We ARE at the usual height of spring migration this week - and numbers and diversity are up. At Clear Spring Ranch banding this morning it was a "Black and Orange" day - with banded FOS American Redstart (Ad M),FOS Orchard Orioles (Ad M, SY F), Spotted Towhee (AD F), Black-headed Grosbeak (2), and FOS Blue Grosbeak (Ad M - not what you would think of as black and orange - except he was about 2/3 done rubbing the rusty feathers feathers off of his head and back to look blue, along with black of wing and tail). Fun.
Other banding highlights: 49 Total banded today , including -
Willow Flycatcher (SY)
2 Gray Catbirds
3 Yellow-breasted Chats (all males)
5 Chipping Sparrows (of a larger flock)
3 Clay-colored Sparrows
11 Lincoln's Sparrows
1 MacGillivray's Warbler (SY M)
4 Com Yellowthroat (all F)
7 Yellow Warblers
1 Hermit Thrush
So far this spring - 850 birds netted (but about 300 were un-banded Chipping Sparrows!). Plan now is to band through May 31 - or when the migration stops and only breeding birds are left here.
Have a good week,
Steve Brown
Colo Spgs
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