Got Some Tricks But Not Many Treats

Bird activity slowed way down today with only 23 new birds and 7 recaptures of 8 different species.  The radar showed a lot of migration activity to our south but not much north of us.  So it appears that many of the birds we had yesterday left overnight and there was nothing to replace them.

We had an interesting recapture today - a Gray Catbird that was banded as a hatch-year on 11/08/2010!  Its previous capture history suggests that this bird will spend the winter at KIBS as well.  It was captured twice during the winter following its original banding date (01/28/11 & 03/14/11).  It was then captured again the following fall on 11/06/12 & 11/25/12, and again last winter on 01/25/13.  This will be the 3rd fall in a row that we have captured this bird and there's a good chance that we will see it again this winter.  Every time this bird has been captured it has been in net #8 with exception to today which was net #23.  Net #23 is a new net I installed this fall and is less than 25 meters from net #8.  Obviously, this bird has staked out his preferred haunt during his stay on Kiawah Island.               

Despite the low numbers of birds captured today, we were able to do something productive - we patched a huge hole in net #13.  The White-tailed Deer around KIBS are in full rut right now and avoiding our mist nets are the furthest thing from their minds.  This is evident by a recent rash of gaping holes in our nets.  I actually followed a small buck today walking quickly down our banding trail with his nose to the ground.  As he approached net #13, he made a 90 degree turn to his left and walked parallel with the net until he got to the end.  But there was no where for him to go so he lowered his head and attempted to use his antlers to raise the net up.  Unfortunately, the antlers got tangled in the net and as he went under, he tore a large hole in the net - different from the one we patched today.  More work for us during the next slow day. . . 

- Aaron

NEW BIRDS
3 House Wren
2 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
15 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Song Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow

RECAPTURES
1 House Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
3 Gray Catbird
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Black-and-White Warbler

BANDING STATS
# of New Birds:  23
# of Recaptures:  7
# of Species:  8
Effort:  101.4 net-hours
Capture Rate:  29.6 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20     

A New Species for KIBS: It's a Sparrow!

We banded 96 new birds and had 9 recaptures of 11 different species.  A steady stream of Yellow-rumped Warblers kept us busy most of the morning with 81 of them banded.  Amongst the monotony of yellow-rumps appeared a handsome little gem of a bird:  a species that has never been banded before at KIBS!  In fact, to my knowledge, this species has never been recorded on Kiawah Island before either!  A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW!

- Aaron



Grasshopper Sparrow

The coloration on the back is strikingly beautiful up close.  In fact, most sparrows are more than just "little brown jobs" and it sometimes takes seeing them in the hand to really appreciate the intricate coloration and detail in their plumage. 

The yellow lesser coverts are rarely seen on Grasshopper Sparrows in the field. 

       

NEW BIRDS
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 Gray Catbird
81 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Common Yellowthroat
1 Painted Bunting
1 Grasshopper Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow

RECAPTURES
1 House Wren
4 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
1 Brown Thrasher
2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded:  96
# of Recaptures:  9
# of Species:  11
Effort:  99.5 net-hours
Capture Rate:  105.5 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20

Yellow-rumps and an Orange-crown

We banded 64 new birds and had 9 recaptures of 12 different species.  The Yellow-rumps Warblers are now here in full force (well maybe not full force but close) with 51 banded.  The first hour and half was very productive with a majority of the birds captured during that period.  However, it was painfully slow at times the rest of the morning.  We did manage to band another Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a HY male Orange-crowned Warbler that bared his namesake quite well.  The orange crown patch is inconspicuously hidden and is usually only seen when the bird raises its head feathers when it is agitated or excited.

Orange-crowned Warbler (HY, male)

Orange-crowned Warbler (HY, male)

  

-Aaron   

NEW BIRDS
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 House Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 Hermit Thrush
1 Gray Catbird
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
51 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Prairie Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Song Sparrow

RECAPTURES
1 Common Ground-Dove
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
6 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Cardinal

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded:  64
# of Recaptures:  9
# of Species:  12
Effort:  99.6 net-hours
Capture Rate:  73.3 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20

Some new and some old feathered friends

With 78 birds banded, today was moderately productive.  Catbirds are down to third place, being outnumbered by Ruby-crowned Kinglets (7) and our first-place winner, butterbutts (a.k.a. Yellow-Rumped Warblers, of which we caught 55).  Additionally, we have less than ten Painted Buntings to go before we reach 200 buntings banded this year.

We also caught our second sharpie of the season.  This one was a hatch-year male.  Hatch-year Sharp-shinned Hawks have yellower eyes and are more streaky.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (HY, male)

Lastly, our three recaptured Yellow-rumped Warblers were all banded in other seasons.  One was banded in February of this year, one was banded last November, and one was banded in November of 2011.

- Vicki

New Birds

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk

1 Common Ground-dove

1 Eastern Phoebe

1 House Wren

7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

1 Swainson's Thrush

4 Gray Catbird

55 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

1 Indigo Bunting

1 Painted Bunting

3 Song Sparrow

2 Swamp Sparrow

Recaptures

1 House Wren

1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

9 Gray Catbird

3 Yellow-rumped Warbler

4 Northern Cardinal

1 Swamp Sparrow

Banding Stats

# of Birds Banded: 78

# of Recaptures: 19

# of Species: 13

Effort: 101.5 net-hours

Capture Rate: 95.6 birds/100 net-hours

# of Nets: 20

Drab but Beautiful

Activity remained fairly low around the nets again today with 49 new birds banded and 14 recaptures. Yellow-rumped Warblers continue to increase, keeping us busy as they comprised more than half of the new birds banded.
     Today we caught our second Orange-crowned Warbler of the season. This variably plumaged warbler is much more common in the western half of the continent, but an overwintering population in the Southeast makes them regulars here at KIBS in the fall. Eastern birders often forget Orange-crowneds amongst the wide array of more colorful wood-warblers that we are treated to every fall. However, I found the gray head and back, broken white eye ring, and bright yellow undertail of this young female particularly striking.

-Josh

Orange-crowned Warbler (Hatch-year Female)

NEW BIRDS

1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2 House Wren
1 Hermit Thrush
5 Gray Catbird
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
29 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
3 Common Yellowthroat
2 Song Sparrow
5 Swamp Sparrow

RECAPTURES
1 Common Ground-Dove
1 White-eyed Vireo
2 House Wren
6 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
1 American Redstart
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Swamp Sparrow
 

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded: 49
# of Recaptures: 14
# of Species: 14
Effort: 103.4 birds/100 net-hours
Capture Rate: 60.9 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets: 20

The Fine Points of Aging Gray Catbirds

It was another cold morning at KIBS with a starting temperature of 46 degrees F.  We had a fairly slow morning with 53 new birds banded and 22 birds recaptured.  Yellow-rumped Warblers seem to be taking their place at KIBS as most numerous birds around with 27 of them banded.  With catbirds tapering off we decided today would be a good opportunity to photograph characteristics used in aging catbirds before they’re gone.

 

During the fall, there are several helpful characteristics that banders can look for when determining the age of Gray Catbirds.  Eye color can be very useful during the fall.  Young catbirds will have milky grey to light brown iris in which it is relatively easy to distinguish the pupil from the iris.  Adult catbirds will have dark reddish brown iris and it is hard to distinguish the pupil from the iris.  

HY Gray Catbird

AHY Gray Catbird

The mouth color lining can also be helpful in determining the age of catbirds.  As nestling, catbirds have a bright yellow mouth that they use to demand food from their parents.  They will retain the yellow mouth lining for most of the fall.  As they grow older, the mouth lining will become much darker and appear blackish.

HY Gray Catbird

AHY Gray Catbird

The best way to determine age in catbirds, as with most birds, is by looking for molt limits within the wing.  Hatch year catbirds will usually have a molt limit within the greater coverts because they have a partial prebasic molt.  A molt limit is created by the retention of juvenile feathers contrasting with newer and fresher adult feathers.  The juvenile feathers are usually shorter and have rusty tipping.  Adult catbirds will lack molt limits because they go through a complete prebasic molt after the breeding season. Adults wings will be completely uniform in wear and all the feathers will have a pearly gray coloration.  The best thing about molt limits is that they can be used anytime of the year. 

HY Gray Catbird with a typical molt limit

Another HY that went through a more extensive molt replacing all of its greater coverts

AHY Gray Catbird 

-Mattie

NEW BIRDS

1 White-eyed Vireo

1 House Wren

2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

1 Hermit Thrush

9 Gray Catbird

1 Northern Mockingbird

27 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

1 Palm Warbler (Western)

1 American Redstart

2 Common Yellowthroat

1 Painted Bunting

2 Song Sparrow

4 Swamp Sparrow

RECAPTURES

3 House Wren

13 Gray Catbird

1 Black-and-White Warbler

1 Common Yellowthroat

3 Painted Bunting

1 Northern Cardinal

BANDING STATS

# of Birds Banded:  53

# of Recaptures:  22

# of Species:  15

Effort:  96.4 net-hours

Capture Rate:  77.8 birds/100 net-hours

# of Nets:  19                     

FOS: Sharpie and White-throated Sparrow

Today we banded 45 new birds and had 21 recaptures of 18 different species.  The temperature was a balmy 53 degrees F, up about 6 degrees from yesterday.  Last night's radar images did not show too much migration activity to our north with exception to some moderate to heavy activity along the coast of North Carolina.  Maybe some of those birds made it to KIBS as we had a decent number of migrants including two first-of-the-seasons:  Sharp-shinned Hawk and White-throated Sparrow.  

The Sharp-shinned Hawk was a handsome adult male.  Males are noticeably smaller than females and a wing chord measurement can usually separate the sexes.  Both adult males and females have slate gray back and wings with orangish breast that extends up to the through the throat and cheeks while juveniles are brownish overall.  Additionally, the eye of an adult is an intense red color compared to the paler yellow eye of a juvenile.  

-Aaron

Sharp-shinned Hawk (AHY, male)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (AHY, male)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (AHY, male)

       

NEW BIRDS
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1 Blue Jay
7 House Wren
4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Hermit Thrush
6 Gray Catbird
10 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Palm Warbler (Western)
1 Prairie Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Blue Grosbeak
3 Painted Bunting
1 Northern Cardinal
1 Eastern Towhee
3 Swamp Sparrow
1 White-throated Sparrow

RECAPTURES
2 Common Ground-Dove
1 House Wren
1 Hermit Thrush
12 Gray Catbird
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
3 Common Yellowthroat
1 Swamp Sparrow

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded:  45
# of Recaptures:  21
# of Species:  18
Effort:  99.5 net-hours
Capture Rate:  66.3 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20

A Blast of a Dove Season!

Temperatures dipped into the 40s°F today, prompting additional layers for the crew. When experiencing lower temperatures, we take additional precaution with the birds to help prevent ‘cold stress’. Most species that are prone to cold stress are smaller in body size such as kinglets, gnatcatchers, and some warblers. We band these species first, and even transport them inside our jackets to help keep them warm. A whole new meaning to having a down jacket!

Cool air temperatures don’t put migration on hold; we banded 91 new birds today by the time it’d warmed to the low 60s°F when we finished for the day. Of the 18 unique species we handled today, a pair belonging to the same species was a delightful surprise.

While the Mourning Dove is abundant across the United States, it is an uncommon capture at our station; the pair banded today brings our total to three for the season thus far. Their larger size and powerful wings in conjunction with the smaller mesh size of our nets (designed for smaller passerines) make it difficult for the dove to become entangled at first contact and have proven easy for escape once in the net. As luck would have it, two crew members were in the right place at the right time and were able to ensure the safe and effective capture of these two beautiful birds:

Mourning Doves 

(AHY female pictured left, and HY male pictured right)

In addition to being a cool capture, these birds provided an excellent chance to compare both juvenile and adult plumages. Below you can observe both the after hatch year (bottom) and hatch year (top) wing. A characteristic that immediately identifies a hatch year wing is the presence of buffy tips on one or more feathers. Our hatch year bird presents many buffy tipped feathers while the after hatch year below has none. Additional clues that identify a bird as a hatch year include the presence of molt limits [the contrast between new (replaced) and old (unreplaced) feathers] amongst the primary feathers. In our hatch year dove, you can see a clean contrast between the older juvenile feathers, which are worn and brown (left of the arrow), and that of the new adult feathers, which appear fresh and gray (right of the arrow). In comparison the adult wing exhibits uniform gray feathers; molt limits can be found in adult wings but the color will be uniform.

Aging Comparison of Mourning Doves Using Wings

(AHY pictured bottom left, HY pictured top right)

- Claire

NEW BIRDS

2 Mourning Dove

1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

5 Eastern Phoebe

1 Blue-headed Vireo

6 House Wren

2 Golden-crowned Kinglet

4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

1 Hermit Thrush

25 Gray Catbird

1 Northern Mockingbird

19 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

6 Palm Warbler (Western)

6 Common Yellowthroat

1 Northern Waterthrush

1 Painted Bunting

1 Northern Cardinal

1 Song Sparrow

8 Swamp Sparrow

RECAPTURES

1 House Wren

1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

9 Gray Catbird

1 Northern Mockingbird

2 Northern Cardinal

BANDING STATS

# of Birds Banded:  91

# of Recaptures:  14

# of Recaptures:  18

Effort:  103.5 net-hours

Capture Rate:  101.4 birds/100 net-hours

# of Nets:  20