Once upon a time, in a far off land of salt and
sand, lived a quartet of banding assistants. The quartet had come from far and
wide to capture migrating gems from the sky in hopes that their careful observations
might better the kingdom in the future. This morning, unlike many a sunrise,
was cold and sighing; fall was whispering the last of its' good tidings in the
breaking light with winter quickly on her tail. Despite the hesitant
temperatures that had long since sent many glittering jewels south, the four
banding assistants continued their quest. The work was slow. Even the most
common of late, the butterbutt, wasn’t enough to spread on breakfast’s toast. But the sky remained clear and spirits held high. Something foretold in the scrolls
of an inlet villa was about to come to pass.
Quietly, the castle came in robes of white cinched
bags. Seeing the finest of clarity and color, the banding assistants knew they
were in the presence of royalty. Kinglets, the smallest of the passerines and
champions of winter, were in their court.
From left to right: Golden-crowned Kinglet (AHY female), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (AHY male) and (HY female)
Together they dined and jested, telling tales and
singing praises of migrations past. The high pitched but complex tones told of
a life quick on the wing gleaning insects from the leaves of trees. The banders
too told tales of life on the ground with sand between their toes. All too soon
the festivities were called to an end; the court needed to disperse to fulfill the
dynasty’s mission.
Though the times were changing, neither bander nor
noble feathered gem forgot the other. And they all lived happily ever after.
The end.
- Claire
NEW BIRDS
1
Blue-headed Vireo
1
Golden-crowned Kinglet
9
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1 Song
Sparrow
RECAPTURES
1 House Wren
2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4 Gray
Catbird
2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1
White-throated Sparrow
1 Northern
Cardinal
BANDING STATS
# of Birds
Banded: 12
# of
Recaptures: 11
# of
Species: 9
Effort:
91.58 net-hours
Capture
Rate: 25.11 birds/100 net-hours
# of
Nets: 20
