Mon@rch's Nature Blog

Banding in the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

mon@rch — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:16:45 +0000

Bay-breasted Warbler (CHECK)

Friday morning Young Naturalist J and I were invited to join the Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s “Navarre Marsh Migration Monitoring Banding Station” in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Last Sunday when we made the first plans to visit . . . . we never realized that this station was located on a National Wildlife Refuge and the hoops that we needed to go through to visit the banding station. I guess driving behind a Nuclear Power Plant to band birds requires some security issues to contend with. Without a doubt this adventure was well worth the hoopla because I ended up with 10 year birds (1 being a lifer) and Young Naturalist J ended up with 3 lifers on this trip!

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Nuclear Plant

Lucky we didn’t have any rain at the station but we had winds from the north coming off the lake. Not the best day for bird migrating (not big numbers of individuals) but we did have a nice diversity of species that made an appearance. Yep . . . we observed the staff band 17 species of warblers and many other amazing birds (which I will post soon)!!! Obviously I am not going to post all my pictures in one post . . . I will try milking this into 3 different post!! Below were my year/lifer warblers that I had at the banding station and I promise more great birds (and stories) to come soon!

Prothonotary Warbler (CHECK – LIFER)

Blackpoll Warbler (CHECK)

Tennessee Warbler (CHECK)

Black-and-white Warbler (CHECK) - Actually saw my first at PISP in Eire

Mourning Warbler (CHECK)

Nashville Warbler (CHECK)

Cape May Warbler (CHECK)

Black-throated Blue Warbler (CHECK)

Chestnut-sided Warbler (CHECK)

I would like to thank all of the staff at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory for all their help in allowing us access into the banding station and the education/research that they are doing in the area.

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Finding Purple Martins

mon@rch — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:45:51 +0000

While heading to Crane Creek from Presque Isle State Park . . . . Young Naturalist J and I decided to take an alternative route to the thruway. I felt at one point that we were lost but I am glad we continued the adventure because we found this wonderful series of Purple Martin houses (my brakes screeched and I yelled “Purple Martin” (CHECK). Since the business that had these Martin houses were closed . . . we decided to take a few pictures of their birds!!

So many Purple Martins together!

The Purple Martin calls were music to our ears and the only way I can describe the calls would be plucking a tight wire and make that doingggggggggggg sound. Ok, that’s not perfect but it is how I remember the calls being!!

We continued watching to the Purple Martin condos for about 20 more minutes and it was very interesting watching the birds interact together. We only had the group fly away on two occasions but then quickly circled back to each bird returning to their favorite sitting spot.

There were many more houses that I didn’t photograph.

We still had 3 hours of driving to Crane Creek and finally pulled ourselves from watching these amazing insect eating birds. As we were leaving the driveway, we realized that the business that was closed was selling “Purple Martin Products”! Too bad they were not open . . . . they convinced me to get these guys nesting in my yard!

Purple Martin Products

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Banding at Presque Isle State Park

mon@rch — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:04:58 +0000

Northern Cardinal carefully being banded

Young Naturalist J and I joined Toni from A Spattering and Linda from Eries Argonaut over at the Presque Isle State Park banding station this morning to see some migrants up close. We had such a wonderful time together and saw many great birds being banded by Sarah S. from PA Audubon (Thanks for letting us join you Sarah)! Below are just a few pictures that we captured at the banding station:

White-throated Sparrow

House Wren

Yellow Warbler

Winter Wren

Young Naturalist J, Toni, Linda and Me

We left Presque Isle State Park just after seeing some baby Great Horned Owl chicks that Toni and Linda knew about. They were soo cute and I have those, along with some other pictures to post once I return home (on hotel internet right now)! We slowly birded towards Crane Creek in Northern Ohio to hear Kenn Kaufman speak at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory this evening. You have no idea what a wonderful day we had and our anticipating the amazing day that we have planned for tomorrow’s adventure! I promise to let everyone know more once we return!

Kenn Kaufman, Young Naturalist J and Me

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more new birds and butterflies

mon@rch — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:10:50 +0000

Red Squirrel wondering what birds I am seeing!

I love waking up to my morning alarm clock again and I was extra excited hearing a Woodthrush (CHECK) singing along with my buzzing hummingbirds!! Not bad hearing two great birds before getting out of bed in the morning!! Later in the day I saw my first of the year Indigo Bunting (CHECK) singing up in a tree and didn’t expect in finding the Meadow Fritillary (CHECK), Juvenal Duskywing (CHECK) and American Lady (CHECK) who were also flying roadside! Yeah . . . . to the butterflies!

American Lady

If the weather cooperates tomorrow (Thursday) . . . . Young Naturalist J and I will be joining Toni and Linda over at the Presque Isle State Park Banding Station. Afterwards we will be working our way over to Crane Creek (Ohio) to listen to Kenn Kaufman talk at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. Friday will be a morning full of banding at Crane Creek and then heading back to New York State. I know we will be having a birdieful time and many wonderful photographic opportunities for future blog post!! But I am not sure when I will be able to get online again, so see you all when I return!

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New birds from yesterday

mon@rch — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:37:46 +0000

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I almost forgot to let everyone know about my first of the year birds that I saw yesterday!! I put my hummingbird feeder up in the morning and found 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (CHECK) buzzing around the feeders by lunch time (actually the two males were fighting over the feeders territory). I then found an American Redstart (CHECK) singing up in the tree while waiting for some fellow employees (actually it got very close to us and wished I had my camera with me). Later in the day I found a Red-eyed Vireo (CHECK) singing in an area that we were working in . . . . well kinda . . . . I think I had them over the weekend but wasn’t 100% sure it was a Red-eyed Vireo until today’s find.

American Redstart and Red-eyed Vireo

Pictures above have all been taken previously; none of these photos were taken with yesterdays find! I have been busy the past few days with some personal things and not been able to do much birding! Lucky nature has been finding me and I work in an area where these guys can be easily found without trying too hard!! Expect many more checks from me over the next few days and who knows . . . . maybe a few lifers (more to come soon)

BTW: Nexrad Radar images were showing many birds moving north last night (click to animate)! I can only imagine what new birds I will find today in Allegany State Park! I promise to keep everyone updated with my finds!

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