The birds are here

 CAPTAIN SAMS

We finally captured some birds this morning that were moving ahead of the minor cold front that will push through tonight. The first net checks were busy but it slowed quickly as it got hotter, and it was a hot one! This will probably set a temperature record for this date. We ended the morning with 114 new birds and 4 recaptures of 17 species. The highlight was a first-of-the-season Magnolia Warbler. The next two days are looking good for migration and a little less hot and humid.

Magnolia Warbler (hatch year, female)

-Michael

LITTLE BEAR

It was quite a bit busier at the banding station today. 76 birds newly banded. Gray Catbird, Magnolia Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Northern Parula, Blackburnian Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler were among our first of seasons today. A sign that fall migration is underway.

Chestnut-sided Warbler (hatch year, male)
Hatch years can be sexed as male if it has chestnut on its flanks, like this bird does. If a hatch year bird has no chestnut on the flanks, sex is left unknown.

It was hot out at Little Bear too, so we are looking forward to some cooler weather. We'll see what the cold front brings us tomorrow.

Jasmine

Species	Captain Sam's		Little Bear
	New	Recaps	New	Recaps
Green Heron	-	-	1	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	1	-	-
Traill's Flycatcher	3	-	3	-
White-eyed Vireo	-	1	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	2	-	7	-
Carolina Chickadee	-	-	-	1
Gray Catbird	-	-	1	-
Veery	-	-	2	-
Ovenbird	1	-	-	-
Worm-eating Warbler	1	-	1	-
Northern Waterthrush	6	-	9	-
Black-and-white Warbler	1	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	67	-	26	-
American Redstart	18	-	16	-
Northern Parula	1	-	1	-
Magnolia Warbler	1	-	1	-
Blackburnian Warbler	-	-	1	-
Northern Yellow Warbler	4	-	4	-
Chestnut-sided Warbler	-	-	1	-
Black-throated Blue Warbler	3	-	1	-
Prairie Warbler	5	-	-	-
Northern Cardinal	-	2	-	-
Painted Bunting	1	-	-	5

Today's Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	114	76	190
# of Recaptures	4	6	10
# of Species	17	18	23
Effort (net-hours)	151.45	103.4	254.9
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	77.9	79.3	78.5
# of Nets	33	28	61

2026 Fall Cumulative Banding Stats	Captain Sams	Little Bear	TOTAL
# Birds Banded	672	393	1065
# of Recaptures	164	94	258
# of Species	36	39	48
Effort (net-hours)	4024.9	2364.5	6389.4
Capture Rate (birds/100 net-hours)	20.8	20.6	20.7
# of Days	30	23

Banding Staff

Aaron Given (CS)

Michael Gamble (CS)

Liz Held (LB)

Olivia DeMarchi (CS)

Jasmine Fu (LB)

Aiden Gifford (LB)

Note:  All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab.