The Catbird Seat

We had a much slower day today with 57 new birds and 15 recaptures of 12 different species.  Gray Catbirds were the dominate species handily beating out Common Yellowthroats which have been the most commonly banded species for the past several weeks.  We had another Yellow-rumped Warbler today which is a sure sign that they are coming.  We usually start to slowly trickle-in in mid-October, their numbers building by late October, and by early to mid-November they will be everywhere.

This very cooperative Brown Thrasher exhibited all the characteristics of an adult bird (AHY):  (1) no molt limit within the greater coverts, (2) broad and rounded outer tail feathers, and (3) bright yellow-orange eye. 

- Aaron

Brown Thrasher (AHY, sex unknown)

Brown Thrasher (AHY, sex unknown)

 
NEW BIRDS
3 Eastern Phoebe
1 House Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
27 Gray Catbird
1 Brown Thrasher
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Prairie Warbler
1 American Redstart
15 Common Yellowthroat
2 Indigo Bunting
1 Painted Bunting
2 Northern Cardinal

RECAPTURES
1 White-eyed Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Carolina Wren
8 Gray Catbird
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Painted Bunting
1 Northern Cardinal

BANDING STATS
# of Birds Banded:  57
# of Recaptures:  15
# of Species:  12
Effort:  99.5 net-hours
Capture Rate:  72.4 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20