The last day of the fall banding season was bitter sweet. As a team of dedicated volunteers we show up every Sunday morning at 6 am to hastily set the 10 nets up before daylight. The Owls give a couple hoots just before light to tell us it’s time to set our watch for every half hour to check the nets.Yesterday the woods came alive with bird sounds as day broke. In the tree tops above the banding station we saw Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo gleaming for food. The cool birds down below netted were the Hooded Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroath, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Bluejay, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Phoebe and the vocal Grey Catbirds.
Thanks to the many people who came to the station this fall to check out the information Mr. Jim gathers from each bird. Almost everyone was able to release a wild bird that came to the station. The group of professional volunteers work as one to ensure every bird is handled with care. Also thanks to the City of Dunedin allowing us to gather important migratory information at the Hammocks park for the last five years. Jim will have the stats on his blog soon at http://hammockbirdbanding.wordpress.com.
Join us again in the spring as we will again go six Sundays in a row at the Dunedin Hammocks city park.
Female Hooded and Magnolia Warblers pose side by side.
Granddaughter Ali releases the Magnolia Warbler.
Birds by Dave 