Fall Banding on a Hot Weekend!

Even though the migration of birds headed south starts in Minnesota in July, I don't really get out to do much migration focused banding until September. This usually means cool mornings and mild afternoons with birds being active most of the day. This year has been a very different story. We have been having unseasonably hot weather the last several days and it has changed how the birds are behaving a bit.

I have banded both days the last 2 weekends. In that time the diversity of species present is quite typical. The numbers haven't been as high as I had expected because the birds have become pretty inactive during the hottest parts of the day. By around 11 am the catch rate of birds is just about zero. If you don't get out early it is a slow day.

On the other hand I am still handling some exciting birds. Below is a Blue-headed Vireo (formerly Solitary Vireo). This is the time in the fall that many of the vireos are passing through our area. Besides this bird I handled Red-eyed Vireo and Philadelphia Vireo this weekend.

Vireo solitarius

A handsome male Mourning Warbler also graced the nets. This species is caught almost every year but is not common in the nets even though it is a skulker that spends a lot of time at just the right height to be caught. Always an thrill to handle these.

 

 Geothlypis philadelphia

A species that is a common breeder in the woods around here is the Ovenbird. Very vocal through the breeding season the local population has most likely already headed south and the birds I am encountering now are migrants that bred further north.

 Seiurus aurocapilla

There are still summer breeding birds around. Below is a bird that will be much more beautiful next spring but it's still nice to see that they are nesting here. This is a young Eastern Towhee. Mom and dad kept a close watch as junior was taken out of the net and then safely returned to their territory sporting some new "jewelry".

 Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Last but not least is a bird caught this morning that is not caught all that often and is the biggest species I handled all weekend. This is a Norther Flicker (Yellow-shafted form) and is a female. Note the lack of a moustachial stripe on the face. This was also the bird that did the most vocalizing while being processed. It was impressively loud.      

Colaptes auratus

A view of the underwing shows the yellow shafts that formerly gave this bird its name. The tail feathers show the same coloration. If you look close you will see this bird is molting in some new feathers on the outside edge of the wing.

The migration season is a time when what you can see in your yard or local woods changes day to day. If you want to see the most variety you need to spend as much time as you can in the great outdoors. Don't let the world pass you by unnoticed.