We have banded between 10 to 15 birds a day for most of the last week. Not a lot, but better than 2 to 5 a day. There is a stalled rainy frontal boundary in north Florida, and most migrants are still behind it. Some are coming through, and the rain showers at night over the Atlantic are making a few birds land at Cape Florida. Most of these birds are quite fat and probably would have continued on to their destinations without the threat of rainfall.
Here is a Great crested flycatcher that actually was calm enough to let us take some photos. These large flycatchers are pretty high-strung and usually flap too much to safely hold for pictures. Great crested flycatchers breed at Cape Florida but are joined in winter by other individuals moving down from further north.
A young male Prothonotary warbler was also quite photogenic.
Elizabeth appreciates him before release.
Mike is ‘skulling’ a Black-and-white warbler. By parting the feathers on the head and looking through the translucent skin you can tell if a bird was born that year. The skull takes a few months to completely ossify, so the young of the year show distinct pink areas where the bone is incomplete. Plumage details can also be used to age birds.
Our most common captures so far are Worm-eating warblers. They are very feisty in the hand and this guy is trying to chomp on Lucas’ finger. Their bills are designed for picking insects out of crevices and rolled-up leaves so they don’t hurt when they bite. Most Worm-eating warblers move through our area in September, on their way to wintering grounds in the Caribbean and Central America.
Thanks! Keep up the great work. It is still early in the season down here in the Keys, and we’ve had some slow days here and there. Great to see you are getting excellent participants at CFBS!