The partnership between Tropical Audubon Society and the Cape Florida Banding Station is allowing us to begin regular spring migration banding for the first time in our 20-year history. We have had spring banding sessions previously in 2007, 2009-2011 and 2014 in cooperation with researchers that were using our site to collect data. Our very first bird banded this year was this Hermit thrush, an uncommon wintering species in the Miami area.
We technically have not banded an active migrant yet as it seems to be a little early. Instead we are getting an interesting sample of who has been spending the winter in the restored hardwood hammock habitat at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This is important data, even though right now we only catch a couple of birds a day. Several of these birds were banded during previous seasons, including an Ovenbird which has been returning to spend the winter here since 2014. The waves of northbound migrants will increase all through April and peak in late April or early May. In the meantime our new volunteers have time to learn where the nets are, and we are all enjoying the beautiful spring temperatures!
TOTALS MARCH 14-23 2021
| SPECIES | NEW | RETURN |
| Chuck-will’s widow | 2 | – |
| Gray catbird | 14 | 3 |
| Hermit thrush | 1 | – |
| Western palm warbler | 1 | – |
| Black and white warbler | 2 | 1 |
| Prairie warbler | – | 1 |
| Swainson’s warbler | 1 | – |
| Ovenbird | – | 1 |
| Louisiana waterthrush | 1 | – |
| Common yellowthroat | – | 1 |
| TOTAL | 22 | 7 |
| # BIRDS CAPTURED | # SPECIES | # NETS | NET HOURS | CAPTURE RATE (BIRDS/100NH) | |
| SEASON TOTAL | 29 | 10 | 23 | 1014.5 | 3.06 |