Another successful morning of banding in the yard

Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee open wing, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

House Wren in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Gray Catbird in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadees and Red eyed Vireo in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Red eyed Vireo in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Red eyed Vireo, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

This morning marked the second visit from Sebastian as he came by to band three target birds in the yard as part of his PhD project (the three target species being House Wrens, Black capped Chickadees and Northern Cardinals).  The first day of banding occurred back on June 8th and we caught quite a few target birds with three House Wrens and nine Black capped Chickadees caught and banded as well as quite a few non target birds caught and released...we missed on Northern Cardinals but they were very close to the nets but just did not get caught.  Sebastian arrived a little before 7am and we quickly got the nets set up.  The conditions looked good with overcast conditions, light breezes and temperatures in the 60's to start with rain not forecast until later in the day (it stayed dry almost the entire time with nothing more than a few sprinkles.  The last several yards had apparently been quiet for them and I was certainly concerned we would not get a lot but I had faith as I have had multiple examples of the target species around the yard recently.  Given the date of late July most birds are done nesting and are not nearly as territorial as they are in spring and early summer and therefore less likely to be attracted to recorded calls and songs.  The first species we got for the morning was a Common Yellowthroat which was only the third warbler ever caught at the house with both previous individuals being Pine Warblers (one in June this year and the other in 2019).  Not too long after we caught a Tufted Titmouse as well as a single Black capped Chickadee and then a House Wren (unfortunately the House Wren managed to escape before the color bands got attached but the federal aluminum band did make it on him).  It was looking like it might end up being a slow but at least somewhat productive day and then it really picked up with a check of the nets along the Jabish Brook producing another Black capped Chickadee, a Song Sparrow and three Gray Catbirds.  It then got really busy with the net along the brook producing an impressive seven Black capped Chickadees and three Red eyed Vireo (this was the first time a net at the house produced a double digit count of species in a single net run).  As the birds were being extricated out of the net I took a quick look at another net on the other side of the yard and this one had four more Black capped Chickadees in it!  The next hour or so was very active with removing birds from the nets and then banding them (with some of the birds really tangled up badly in the nets).  Our fear of the day being a slow one was thankfully proven wrong.  Although we missed on Northern Cardinal again and the single House Wren escaped before getting color bands we did get to band 13 Black capped Chickadees.  This now makes for four banded House Wrens and 21 Black capped Chickadees banded as part of his project (plus at least a couple more banded chickadees continuing from earlier banding days as part of the Neighborhood Nestwatch program).  We first started banding birds in the yard as part of Neighborhood Nestwatch in 2015 and then continued in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  Last year got cancelled due to both the pandemic and lack of funding.  Unfortunately the lack of funding for the Neighborhood Nestwatch continued this year and the project was stopped.  Thankfully Sebastian needed a number of yards to conduct his research and banding was on again for this year.  

Bird banding in the yard

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands in net (originally banded in 2019), Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Black capped Chickadee in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

House Wren in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

House Wren getting measured, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

After not having any bird banding done in the yard last year due to the pandemic and the cancelling of any future banding due to funding issues with the neighborhood nestwatch I was pleasantly surprised to get a message from Sebastian a few weeks ago seeking permission to come by to band three target species in the yard for his research (Black capped Chickadee, House Wren and Northern Cardinal) being the three species).  He and his intern arrived today at 6:15 with an assistant to set up the nets early to try to beat the heat from our ongoing heat wave.  We set up a total of four nets and had them up before seven.  The first half hour was slow with no birds and I was afraid the day was going to be a bust but the birds eventually showed.  One net along the brook produced four Black capped Chickadees in one run with one recapture of a male originally banded in the yard in 2019 and seen on and off since (mainly in the winter coming to the feeders).  No too long after we captured three House Wrens (with a few more still singing in the area).  Over the next few hours we captured five more Black capped Chickadees.  Unfortunately we had no luck with Northern Cardinals despite multiple individuals coming in close to the nets only to avoid them. Target species banded totaled three House Wrens and nine Black capped Chickadees which we all agreed was very respectable given the weather conditions.  Sebastian will be returning again this summer for another round of banding and hopefully we will have good luck once again. 

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Red eyed Vireo, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Tufted Titmouse in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Carolina Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Chipping Sparrow in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

Beyond the three target species we captured a number of other non targets that were quickly extracted from the nets and released without being banded.  I got photos of most of the non target species but not all.  Non target captures included a Ruby throated Hummingbird, two Red eyed Vireos, two Tufted Titmouse, a Carolina Wren, two Gray Catbirds, an American Robin, a Chipping Sparrow and a Pine Warbler.   

Banding birds in the yard for the second year

House Wren in net, home, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

House Wren, home, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

Gray Catbird, home, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

Ruby throated Hummingbird, home, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

Black capped Chickadee, home, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

The Neighborhood Nestwatch program paid a visit to the yard today and banded a total of eight individual of four species (two House Wrens, three Black capped Chickadees, two American Robins and a Gray Catbird). A Ruby throated Hummingbird was also caught but immediately released as the species is not part of the program's scope. Compared to last year we banded the same number of birds but with a different mix of species. Despite lots of catbirds around it was unusual that we only caught one this year compared to four last year (link to post from last year:  http://quabbinbirdingandbeyond.blogspot.com/2015/06/neighborhood-nestwatch-program-visits.html). A thank you to Taylor and Rachel for coming by to expertly band the birds.
Link to additional photos from the morning here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/albums/72157668838699661

Moose, Quabbin Park, MA, June 2, 2016

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 2, 2016

Before the banding this morning I hit a few spots starting out with a brief stop at Winsor Dam and then over to Lake Wallace before a return to Quabbin Park including another stop at Winsor Dam. Nothing too unexpected at Lake Wallace but at least of the Great Blue Heron nests has a recently hatched youngster in it. The small area of Quabbin Park that I checked turned up the usual birds plus an unexpected Moose at the Route 9 marsh. My second stop at Winsor Dam produced the continued male Lesser Scaup that played hide and seek behind the large orange buoy.

Now that May has come to an end I will take a quick look at where I am compared to previous years in regards to species seen in Hampshire County.  I will once again look at two benchmarks...total species at the end of May and date to reach 200 species over the last few years.  I managed to reach 200 right on time with a sustained effort but I'm a bit behind compared to the last few years....we shall see how the rest of the year plays out.

Totals at end of May

2012         2013            2014           2015            2016
185           210              213             210              206


Date to reach 200 species
2012         2013            2014           2015            2016  
Sep 7        May 18        May 14       May 15        May 15
        

Hummingbird banding

Bander about to release adult male Ruby throated Hummingbird, Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Bander measuring bird Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Bander measuring bird Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Bander measuring bird Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

I made a trip up to Whately this morning to observe the hummingbird banding that has been conducted at this location for several years.  The banding is always done on a day in early August and the numbers of hummingbirds present is quite amazing.  Last year there was a total of 47 hummingbirds banded over the course of one morning.

Hanging feeder trap, Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Feeder trap, Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Yard where banding took place, Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

Yard where banding took place, Whately, MA, August 4, 2012

While I was there from early to mid morning a total of 18 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were captured with 4 being recaptures from previous years.  An additional two new birds were captured later in the morning plus another recapture.  The recaptures included two each from 2011 and 2010 as well as a single bird from 2009.  The recapture from 2009 has made the trip back and forth from Whately to Central America flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico six times.  Quite amazing for a bird that weighs just over a tenth of an ounce!   There is certainly site fidelity with this species.  The banding took place between 6am and noon with the largest numbers banded between 6-8:30am.  The majority of birds today were males with a small number of hatch year birds so perhaps the reduced captures from last year point toward a poor nesting season? 

Looking at the overall numbers of hummingbirds in this one yard is quite amazing and makes you wonder the true numbers present at any one location.  At home I have seen a maximum of five hummingbirds at once but the actual number present may be quite a bit greater.



Distant shot in haze of American Kestrel,

Turkey Vulture, Silvio Conte NWR, Hadley, MA, August 4, 2012

Following the hummingbird banding I headed back across the river into Hadley to see if I could catch up with some Black Vultures that have been seen in the fields south of the malls.  I have had some large gatherings of Turkey Vultures (20+) in the area of Moody Bridge Road the last few weeks but I have seen any Black Vultures.  I made numerous stops from late morning to midday in the area but could not find a Black Vulture.  There were 15+ Turkey Vultures in the area but no Black Vultures.  By this time of the day it was getting very warm with temperatures getting up toward 90 with high humidity and haze. 

Red-tailed Hawk, Arcadia meadows, August 4, 2012

Prior to heading up to Whately this morning I stopped briefly at Arcadia to make a quick check of the area to see if there was anything of interest around.  Nothing of note here beyond the expected species.