Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Other pet critters - Birds, fish, rabbits, reptiles, rodents and exotics > Birds

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old May 27th, 2011, 12:21 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
The Main Event--banding birds at Hazel Run, 24 May 2011

As mentioned in another thread, I was the high bidder in a silent auction fund-raiser for a local nature center (Beaver Creek Reserve, just outside of Fall Creek). After the trial run in March, the banders returned in late May for the Main Event.

The crew arrived at 7 and by 7:20, we were already netting birds. Here Augie is removing one of the first birds of the morning.

Name:  Augie working the nets 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 797
Size:  118.7 KB

The mist nets are so lightweight that they're nearly invisible. If you look closely at the image below, you can see some of the netting close to the pole, but the camera was not able to clearly resolve the netting that spreads over the whole right-hand side of this pic:

Name:  The nearly invisible mist net 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 792
Size:  70.2 KB

Name:  Ruby-throated hummingbird 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 1001
Size:  91.6 KB

Although most of the hummingbirds are able to detect and evade, we did have 9 that ended up in the nets. Since the crew is not licensed to band them, they were released. It was interesting watching them approach the nets, hover, back up and fly over the barrier. Occasionally, we'd see one sitting on the top edge of a net!
__________________
"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
  #2  
Old May 27th, 2011, 12:33 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
They banded quite a variety of birds. Some were year-round residents, like this white-breasted nuthatch:

Name:  The one and only white-breasted nuthatch for the day 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 747
Size:  97.7 KB

Others were migrants, like this handsome Baltimore oriole male:

Name:  Baltimore oriole 5-24-11 A.jpg
Views: 689
Size:  46.1 KB

And some were less welcome migrants, like this very lucky brown-headed cowbird female. Brown-headed cowbirds are nest parasites--they lay their eggs in smaller birds' nests to have the host parents raise their young. Often, the cowbird young will push the other hatchlings or eggs out of the nest. This can really impact the number of small songbirds hatched from an area. For example--last year we had lots of chipping sparrows and a normal amount (for us) of cowbirds. A fair number of chipping sparrows were parasitized last summer and this year we have lots of cowbirds and very few chipping sparrows.

Name:  A very lucky cowbird 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 1099
Size:  55.8 KB

Normally, cowbirds stuck to the plains, but human activities such as road building and farming, have opened up new territory for them. If they have a corridor (a power-line right of way in our case) they can extend far into the forest and parasitize new species that had never been reachable for them before.

Why did I call this one lucky? This is the one species of native bird that the WI DNR allows people to dispatch because they have such a negative impact on other native birds. One female cowbird can parasitize maybe 70 nests in her lifetime. There was some discussion about whether to dispatch this one or release her. hazel was outvoted and the bird was released. Very lucky, indeed.
__________________
"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
  #3  
Old May 27th, 2011, 12:49 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
Once a bird is captured, the species is determined and certain data on each individual is recorded.

Name:  Recording data 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 581
Size:  65.9 KB

Data collected includes species, date captured, age, measurement of the wing chord, and gender if it can be determined. Age determination can be difficult, as can gender. Age categories include hatch year (HY), after hatch year (AHY), second year (SY) and after second year (ASY). AHY is used for birds that don't have marked plumage changes after they molt into their adult feathers. SY is used in species like American goldfinches, where the feathers at the bend of the wing are paler in the second year than in subsequent years. ASY is used for birds like purple finch males, that don't get their purple coloring until after their second year.

Gender can also be difficult to tell depending on the species so there are three categories: M, F, and U (for undetermined). In spring it's sometimes possible to determine the gender of birds such as chickadees by looking for a brood patch. The female's brood patch is a very extensive bald spot on the breast that can be detected by blowing lightly on the feathers. The male's is less extensive and not as bald. So we were able to determine gender at this banding by brood patch, where the chickadees banded at the end of March were all listed as U.

Band is chosen according to size for each species, and the number is recorded before it's attached to the bird. Sometimes it's hard to make out the numbers:

Name:  Dan choosing the correct band 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 551
Size:  66.6 KB

We have a leucistic purple finch in the area. He's quite distinctive. Leucism is a condition in some birds often referred to erroneously as 'partial albinism'. The birds aren't true albinos, but do have a defective pigment metabolism. 'Mr. Pink' was caught and banded on Tuesday, and our identification as a purple finch was confirmed after some discussion and examination by the banding crew.

Name:  Mr Pink got a bracelet today 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 617
Size:  54.8 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
  #4  
Old May 27th, 2011, 12:54 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
One of the fundraisers at the Reserve is an 'Adopt a Bird' program. When a bird is banded, a picture is taken and people can 'adopt' that bird with a donation. Here Larry is taking a picture of an indigo bunting for the 'Adopt a Bird' adoption board.

Name:  Larry taking an 'adopt a bird' pic 5-24-11 B.jpg
Views: 1049
Size:  64.4 KB

A newly-banded chipping sparrow shortly before release:

Name:  Chipping sparrow, ready to go 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 843
Size:  56.1 KB

And at release...

Name:  Chipping sparrow abstract 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 749
Size:  38.9 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
  #5  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:00 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
We captured a lot of rose-breasted grosbeaks. The banding crew's record one-day total prior to this was 15 banded. They banded 64 here and didn't recapture any I saw five at the feeders this morning that had no band at all...so we missed a few.

Have a mentioned that we have a lot of rose-breasted grosbeaks here?

Karen retrieves a grosbeak from the net:

Name:  Karen untangling a rose-breasted grosbeak fem 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 574
Size:  68.3 KB

See the peachy color under the wing? This one is a female. The males have a rosy-pink patch there instead.

Name:  A beautiful female grosbeak 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 843
Size:  47.2 KB

Karen about to release a male rose-breasted grosbeak after banding.

Name:  Mesmerized 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 523
Size:  55.0 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
  #6  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:02 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
Banding yet another grosbeak:

Name:  Banding one of the 64 rose-breasted grosbeaks caught today 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 749
Size:  84.5 KB

A little disheveled after banding, but none the worse for wear:

Name:  A handsome male grosbeak 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 516
Size:  64.4 KB

And a shot of the rosy underwing of a male:

Name:  Rose-breasted grosbeak 5-24-11 A.jpg
Views: 520
Size:  56.7 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
  #7  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:05 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
Banding a purple finch:

Name:  Banding a purple finch 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 526
Size:  73.5 KB

This one is a second spring (third year) male--it's just starting to get a blush of the raspberry color over the brown...

Name:  That first blush of pink 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 517
Size:  50.3 KB

And yet another grosbeak hanging out at the net...

Name:  Aw, fudge!  I'll just wait for some help 5-24-11 B.jpg
Views: 729
Size:  72.7 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
  #8  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:12 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
Rose-breasted grosbeaks have two main personality characteristics: they're extremely vocal and squawk non-stop from retrieval to release...unless they're biting (the second characteristic). They bite hard enough to leave blood blisters so after the first few dozen were banded, the banding crew was drawing straws to see who had to handle the next grosbeak

Here, Karen gets nailed at the net one more time:

Name:  A particularly hard-biting grosbeak 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 493
Size:  85.2 KB

Larry's knuckle takes a hit:

Name:  Ouch! 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 666
Size:  58.9 KB

Not even the tools of the trade are safe. Here a young female takes out her frustration on the device used to measure her wing chord...

Name:  Helping with the wing chord measurement 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 676
Size:  58.6 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
  #9  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:14 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
But finally, the wing chord is measured...

Name:  Wing chord measurement 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 477
Size:  77.9 KB

....and the bird is released:

Name:  I'm outta here! 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 633
Size:  57.5 KB

Name:  Good bye 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 457
Size:  46.2 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
  #10  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:16 PM
dogcatharmony's Avatar
dogcatharmony dogcatharmony is offline
Pumpkin' Dumplin' Gang
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 1,073
Amazing pics and wow....never seen that done before. You have many beautiful birdies around your place. Thanks for sharing.
__________________
My personal take on cat purring:
1 cat Mono
2 cats Stereo
3+ cats......Surround sound
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:18 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
Our one and only blue jay--almost too big for the nets, blue jays usually either just bounce off or can release themselves. Same for the red-bellied woodpecker. She tried very hard to get to the feeders and ended up caught in the net three times, releasing herself each time before the crew could get to her. (And yes, she was able to pig out at the feeder in peace after the nets were down, so her efforts did not go unrewarded. )

Name:  Blue jay 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 667
Size:  44.6 KB

Name:  Bye bye, blue jay 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 433
Size:  44.9 KB

And, of course, more grosbeaks in the nets:

Name:  Busy at the nets 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 657
Size:  136.4 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
  #12  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:20 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
An American goldfinch in the net...

Name:  In the net 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 715
Size:  78.4 KB

...and being retrieved.

Name:  Hanging on 5-24-11.jpg
Views: 466
Size:  53.5 KB


Our last goldfinch (#22) just before release.

Name:  The last bird, American goldfinch #22.jpg
Views: 664
Size:  44.6 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
  #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
  #14  
Old May 27th, 2011, 01:33 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by dogcatharmony View Post
Amazing pics and wow....never seen that done before. You have many beautiful birdies around your place. Thanks for sharing.
It was quite the experience! And although I knew we had a lot of grosbeaks, I'm a little surprised at the number banded! And in all those captures, not one was a recapture of a grosbeak! All the grosbeaks in the nets were 'new'.

We banded one oriole that immediately went back into the net and was re-released, and caught one chickadee that had been banded in March here, but everything else was a newbie.
__________________
"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
  #15  
Old May 27th, 2011, 04:09 PM
chico2's Avatar
chico2 chico2 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 26,591
Hazel,this is amazing to see,thank's..
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal"
3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old May 27th, 2011, 07:32 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
I just came in from sitting in the blind. It appears that after this session, most of the chickadees have now been banded...or at least most of those nesting close enough to the feeders to be visiting frequently. A total of 12 have been banded and in winter we were counting maybe 18 between two winter groups. The majority of chickadees I saw today were banded.

The grosbeaks were a different story. The first one I saw had a band. The rest of them (at least 3 dozen) were not banded! No wonder we're going through so much seed! We may have 200+ grosbeaks out there!

None of the goldfinches I saw today had a band, which doesn't surprise me. Between the two sessions, we've only banded 29 goldfinches and we've had as many as 300 at the feeders during winter.

The only purple finch I saw today that was banded was Mr Pink, who is looking in fine fettle. We've banded 17 purple finches total, but there were at least another 5 hanging out at the feeders today that were unbanded.

And I saw 3 male and 1 female indigo bunting today, all unbanded. So we have at least 8 in the area (we banded 4 on Tuesday).

So now I have to tell Augie that he missed a few...
__________________
"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
  #17  
Old May 27th, 2011, 09:27 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Your photos and story just blow my mind, Hazel. Thank you so much for such an educational thread !

Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Others were migrants, like this handsome Baltimore oriole male:
It would seem he was aiming carefully for a nice fleshy spot .

Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Here Larry is taking a picture of an indigo bunting for the 'Adopt a Bird' adoption board.
What a neat idea!

Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Karen about to release a male rose-breasted grosbeak after banding.
I hope you sent Karen a copy of this pic. It's beautiful! Love how she and the grosbeck are looking at each other.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack View Post
Larry's knuckle takes a hit:
There's another frame worthy one !

Thanks again, Hazel. What a treat!
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old May 27th, 2011, 09:48 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
My pleasure, LP! It was just too interesting not to share!
__________________
"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
  #19  
Old May 28th, 2011, 01:00 AM
TeriM's Avatar
TeriM TeriM is offline
Live well, laugh often
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,757
Wonderful pictures and beautiful birds Hazel . I am envious, it sounds like a very cool experience .
__________________
"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old May 28th, 2011, 04:43 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
I just got an email from Augie. Sounds like they'd like to come back at the end of June or the beginning of July.
__________________
"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
  #21  
Old May 29th, 2011, 02:17 PM
ownedbycats's Avatar
ownedbycats ownedbycats is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ontario
Posts: 854
Wow, Hazel, sounds like your birds have become a big attraction! (Maybe you better not mention how many grosbeaks they missed. THen again, maybe you should so they can wear protective gloves next time.)
__________________
Dr. Seuss~DLH (brother's cat)~June 2007-
Misty~DSH (my cat & Mooby's mom)-?- Sept. 15, 2014
MooBoots(Mooby) ~ DMH(Mom's cat)~July 21, 2008-
Sunshine~ Golden retriever X white german sheperd (Dad's dog)~October 24, 2008-
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old May 29th, 2011, 02:26 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
I already mentioned how many grosbeaks are unbanded...and told Augie that by the beginning of July the first broods should be fledged and joining their parents at the feeders. Haven't heard back, so maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it!

Interesting that you mention gloves, obc--I asked them why they didn't wear at least thin cotton gloves to protect from things like grosbeaks and woodpeckers and they said that they have to be able to feel exactly how much pressure they're putting on the bird to prevent injury to it. So they can't wear gloves at all! Not even in winter! brrrrrrr! Which makes a nice warm place to thaw hands a very necessary commodity for winter banding sessions.
__________________
"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
  #23  
Old May 31st, 2011, 10:48 AM
ownedbycats's Avatar
ownedbycats ownedbycats is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ontario
Posts: 854
Well, if grosbeaks migrate, maybe they will end up rescheduling for later in the year. That way they avoid the pinched fingers and can use your house to warm up in. Then you will get a chance at more pictures to share with us.
__________________
Dr. Seuss~DLH (brother's cat)~June 2007-
Misty~DSH (my cat & Mooby's mom)-?- Sept. 15, 2014
MooBoots(Mooby) ~ DMH(Mom's cat)~July 21, 2008-
Sunshine~ Golden retriever X white german sheperd (Dad's dog)~October 24, 2008-
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old May 31st, 2011, 06:28 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
Looks like we're set for the 5th Wednesday in June. So there may be lots of grosbeaks and youngsters for them. I might have to offer hand soaks and finger massages afterward to make amends...
__________________
"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
  #25  
Old June 1st, 2011, 12:14 PM
ownedbycats's Avatar
ownedbycats ownedbycats is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Ontario
Posts: 854
It would be really neat if bird banding at Hazel's house became a regular activity. You post pictures of so many different species it sounds like an ideal place for it.
__________________
Dr. Seuss~DLH (brother's cat)~June 2007-
Misty~DSH (my cat & Mooby's mom)-?- Sept. 15, 2014
MooBoots(Mooby) ~ DMH(Mom's cat)~July 21, 2008-
Sunshine~ Golden retriever X white german sheperd (Dad's dog)~October 24, 2008-
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old June 1st, 2011, 03:11 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
I could live with that
__________________
"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
  #27  
Old June 1st, 2011, 03:26 PM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
OH Hazel I have a great idea....set up a web cam or a video conference type thing and we can all watch live!! oh! how about SKYPE??
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old June 1st, 2011, 03:54 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
I think a web cam would be beyond my feeble technical capabilities, Winston! And probably be beyond the data transmission capabilities of my connection.
__________________
"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
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:23 AM.