Makeup Rain Day – SWAT
(Brother and Sister) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Today we had another great day at the SWAT MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) banding session here in Allegany State Park. This was a rescheduled session after the rained-out day we had last Wednesday.
Great Blue Heron by Young Naturalist J
Very focused on photographing the Great Blue Heron before it flew away!
We captured 30 individuals and had 15 different species of birds at the banding station this session. Young Naturalist J was the field assistant and photographer for the day. He took a series of shots of our nets, banding, me, etc.. since many have been asking me to do a post on what we do when we catch the birds. I will try to get all those shots posted here soon (I promise).
(female) Hooded Warbler by Young Naturalist J
Swamp Sparrow by Young Naturalist J
Veery by Young Naturalist J
Red Eyed Vireo by Young Naturalist J
Since he was 7 these Red-eyed Vireo’s have always had the last laugh.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Are these photos manual focus? Young naturalist seems to be doing that.
Great story. Great photos. More comments on Flickr.
8 July 2007 at 11:34 pm
Thanks, all but the Heron shot were taken with my point and shoot camera! But, I do believe the Nikon was set as automatic focus.
8 July 2007 at 11:47 pm
Wow, what a lucky young naturalist. I have found out about a bird banding program 2 hours from my house, but they are done now for the year. I really have to visit to see what goes on. Great pictures!
8 July 2007 at 11:47 pm
Wow.
Is this kid going to be a cool adult or what?
9 July 2007 at 12:38 am
We normally don’t get close enough to see how very beautiful these birds really are. Just wonderful pictures, thank you!
9 July 2007 at 1:16 am
Oh how funny! What great photos he took. Just makes my heart smile to see him so involved and loving it so much. :c)
9 July 2007 at 7:08 am
That vireo looks like it has a enormous bill. And the last shot is very amusing.
9 July 2007 at 7:52 am
These pics are getting out of hand…or, actually, they are in hand. 🙂
Love the Red-eyed Vireo pics.
9 July 2007 at 8:54 am
Those shots are all fabulous J-great work!
I feel like I haven’t been banding in ages, oh wait that’s cuz I haven’t!
9 July 2007 at 9:52 am
Superb photos. The sap suckers on flickr got me.
9 July 2007 at 11:13 am
@ Ruth – We try to give many unusual experiences for those kids that visit the banding station! You should be able to find someone else closer than two hours away! But, many stations do spring and fall banding where I focus on the breeding birds! I will dabble with the fall migrants some though!
@ Susan – already cool guy along with the many other kids that band birds with me!
@ Linda – Thanks and it is fun seeing them all up close!
@ Jayne – glad you enjoyed this, thanks! We give this opportunity to anyone who is interested in being involved.
@ Nick – that picture does make its bill look large!
@ Corey – LOL, love taking pictures of animals in the hand!
@ Marg – it is very hard when your not out banding! I miss it also when I am not out their banding!
9 July 2007 at 11:23 am
Ric – thanks and so glad those Sapsuckers got you!
9 July 2007 at 11:24 am
Really great shots. That’s quite a naturalist you’ve got there for a helper. Looking forward to more.
9 July 2007 at 12:11 pm
Great photos J! You’re teaching him well, Tom!! LOL on the last photo! He’s got nice hair the birdies love, huh!
9 July 2007 at 4:49 pm
Wow. He is going to be a very clever birder one day. I’m partial to the GBH, of course. That is one fabulous photo. You are worth your weight in gold as a mentor to these young people.
9 July 2007 at 9:24 pm
That REV is evil-looking! And your last pic proves it!
😉
10 July 2007 at 12:17 am
Great shots – and I’m sure that the red-eyed vireo was able to get a chance to retaliate!
10 July 2007 at 1:20 pm
Wow-Love the shot of the Vireo grabbing the hair!
10 July 2007 at 5:39 pm
@ Laura – thanks and he is a great worker!
@ Pam – then you have those days where he is teaching me!! Those are happy days!
@ Mary – He already is, just after dropping him off he calls me to tell me about a bird that he found near his home that was a lifer for himself and if I had seen it for myself! On top of that he was able to get a few great photos of the bird to share!
@ Laura – thanks and the Red-eyed Vireo’s always get into that way!
@ Marty – you will be sure that they always do get the last laugh!
@ Larry – Thanks and that is a very fun shot!
11 July 2007 at 11:52 am
I didn’t realize Red-eyed Vireos were so formidible. But then, park naturalists had a run in with a very nasty ovenbird once. Size doesn’t seem to matter.
11 July 2007 at 6:39 pm