May 2010

Continuing with the poor bird numbers experienced this Spring May had a total of
678 birds banded. We had 2,262 net hours giving us 30 birds per 100 net hours.
Total birds for the season is 1,084. I expect we may achieve 1,100 birds with the few days in June that we will be banding. The station will close for the season on Friday.
Comparison of other Spring seasons are:
2001--1961--- 43 birds/100 net hours
2002--2,283--62
2003--2,443--53
2004--2,565--49
2005--1,302--40
2006--no banding
2007--1,598--47
2008--1,553--37
2009--1,502--42
2010--1100 aprox--29 birds/100 net hours
Explanations as to why the numbers are so low may be forthcoming. Some say because of weather disturbances in lower states pushing birds west. I'm not sure but it sure made for quick processing after every net run and endless time to sit and talk.

May 31: Jim, Kim, Sashi. NE breeze and temperature of 13. Noticeably quieter today. Banded: American Woodcock, American Robin, Gray Catbird 3, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch = 9, retrapped 1, saw 32 species.

May 29: Jim, Bev, Gavin, Sashi. Calm then breeze from N.W. Temperature 16 and up to 31 in sun. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 2, House Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole 2 = 13, retrapped 2, saw 35. Gavin leaves us today taking a week with his girlfriend to see a bit more of this part of the country. It has been great having him.

May 28: Roswitha, Kim. Temperature 13, calm then from NW at 5. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Canada Warbler, Indigo Bunting = 11, retrapped 11, saw ?

May 27: Jim, Sashi, Gavin, Sarah. NW breeze then changing to SE. Temperature 16 then up into the 30s Small amount of high clouds.
Banded: Traill's Flycather 7, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler 2, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, = 16, retrapped 3, saw 38 species.

May 26: Jim, Kim, Rob, Gavin, Sashi. No wind until later then from SE. Temperature 16. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 3, Gray-cheeked Thrush 2, Swainson's Thrush 3, Gray Catbird, Magnolia Warbler 2, Mourning Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Amierican Goldfinch 2 = 15, retrapped 9, saw 38 species.

May 25: Jim, Rick, Dora, Sashi, Gavin. Wind from N but calm changing to SE by closing. Temperature was 12 to 33 in sun.
Banded: Blue Jay, Veery 2, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 5, Brown Thrasher, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Waterthrush 2, Mourning Warbler 2, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch = 21, retrapped 3, saw 45 species.

May 24: Jim, Roswitha, Gavin, Sashi, Bev. Wind calm from SE, temperature 12. Clear sunny day. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 6, Least Flycatcher, House Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 2, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 5, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart 2, Wilson's Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch = 28, retrapped 2, Saw 37 species.

May 22: Jim, Sashi, Gavin. Clouds with temperature of 17. Wind from S.E. by 8 we were into showers and by 9 we closed with intermittent rain.
Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 2, Blue Jay 2, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Indigo Bunting = 7, retrapped 4, saw 30 species.

May 21: Jim, Roswitha, Gavin, Sashi. Nice day with high clouds but sunny. Temperature was 9 with wind from S.W.
Banded: Great Creasted Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Veery, Swainson's Thrush 5, Gray Catbird 7, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 13, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush 2, Common Yellowthroat 2, Wilson's Warbler 4, Canada Warbler 2, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch = 50, retrapped 6, saw 51 species.

May 20: Roswitha, Sashi, Gavin, Sarah. Preliminary evidence seems to suggest that they way to get a good day of banding is for me to stay home. Wind from S.W. at 5, clear sunny day. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher 4, Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Veery, Swainson's Thrush 11, Gray Catbird 5, Warbling Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 10, Ovenbird, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat 2, Wilson's Warbler 4, Canada Warbler 6, Northern Cardinal, Lincoln's Sparrow 5, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch 2 = 62, retrapped 7, saw 43 species.

May 19: Jim, Kim, Sashi, Gavin. Pretty cloudy to start changing to full sun. Temperature was 7 and climbing through the morning. Wind from N.
Banded: House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush 2, American Robin 3, Gray Catbird 5, Yellow Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 2, Northern Waterthrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, = 19, retrapped 11, saw 42 species.

May 18: Jim, Rick, Dora, Sashi, Gavin, Sarah. We had hoped the rain would hold off until afternoon but it started around 10:30 and we closed by 11:00. Usually closing is enough to stop the rain but not so today. Wind was 0 from S.E.
Banded: Blue Jay 2, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird 4, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler 2. American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle 2, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, Baltimore Oriole = 24, retrapped 7, saw 42 species.

May 17: Jim, Sashi, Gavin. High cloud with temperature of 6. Wind NW changing to SE. Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay 2, Veery, Wood Thrush 2, Gray Catbird 8, Yellow Warbler 6, Magnolia Warbler 4, Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, Common Yellowthroat 3, Wilson's Warbler, Canada Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole 2 = 38 retrapped 4, saw 45 species.

May 16: Roswitha, Kim, Sashi. This was my Baillie Birdathon day so we decided to open the station for comparison with what is caught versus what is seen. Weather was 3 on opening cloud of 7/10 droppping to 2/10. Wind from S.W.
Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher 2, Blue Jay, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Gray Catbird 7, Nashville Warbler 2, Yellow Warbler 7, Common Yellowthroat 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch 2 = 30, retrapped 13, saw 32 species.

May 15: Jim, Gavin, Sashi, Bev, Fraser Owen, Preston. Had a nice visit from Gary King and some of the people from his bird club. Weather was sunny clouding by end of morning, no wind then slight from the West. Temperature 9.
Banded: Least Flycatcher 4, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Gray Catbird 10, Yellow Warbler 14, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow 3, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch 7, = 50, retrapped 9, saw 37 species.

May 14: Jim, Roswitha, Gavin, Sashi, Rob. No wind until later from E. Misty fog for most of the morning. Temperature 9. The thunderstorms of last night seemed to bring in more than just flooded net trails.
Banded: Least Flycatcher 4, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, American Robin, Gray Catbird 13, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 3, Chestnut-sided Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler, Western Palm Warbler, American Redstart 3, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrushy 3, Mourning Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 5, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 5, White-crowned Sparrow 3, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch = 57, retrapped 11, saw 51 species.
Had two birds reported to me: Yellow Warbler banded at Rock Point on July 20/09 and found 1 mile from Clarion, Pennsylvania on 31 July 09.
Myrtle Warbler banded at Rock Point Oct 8 09 and found in Washago, Ont on May 6, 10 The first bird struck something and died and the second was found dead.

May 13: Jim, Sashi, Gavin, Sarah. No wind until later and from the S.E. Relatively clear and then rain by 11:00. Temperature 8.
Banded: Least Flycatcher, House Wren 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, American Robin, Gray Catbird 5, White-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler 5, Yellow Warbler 4, Orange-crowned Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat 2, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 2, Brown-headed Cowbird = 34, recaptured 8, saw 38.

May 12: Jim, Kim, Gavin, Sashi. No wind until later in morning from N.E. Drizzle first part of morning. Started later with temp. 7.
Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 2, Common Yellowthroat 2, Northern Waterthrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 4, House Sparrow = 16, recaptured 10, Saw 42 species.
May total to date = 194 birds. May 2009 to same date = 293 Short 99 birds.

May 11: Jim, Gavin, Sashi, Sarah. Slight breeze from E to start then up to 15 by mid morning. Full cloud and morning temperature of 0.
Banded: Traill's Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird 2, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler 7, PRAIRIE WARBLER, Scarlet Tanager-full male, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch = 20, recaptured 7, saw 39 species.
Prairie Warbler is another first for Rock Point.

May 10: Jim, Roswitha, Sashi, Gavin. Cool morning with nets frozen in some areas. Temperature -2 wind from NW but changeable at 10 k/hr. Sun by closing.
Banded: House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Veery 2, American Robin, Gray Catbird 3, Yellow Warbler 4, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 4, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch 11 = 36, retrapped 14, Saw 40 species. We had hundreds of swallows flying next to the lake. I saw all the Eastern ones except Purple Martin.

May 8: We didn't go out today because of the high winds and threat of rain.
Forgot to mention that yesterday was mating day for the Gray Squirrels in the area. We had 6 around the banding shed all chasing after an obviously.to them, very attractive Black Squirrel. Lots of vocalization and one lucky fellow finally chased her to the top of a leafless tree and the act was done. He then prevented any other males from approaching.

May 7: Jim, Sashi, Gavin, Rob. Clouds and temperature of 3, calm but wind direction from N. Banded: Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery 2, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 4, Warbling Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler 3, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird = 22, retrapped 3, saw 41 species.

May 6: Roswitha, Kim, Sashi, Gavin Sarah and later Jim. Cloudy with some wind from west. Banded: Blue Jay, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler 2, Ovenbird 2, WORM-EATING WARBLER another first for Rock Point, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrow 3, Red-winged Blackbird 2, American Goldfinch, =14, retrapped 3.

Thanks for all the e-mails telling me the web page had gone wonky. It has taken me all afternoon to get the thing back and running. I hope!
The Killdeer eggs at the top right are right in the middle of the road as we drive into the banding area. She will get off for people walking but my truck and cars do not seem to bother her. She better hatch soon as maintenance needs to start dumping brush.

May 5: Jim, Kim, Sashi, Gavin. Little cloud and little wind until later in the morning. Temperature 8 to start.
Banded: House Wren 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 2, Yellow Warbler 4, Common Yellowthroat 2, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 3, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch = 22, retrapped 6, saw 35 species.

May 4: Jim, Rick, Dora, Gisele, Sashi, Gavin. Full cloud in morning clearing later in the morning partly cloudy mainly sunny. Temperature 8 in morning.
Banded: Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay 2, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler 8, Yellow Warbler, White-throated Sparrow 3, Red-winged Blackbird 3, Common Grackle 4 = 25, retrapped 2, saw 33 species.
Gavin is a British bander from the London area and will be with us for the month.

May 3: Jim, Roswitha, Sashi. Raining as we opened and it continued until around 7 then cleared and was sunny. Temperature 11 wind from S.W.
Banded: Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 3, American Goldfinch 2 = 12, retrapped 3, saw 32 species. I continue my lement from April. "Where are the Birds!"
Sashi come to us from Toronto having banded at Thunder Cape and Long Point.

May 1: Jim, Roswitha, Bev. Full cloud to start then partial clearing to cloud again. Temperature was 10 with no wind. We closed just as a thunderstorm started. Banded: Tree Swallow 2, Blue Jay, House Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Gray Catbird 2, Warbling Vireo, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO a first for Rock Point, Common Yellowthroat 5, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow 5, Eastern White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird = 27, retrapped 2, obviously yesterday's White-throats cleared out through the night, Saw 36 species.