FOS Blackpoll Warbler and Indigo Bunting

After a near wash-out yesterday, we bounced back today with 87 new birds and 12 recaptures of 19 different species.  Favorable winds and clear skies for most of the night opened the door for good movements of birds overnight.  We banded two flycatchers that keyed out nicely to fit within the range of Willow and Alder.  We also banded the first Blackpoll Warbler and Indigo Bunting of the season!

The reason this Blackpoll Warbler has a faux-hawk is because we moistened the feathers on the top of the head to "skull" it.  Skulling refers to an aging technique that looks at the amount of ossification of the skull.

Blackpoll Warbler

-Aaron  

NEW BIRDS
1 Common Ground-Dove
1 Alder Flycatcher
1 Willow Flycatcher
5 White-eyed Vireo
7 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Veery
3 Gray Catbird
2 Northern Waterthrush
40 Common Yellowthroat
8 American Redstart
1 Yellow Warbler
2 Blackpoll Warbler
5 Black-throated Blue Warbler
1 Palm Warbler (Western)
6 Prairie Warbler
1 Summer Tanager
1 Indigo Bunting
1 Painted Bunting

RECAPTURES
1 Common Ground-Dove
2 White-eyed Vireo
1 Carolina Chickadee
3 Gray Catbird
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 American Redstart
2 Painted Bunting

BANDING STATS
# of New Birds:  87
# of Recaptures:  12
# of Species:  19
Effort:  122.0 net-hours
Capture Rate:  81.1 birds/100 net-hours
# of Nets:  20

BANDING STAFF
Aaron Given
Mattie VandenBoom
Matt Zak
Libby Natola
William Oakley