and adult-type (right) tail feathers.

Interesting birds observed, but not banded today included a pair of Sandhill Cranes heard calling from the nearby marsh (not heard all summer), a Brown Thrasher that eluded capture, and a couple of flyover migrant Bobolinks. We closed the nets early again today due to the heat (84 degrees F) and humidity (90%).

Many thanks to the volunteers who made banding possible on these three days: Jacob Charlebois, Jean Gramlich, Stevie Kuroda, Kim Patrick, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke, Christian Zammit, and Julian Zammit.

Bird Banding Results

August 21, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 7.00
Net Hours: 114.00
Temperature (F): 64-77
Cloud Cover: 20-50%
Wind Direction: SW-W
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-12
Barometer: 29.07 - 29.19
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 14 (plus 5 recaptured)
Species Captured: 10
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 16.7
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke, Christian Zammit (5.0 hrs), Julian Zammit (5.0 hrs). Happy Birthday Julian!

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
House Wren - 2
[Marsh Wren - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 1 (plus 2 recaptured)
[American Goldfinch - 1 recaptured]
-----------------------------------------------

August 24, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 6:00
Time closed (E.S.T.): 11:45
Hours Open: 5.75 (clused early due to heat and humidity)
Net Hours: 84.375
Temperature (F): 72-86
Cloud Cover: 50-0-80%
Wind Direction: S
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-10
Barometer: 29.54 - 29.45
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 8 (plus 2 recaptured)
Species Captured: 8
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 11.9
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Jacob Charlebois, (7.5  hrs), Jean Gramlich, Kim Patrick. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
[Marsh Wren - 1 recaptured]
American Robin - 1
Gray Catbird - 1
[Northern Cardinal - 1 recaptured]
-----------------------------------------------

August 28, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 11:30
Hours Open: 5.75 (closed early due to heat and humidity)
Net Hours: 91.813
Temperature (F): 72-84
Cloud Cover: 50-100-80%
Wind Direction: SW-E
Wind Speed (mph): 1-3-5
Barometer: 29.51 - 29.57
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 33 (NONE recaptured!!!)
Species Captured: 17
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 35.9
Banding Assistants (7.5 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson (7.0 hrs), Blanche Wicke. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
House Wren - 1
Veery - 1
Swainson's Thrush - 2
American Robin - 2
Nashville Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 9
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Waterthrush - 1
Wilson's Warbler -2
Song Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 1
-----------------------------------------------

Lake St. Clair Metropark Bird Banding Report - August 7-14, 2016

Fall migration is underway for shorebirds during early July, and by late July or early August for some songbirds. So I always like to start in early August to detect the first migants, and capture some young of the year of nesting species that depart early, such as Yellow Warbler. Although we were only able to band half the days I'd planned, we did succeed in both of these. In some ways, the lighter schedule in the first half of August might be for the best as temperatures and humidity have been a bit extreme, in the 90s for days in a row and heat indices over 100 some days. Hopefully cooler weather will move in once the songbird migration gets going in earnest later this month.

On Sunday, August 7, we were able to start setting up nets at 6 a.m. This new area lacks the mud and water of the old site near Point Rosa Marsh, so I was able to come out over the summer a few times to mow the net lanes, making them ready to use on the first day. We also set up the two hummingbird feeders adjacent to the Meadow Nets where they'll be maintained into the first week of October. It was great to have early success by catching a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a hatch-year male with an atypically clean white throat. This bird was sexed by its smaller size (shorter wing chord), diagnostic shape of the sixth primary, and pattern of white in the 3rd rectrix (tail feather).

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The only clear migrant of the day was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Hatch-year Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

A Marsh Wren that was working the cattails along the channel eventually found its way into the nets.

Hatch-year Marsh Wren

It was a bit surprising that we only caught one Yellow Warbler, an adult female, as there were a few males still singing and a few juveniles seen as well.

After hatch-year female Yellow Warbler

The first bird banded today, and first of the season, was this juvenile Common Yellowthroat. They have broad cinnamon tips on their greater coverts for a couple weeks after they leave the nest. They seem to molt all of them at once, as many have been captured with all of them in sheath.

Hatch-year Common Yellowthroat

Interesting birds observed but not banded included several Wood Ducks in the channel, along with a single Blue-winged Teal and two Spotted Sandpipers on the muddy edge, and a few Purple Martins were migrating south overhead.

On Sunday, August 14 fewer birds were banded than last week, but did include four Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. This hatch-year male had a more typical throat pattern.

Hatch-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

As last week, only a single migrant was captured, a Least Flycatcher. This species has occasionally summered in the park, mostly more than a decade ago, but is generally not a breeding species.

Hatch-year Least Flycatcher

And two species of Vireo found their way into the nets. The Warbling Vireo is a very common nesting species in the park, with Red-eyed tending to be very sparse or even absent some summers.

Hatch-year Warbling Vireo

Hatch-year Red-eyed Vireo

Interesting birds observed but not banded included flyover Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawk, Caspian Tern, Belted Kingfisher, and a few Purple Martins.

Bird Banding Results

August 7, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:45
Time closed (E.S.T.): 13:00
Hours Open: 7.25
Net Hours: 115.125
Temperature (F): 66-79
Cloud Cover: 30-0-50%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed (mph): 5-7-12
Barometer: 29.34 - 29.42
Precipitation:  None
No. Banded: 50 (plus 7 recaptured and 3 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 15
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 52.1
Banding Assistants (9.5 hours worked): Harry Lau, Tessa Lau, Christian Zammit (8.5 hrs), Julian Zammit (8.5 hrs).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
[Northern Flicker - 1 recaptured]
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 2
House Wren - 2
Marsh Wren - 1
American Robin - 14
Gray Catbird - 3
European Starling - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Song Sparrow - 1 (plus 1 recaptured)
Northern Cardinal - 4 (plus 2 recaptured)
Red-winged Blackbird - 17 (plus 2 recaputred, 3 released unbanded)
[Baltimore Oriole - 1 recaptured]
-----------------------------------------------

August 14, 2016

Time open (E.S.T.): 5:30
Time closed (E.S.T.): 12:30
Hours Open: 7.00
Net Hours: 111.75
Temperature (F): 73-82
Cloud Cover: 30-90%
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Speed (mph): 3-5-7
Barometer: 29.30 - 29.41
Precipitation: None
No. Banded: 28 (plus 11 recaptured and 1 released unbanded)
Species Captured: 10
Capture Rate (#/100 net hours): 35.8
Banding Assistants (8.5 hours worked): Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Blanche Wicke. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1
Least Flycatcher - 1
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
American Robin - 16 (plus 1 recaptured, 1 released unbanded)
[Gray Catbird - 3 recaptured]
Northern Cardinal - 3 (plus 4 recaptured)
[American Goldfinch - 3 recaptured]
-----------------------------------------------

Hummingbirds - Old and Young

Despite the title of my blog, I don't often post about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and my research, during the summer months. One reason is that my efforts take up a lot of my time, involving visits to at least 20 sites each month, most of which are private residences ranging from 50-150 miles from home. Another reason is that, despite all the good data that is gathered and summarized at the end of each year, the highlights are typically in the overall effort, and not so much in the individual daily efforts.

This year is a bit different. Back on June 29 I recaptured an adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a residence in Sandstone Township, Jackson County, Michigan, that I had banded at that same site as an adult in June 2010. This makes him at least 7 years old; or after 7th year in banding terminology. A photo of this bird is below. The record for male Ruby-throats is 7 years 8 months, and for females is 9 years 2 months.

After 7th year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Another interesting development has been that a homeowner in St. Joseph County, southwestern Michigan, has been having phenomenal success in locating Ruby-throated Hummingbird nests on his property. Last summer, he found 7 nests in an area of about 2 acres, and this year he's up to 22 nests! This is completely unprecedented in the known biology of this species, and we (Rich and Brenda Keith and I), are working on documenting what is going on here for eventual publication. Last week, we visited this site to band nestlings in some of these nests, succeeding in banding 8 young from 4 nests (some easily within sight of each other). The homeowner is a construction contractor, so it is incredibly convenient that he has equipment available to get us up to the nests, which have ranged from 14-30 feet above the ground. In the photos below, taken by Brenda, Rich and I are banding nestlings from one nest visible from the back deck of the home.

The homeowner has built a banding "table" on the lift, allowing safe conditions for banding these birds. Some of the banding materials are shown in the photo below, along with two baby hummingbirds waiting to be banded.

Some might wonder what the blue Frisbee is for. It is a precaution when removing the baby hummingbirds from the nest, and replacing them. We hold the frisbee under the nest just in case one jumps out. Over the years, that has never happened, and last year one nestling fledged when I got up to the nest, but it flew off very strongly past my head. The young hummingbirds need to be at least 12 days old before their legs are big enough to hold a band, and we have to also band them before they fledge, which on average is 18-21 days old (but up to 28 days in chilly summers with few insects). Here is the first nest we banded young in, which was fairly typical.

One of the other nests, shown below, was a bit unusual in that there was a dangling portion of the nest that I'd never seen before, and perhaps hasn't been previously documented.

There are at least three more nests with eggs or young, some possibly second nests, that we might have the opportunity to band young from in the coming 2-3 weeks. I will post further developments on this at the end of the summer banding season.

Nearby, on July 11, our team of six (2 banders, 2 recorders, and 2 removing birds from traps) captured and banded 152 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and 63 additional birds returning from previous years. It goes without saying that this is our "best" site! When we arrived, it appeared that it would not be this busy, as only about 20 hummingbirds were visiting the 40+ feeders at this home. Most years, there are usually at least twice that many visible at once.