First fall captures for Common
Grackle and European
Starling on 10/15. Flocks of these two
species, mostly grackles, numbering in the thousands provided a frightening
Hitchcockian effect in the banding area all morning long--our worst fears,
however, were not realized, as we only caught 20 in our nets!
10/15 was the busiest day so
far this fall for Yellow-rumped Warblers,
affectionately called "Butterbutts" by most banders. Almost all of
these were caught in nets located near fruiting poison ivy vines, a favorite
food of this species throughout the fall and into winter.
Bright fall days aren't always
best for banding birds, but we enjoy them anyway!
(fall photos of Powdermill by banding volunteer D. Madarish)
We banded our eighth Sharp-shinned
Hawk on 10/12. It was the first adult
bird of the season (see photo below--among other differences, imm. birds
have yellow irides), extending the record fall total for this species established
earlier this year
We netted an unusual partial
albino Northern Parula--it
had scattered white head feathers, several entirely white flight feathers
on each wing, and its bill was entirely pale orangeish yellow, lacking
the usual dark pigmentation on the upper mandible
