View Single Post
  #13  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:30 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
This last set includes a couple of bunting pics because I find it fascinating how they change color according to the light they're in. Like blue jays, they have no blue pigment. The color comes from the scattering of light from feather structure. So in certain light, they look gray.

In incandescent light (in this case, the flash from the camera) they take on aqua and violet hues:

Name:  Artificial light really brings out a bunting's highlights! 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 729
Size:  84.5 KB

And in full sun, they look indigo:

Name:  Indigo bunting, newly banded and ready to be released 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 1180
Size:  39.3 KB

Pretty cool!

In all, 115 birds were banded. By species:
  • 64 rose-breasted grosbeaks
  • 22 American goldfinches
  • 8 purple finches
  • 7 black-capped chickadees (plus one recapture from Mar)
  • 4 Baltimore orioles
  • 4 indigo buntings
  • 2 chipping sparrows
  • 1 (very lucky) brown-headed cowbird and 1 escape from the net
  • 1 white-breasted nuthatch
  • 1 blue jay
  • 1 hairy woodpecker

Also, 9 ruby-throated hummingbirds were released from the nets without banding.

At mid-day (about 11:30) the nets came down and the birds of Hazel Run were allowed a little peace and quiet...

Name:  Taking down the nets 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 656
Size:  123.9 KB
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote