Wrens and ovenbirds

MAPS Period 3 report
Northern Cardinals were noticeable by their absence today. Instead Carolina Wrens were vocal and two hatch years were banded. As these fledglings were caught in the same net within an hour of each other I suspect that the birds are siblings.

The other story of the morning was two Ovenbird recaptures. The bird described below was banded in 2009 as a ASY. The second bird was banded as a ASY on June 12, 2010. With this level of site fidelity I do hope the birds are fledging young successfully and that those young survive to migrate. This forest habitat is fragmented by dwellings. The answer to this question is one that MAPS data analysts may become able to answer.




Reading a research study about site fidelity is just not the same as holding a living example in your hand. The photo above was taken on May 31, 2010. That was the second year that this particular male Ovenbird (CP) went into a mist net. Today the same bird was recaptured. The original banding was on May 24, 2009. The bird was sexed as a male each time.

Wing in 2010.

Wing in 2011.

MAPS period 2 report

No information on developments at the cardinal boundary line from MAPS period 2 work. Two Northern Cardinal recaptures are probably a mated pair this season. The female is one of the first birds I banded here (August 4, 2007).

Three neotropical species were banded for the first time this year: red-eyed vireo, prothonotary warbler and ovenbird. Several PROW and OVEN were calling. Actually heard a yellow-billed cuckoo too.

Red-eyed Vireo

Prothonotary warbler

There appear to be four Eastern Bluebird chicks in this nest box. Only box occupied this year so far.

MAPS 1 - boundary war?

When two male cardinals are found in a net near each other on the same net run I suspect a dispute. When the birds got into the net during a five minute period while I checked another net I'm more certain. Add in evidence of injuries and I'm at 100%

Net 41 figured prominently in disputes for the Northern Cardinal now sporting band #82. At 7:40 this bird had an unbanded NOCA (now #81) partially in its clutches. I deduce this from feathers still clutched in its bleeding claw and the missing greater coverts on the other bird. Judging by the old gouge in the upper bill and rectrices growing in (R1 and R3) #82 is no stranger to disputes.

Then at 11:11 I find #82 back in the same net but accompanied by another NOCA male. The other male (#67) was banded as a HY in July 2010. This time the gouge in #82s beak is bleeding a little. Perhaps I'll discover who "wins" this spot later in the season.



This was not a stellar start to the MAPS season but not a bust either. One of the many vocal Great-crested flycatchers was captured, plus one of the stealth Gray Catbirds.

Successful MAPS session

This late in the season I expect few birds in the nets. Today started out very humid and the heat rose to 95F in the shade. Unpleasant conditions for walking around outside. I ended the morning with 10 new captures and 2 recaptures. Excellent numbers for this banding station. One of the recaptures was a Wood Thrush that I banded in May. Representing the neotropicals I banded 3 white-eyed vireos, 2 great crested flycatchers and a second Wood Thrush.

Cardinal recapture

MAPS session number 6 on a very humid hot morning. Banded four birds and there were two Northern Cardinal recaptures. Low numbers, which is normal for this station, but the birds were spaced through the morning.

One of the cardinals is at least four years old as I first banded this male as an AHY on April 27, 2008. The old injury to the non-banded foot did not hinder the bird when it flew off and perched.

Successful end to the season

I ran my last MAPS banding session on Sunday for this season. The number of birds banded was much higher than I expected for this late in the summer doldrums. There was high humidity and I ended the session early because of a downpour. Six birds banded and one recapture. The recapture was a female cardinal and one of the first birds I banded at this station. She was originally banded exactly two years ago as an AHY. The new bandees were mainly fledglings and several still had sets of feathers growing in.

Anniversary - one year

Monday the 28th will be the one year anniversary for this banding station. There was one net up that morning. A ruby-throated hummingbird (not banded) and cardinal were the first birds caught. Today there were six nets up for 36 net hours and a grand total of 2 birds banded -- ovenbird and cardinal. I'm banding under the MAPS protocol for the summer months and July is a low number month for a MAPS bander.

MAPS = Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivability Program
http://www.birdpop.org/maps.htm

Birds can look so different as juveniles and when in heavy molt. I consult Pyle's book, I've attended training courses, but I still wish for an 'expert' sitting next to me at the banding table. Over time I'll have more exposure to variations in plumage at different times of year. Right now I keep suffering from frustration. Todays birds are good examples. In the net I immediately labeled the cardinal as an AHY F. While processing the bird doubt crept in. The crest is brown. A small patch of shoulder feathers are red while most of the coverts are brown. The bill is orange but with light edges. Is this actually a HY male that fledged over two months ago? I'll know for sure if I recapture this bird in three months time.