The Even More Calm Before The Storm

 CAPTAIN SAMS

forecast (noun)

a prophecy, estimate, or prediction of a future happening or condition. 

forecast (verb)

1. to calculate or predict (some future event or condition) usually as a result of study and analysis of available pertinent data.

2. to indicate as likely to occur.

Merriam-Webster

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

Sometimes forecasts are not correct and that was the case last night with the bird migration forecast as we only banded 18 new birds and had 2 recaptures today. The predicted model (1st pic below) showed high migration along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to north Florida. Rain in the central Appalachians was suppose to concentrate birds along the coast. Unfortunately, that did not happen as the actual bird migration map (2nd pic below) had very little movement along the coast. Overall, it appears that migration was not as intense across the eastern US as predicted so many of those birds may have chosen not to migrate at all last night. The rain should be cleared out tonight and that should open the door for birds to start moving south. The next three day have very favorable conditions for birds heading south, and I "forecast" us to be busy through Sunday.

-Aaron       

Forecasted migration

Actual Migration

LITTLE BEAR

Wind significantly impacted bird volume today. 23 birds were processed today at Little Bear. American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats continue to visit our nets.

Migrants stop over Kiawah Island to fuel up for their long journey to Central America. As bird skin's see-through, we take data on how much fat the birds have accumulated at our banding stations. Earlier this season, I took a picture of a Prairie Warbler with some fat underneath the skin. Today, we caught a Common Yellowthroat with even more fat.

-Jasmine

Common Yellowthroat (hatch year, sex unknown)

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
White-eyed Vireo	1	-	-	-
Red-eyed Vireo	1	-	-	1
House Wren	1	-	-	-
Brown Thrasher	-	-	1	-
Northern Waterthrush	-	-	1	1
Black-and-White Warbler	2	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	8	1	9	-
American Redstart	3	-	4	-
Palm Warbler (Western)	1	-	4	-
Northern Cardinal	-	1	-	-
Painted Bunting	1	-	-	2

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	18	19	37
# of Recaptures	2	4	6
# of Species	9	7	-
Effort (net-hours)	131.0	90.4	221.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	15.3	25.4	19.4
# of Nets	33	28	-

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	1,103	651	1,754
# of Recaptures	206	123	329
# of Species	39	44	53
Effort (net-hours)	5500.9	3458.8	8,959.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	23.8	22.4	-
# of Days	40	33

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Michael Gamble (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (LB)

Jasmine Fu (LB)

Aiden Gifford (CS)

David McLean (CS)

Ann McLean (CS)

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

The Calm Before The Storm (I Hope)

 CAPTAIN SAMS

It was a windy, gloomy and slow day out at Captain Sams with 10 newly banded birds and 3 recaptures of 4 species. While the overcast skies and breeze were a welcome reprieve from the heat we've been experiencing this September, the conditions were not in our favor for capturing many birds today. We heard a fair amount of bird activity around the station, including a flyover Dickcissel, but the breeze blowing on the nets may have made them more visible and the birds were doing their best to avoid them. As mentioned in yesterday's blog post, we are awaiting a cold front that should bring some bigger pushes of migrants, so fingers crossed we have some busier days ahead.

-Olivia

LITTLE BEAR

Olivia stole everything I was gonna say so thanks Olivia. I guess I shouldn't take a nap right after getting back from banding, but boy oh boy I do love a good nap. Anyway, Olivia got me off topic, you all want to hear about the awesome day we had at Little Bear!! 😀 It was not an awesome day at Little Bear 😿. We had 11 new birds and 6 recaps. We also experienced some pretty harsh winds all morning and closed a fair amount of nets early. We did catch another hatch year Blue-gray Gnatcatcher which was cool. 

Hopefully Mr. Given's great prophecy is true and the next couple days are busy so I can write something exciting instead of random shenanigans. Take care everyone, go take a nap!

-Aiden The Yellow

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hatch Year, Sex unknown

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Red-eyed Vireo	-	-	1	-
Tufted Titmouse	-	-	-	3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	-	-	1	-
Ovenbird	1	-	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	-	-	-	1
Common Yellowthroat	6	2	6	-
American Redstart	3	-	1	-
Western Palm Warbler	-	-	2	-
Prairie Warbler	-	-	-	1
Painted Bunting	-	1	-	1

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	10	11	21
# of Recaptures	3	6	9
# of Species	4	9	10
Effort (net-hours)	116.6	104.7	221.3
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	11.1	16.2	13.5
# of Nets	33	28	61

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	1085	632	1717
# of Recaptures	204	121	325
# of Species	39	44	52
Effort (net-hours)	5369.9	3368.4	8738.3
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	24	22.4	23.4
# of Days	39	32

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (CS)

Jasmine Fu (CS)

Aiden Gifford (LB)

Aidan Boyle (LB)

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

Eagerly Awaiting the Cold Front

 CAPTAIN SAMS

Today was a carbon copy of the last couple of days with 31 new birds and 4 recaptures. We had the pleasure of hosting the Master Naturalist Class led by Keith McCullough and Kristina Wheeler of Charleston County Parks and Recreation. While we didn't have a spectacular diversity of species today, we got to share almost every bird we caught today and was able to talk more about each one. 

As the title implies, we are patiently (impatiently) awaiting a cold front which should arrive sometime on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. This seem like this will a dry cold front (at least for us) with moderate north winds. Birdcast shows that migration for Thursday and Friday should be very heavy. 

 

-Aaron

LITTLE BEAR

Today was a weird weather day out at Little Bear. After a decent first round, we got briefly rained on. All of the different weather apps disagreed on how long the rain would last so we closed the nets for a bit. It turned out to not rain for very long, so we reopened and were able to catch another 12 or so birds. We ended up getting sprinkled on again, while the sun was also trying to come out, but it passed by quickly and we were able to stay open. We had a total of 29 birds today with 24 new and 5 recaptures of 13 species. Besides the usual bundle of Common Yellowthroats, the highlights were a few Northern Yellow Warblers, a few Western Palm Warblers, a Black-throated Blue, a Northern Mockingbird, and a Downy Woodpecker. We also processed a couple of Red-eyed Vireos that have definitely been hanging out and feasting as they were quite chunky. You know a bird has a high fat score when it makes the bander giggle as they blow on the feathers to check for fat. 

-Liz

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	2	-	2	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	-	-	1
Carolina Wren	-	-	-	2
Gray Catbird	1	1	-	-
Brown Thrasher	-	1	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	-	-	1	-
Veery	2	-	-	-
Yellow-breasted Chat	1	-	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	3	-	1	1
Common Yellowthroat	18	1	7	-
American Redstart	-	-	1	-
Northern Yellow Warbler	-	-	3	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	2	-	1	-
Western Palm Warbler	-	-	4	-
Prairie Warbler	1	-	1	-
Painted Bunting	1	1	2	1
	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	31	24	55
# of Recaptures	4	5	9
# of Species	10	13	17
Effort (net-hours)	155.1	121.3	276.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	22.6	23.9	23.2
# of Nets	33	28	-

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	1,075	621	1,696
# of Recaptures	201	117	318
# of Species	39	44	52
Effort (net-hours)	5,253.3	3,263.8	8,517.1
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	24.3	22.6	23.6
# of Days	38	31

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Michael Gamble (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (LB)

Aidan Boyle (LB)

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

When Will The Heat End?

CAPTAIN SAMS

Captain Sam's saw a busy first couple of net runs this morning which then tapered off throughout the day. Our total was 31 new birds and 8 recaps. Although anything that finds our nets is exciting, today didn't really have any spectacular birds. We did get another older male Painted Bunting which was nice. Male Painted Buntings are brilliantly colored, but all the ones we've caught have extreme amounts of molt going on so they look kinda funky (don't tell them I said that). We also caught the same Mourning Dove from yesterday, so this guy needs to get a better sense of those nets if he wants an easier time. 

Tomorrow is my day off and I'm excited to stay in snooze land for a while in the morning let me tell ya. I hope all you reading this here blog also get some good snoozin in. Don't forget to brush your teeth, eat your vegetables, and stay in school!

-Aiden

LITTLE BEAR

There was a little movement of birds last night as we heard some chips overhead as we walked into Little Bear. It was a very similar day as Captain Sam's with 26 new birds and 8 recaptures captured of 11 species. The best bird of the morning was also a colorful, adult male Painted Bunting just finishing its molt. We should have a couple more days of hot weather and low migration before a cold front moves in Wednesday, which should bring in a lot of birds along with our first fall-like temperatures. 

-Michael

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Mourning Dove	-	1	-	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	1	-
Traill's Flycatcher	1	-	-	-
White-eyed Vireo	-	1	-	-
Red-eyed Vireo	2	-	-	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	1	-	2
Carolina Wren	-	-	-	3
Gray Catbird	1	-	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	2	-	2	1
Common Yellowthroat	18	2	8	-
American Redstart	1	-	-	1
Northern Yellow Warbler	-	-	4	-
Western Palm Warbler	3	-	4	-
Prairie Warbler	-	-	1	-
Northern Cardinal	-	1	1	-
Painted Bunting	3	2	5	1

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	31	26	57
# of Recaptures	8	8	16
# of Species	12	11	16
Effort (net-hours)	145.2	100.8	245.2
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	26.9	33.7	29.8
# of Nets	33	28	61

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	1044	597	1641
# of Recaptures	197	112	309
# of Species	39	44	52
Effort (net-hours)	5098.2	3142.45	8240.65
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	24.3	22.6	23.7
# of Days	37	30

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Michael Gamble (LB)

Liz Held

Olivia DeMarchi

Jasmine Fu (LB)

Aiden Gifford (CS)

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

She's An Old Friend

 CAPTAIN SAMS

Migration was pretty much concentrated along the coast which is good for us, unfortunately, it wasn't a huge flight of birds and we only banded 66 birds along with 8 recaptures of 15 species. Similar to yesterday, Common Yellowthroats made up a large proportion of the all the bird we captured today. The highlight of the day was Captain Sams' first Pine Warbler of the season.

Pine Warbler (hatch-year, male)

It appears we have some big changes on the horizon. We will have some unsettled weather over the next few days as low pressure system pushes down from the north. Behind the front we will have much cooler temperatures with highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s. Along with clear skies and north winds, this should bring us our first big push of migrants. 

-Aaron 

LITTLE BEAR

Things slowed down at Little Bear today as we newly banded 26 birds and recaptured 4. Among our recaptures was a female Painted Bunting. She was banded originally as a hatch year in 2020 at the same site. This means that this bird is approximately 6 years old. Here is a picture of the bird today, in the process of replacing all of her body and flight feathers for the upcoming year.

Painted Bunting (after second year, female)

Passerines typically keep the same set of feathers for one year, then replace them all annually. The brownish feathers (highlighted red) were grown around the same time last year. They are brown and dull from one year of wear, and are going to be replaced by within the next few weeks. The blacker feathers (highlighted green) are fresh and just recently grown.

Recaptures like these show how important the habitat at Little Bear is for this particular bunting (as well as many other buntings), as she has returned to this location to molt her feathers for the upcoming year.

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Mourning Dove	1	-	-	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	1	-	-
Traill's Flycatcher	2	-	-	-
White-eyed Vireo	2	1	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	2	-	-	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	1	-	-
Gray Catbird	2	-	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	1	-	-	2
Common Yellowthroat	48	4	18	-
American Redstart	-	-	2	-
Northern Yellow Warbler	1	-	1	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	1	-	-	-
Western Palm Warbler	2	-	1	-
Pine Warbler	1	-	-	-
Northern Cardinal	1	1	-	-
Painted Bunting	2	-	3	2

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	66	26	92
# of Recaptures	8	4	12
# of Species	15	7	16
Effort (net-hours)	155.1	113.9	269
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	47.7	22.8	38.7
# of Nets	33	28	61

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	1013	571	1584
# of Recaptures	189	105	283
# of Species	39	44	52
Effort (net-hours)	4953.0	3041.7	7994.6
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	24.3	22.2	23.5
# of Days	36	29

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Michael Gamble (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (CS)

Jasmine Fu (LB)

Aiden Gifford (LB)

Nicholas Schleissmann (CS)

Olivia's Parents (CS)

Aidan Boyle (LB)

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

Cuckoo for Cuckoos

 CAPTAIN SAMS

Last night seemed to be a pretty poppin night for migration, and if I was a bird I think I would have migrated as well. Today we had a total of 135 birds, 3 of which were recaps.

Most of the birds we captured were Common Yellowthroats which you've heard about in previous blog posts. Let me tell ya, these guys are called common for a reason. Today 101 of our banded birds were Common Yellowthroats. Yellowthroats are one of the most numerous warblers in North America, up there with Yellow-rumped and Northern Yellow warblers. Maybe having yellow in your name just makes you really popular? Should I become Aiden the Yellow so I get more friends? ...I'm joking! Anywho, these guys find our nets more than other species partly due to their habit of foraging in the shrubbery and understory, unlike some other warblers that stay up in the canopy. Maybe the Knights Who Say NI are secretly just a bunch of Yellowthroats stacked up to make a big dude, who knows?

- Aiden

LITTLE BEAR

Many birds also found their way into nets at Little Bear this morning and we ended the day with 82 birds of 13 species. Similarly to Captain Sams, Common Yellowthroats made up a good chunk of our captures with 39 newly banded. The wave of Yellowthroats was broken up by a handful of exciting larger songbirds, including Brown Thrasher, Scarlet Tanager, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a bird I had been crossing my fingers for all season as we've observed a couple here and there, but haven't been lucky enough to catch one thus far this season.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (hatch year, sex unknown)

More often seen than heard, cuckoos give a low, dove-like cooing call. They're known for calling during thunder and have the nickname "rain crow". For their annual molt they follow a feather replacement pattern that is unique among songbirds and more similar to raptors and gulls in which they replace series of primaries in a protracted or "step-wise" pattern. Our bird had no obvious molt limits and was aged as a hatch year by the incomplete ossification of its skull. 

-Olivia

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	-	-	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	2	-	5	-
Gray Catbird	-	-	2	-
Brown Thrasher	-	-	2	-
Veery	1	-	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	1	-	2	1
Common Yellowthroat	101	1	39	-
American Redstart	12	-	12	-
Cape May Warbler	1	-	-	-
Northern Parula	2	-	-	-
Northern Yellow Warbler	-	-	1	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	3	-	2	-
Western Palm Warbler	4	-	8	-
Prairie Warbler	4	-	-	-
Scarlet Tanager	-	-	1	-
Northern Cardinal	-	-	2	-
Painted Bunting	1	2	2	2

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	133	79	212
# of Recaptures	3	3	6
# of Species	11	13	17
Effort (net-hours)	154.7	117.6	272.3
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	85.3	69.7	77.5
# of Nets	33	29	62

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	947	545	1492
# of Recaptures	181	103	284
# of Species	38	44	51
Effort (net-hours)	4797.9	2927.8	7725.7
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	23.5	22.1	22.8
# of Days	35	28

Banding Staff

Michael Gamble (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (LB)

Jasmine Fu (CS)

Aiden Gifford (CS)

Nick Schleissmann (LB)

Aidan Boyle (LB)

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