And it's a Tie...

Captain Sam's
Captain Sam's captured a total of 99 birds, 78 new birds and 21 recaptures of 12 different species. The weather was mild, making for a pleasant morning.  The American Crows were present, chasing around birds of prey all morning. This short clip is of a Red-tailed hawk just after a mob of crows finished harassing it in the top of a pine tree.

Two American Kestrels flew over the station today, showing off their acrobatic flying ability while chasing each other.

-Paul

Little Bear 

Little Bear also had a total of 99 birds which was comprised of 85 new birds and 14 recaptures, representing 14 species.  Common Yellowthroats and Palm Warblers kept us busy for most of the morning.  The weather pattern seems to be holding steady for the next few days and will hopefully continue to produce these better than average days.     

Mixed among the yellowthroats and palms today were several Black-and-white Warblers.  Black-and-white Warblers have a nifty trick that can be used to age them quickly.  Like most warblers, Black-and-white hatch-years will have an alula molt limit with A1 being replaced and contrasting with the unreplaced A2.  The quick trick is to look at A2 and see how much white there is.  On hatch-years, typically there will be white spots on either side of the feather shaft that are unconnected.  On after hatch-year birds, the white will connect creating a white U at the tip of the feather.

Hatch-year Black-and-white Warbler with A1 molt limit

After hatch-year Black-and-white Warbler with no molt limit

Black-and-white Warblers can also be sexed easily too.  By looking at the extent of the black streaking along their flanks, their sex can be determined quickly.  Males will have heavy, black, and distinct streaking along their flanks.  On the other hand, females will have black streaking that is blurred and less distinct.             

Male

Female

-Mattie

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
"Traill's" Flycatcher	1	-	-	-
White-eyed Vireo	-	1	-	2
Red-eyed Vireo	2	3	1	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	2	-	1
House Wren	1	-	-	-
Carolina Wren	-	-	-	3
Gray Catbird	8	1	6	1
Brown Thrasher	1	1	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	-	1	-	-
Ovenbird	2	1	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	-	-	-	1
Black-and-white Warbler	-	-	3	-
Common Yellowthroat	43	6	44	3
American Redstart	6	1	1	-
Yellow Warbler	4	1	1	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	4	-	2	-
Palm Warbler (western)	5	-	24	-
Prairie Warbler	-	-	1	-
Northern Cardinal	-	1	-	1
Painted Bunting	-	2	3	2

Banding Stats	Captain Sam's	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	78	85	163
# of Recaptures	21	14	35
# of Species	17	14	20
Effort (net-hours)	140.4	113.0	253.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	70.5	87.6	78.1
# of Nets	26	20	46

Banding Staff
Aaron Given (CS)
Mattie VandenBoom (LB)
Michael Gamble (LB)
Kristen Oliver (CS)
Paul Carroll (CS)
Hannah Conley (LB)
Ryan Donnelly (CS)
David McLean (CS)