Bird banding @ Ruthven Park, Cayuga (pics included)

[Rob'in'To]

Angie and I participated at a bird banding station in Ruthven Park today and were blessed with seeing right up close a Lincoln Sparrow and a couple Field Sparrows.  Both firsts for us.

Bluebirds, Turkey Vultures, Bobolinks, Common Yellow-throats, Yellow Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, WBNHs, Chickadees, Gold Finches, Cardinals, Robins, Baltimore Orioles, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, Catbirds, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Red-tail Hawks, Cowbirds, Tree Swallows, Solitary Sandpiper, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were others seen in the park, and/or caught in the nets and banded.

A real learning experience for us.  We both got to band one bird each!  Angie with a White-crowned and I with a White-throated Sparrow.  We measured their wings, weighed them, check their fat and muscle mass and lastly banded them ourselves (under friendly supervision).

We missed the banding of a Red-headed Woodpecker which took place the day before.

Lincoln Sparrow being held by Rick (one of the banders)


White-throated Sparrow held by me, and I was happy to learn that part of his ID includes my initials "RHM"


White-crowned Sparrow being held by Angie.


A pair of Baltimore Orioles, Angie is holding the male, and I got to hold/release the female.


A highly recommended experience for any birder...  you just gotta do a bit of traveling to get there.  It's a free opportunity but any donations are greatly appreciated.

Much thanks to the great people doing this in Ruthven Park

[Misty01]

That's awsome and looks like you both had an amazing time  
Crystal

PS so jealouse you got to hold orioles  :lol:

[Rob'in'To]

Crystal, it was freakin' awesome and so worth the trip!

I hear they are the nicest bunch of bird banders a person would ever meet.  The fact they let us get so involved, handling them, banding them (which was intimidating using the pliers and metal band around those tiny legs), and releasing them.

You never know what you will see, depends who flies into the nets.

I released a male Cowbird, Angie a Catbird, both of us with Baltimore Orioles and while I was out with the one bander collecting more birds...  Angie got to release a Common Yellow-throat Warbler (I was envious of that one).

Even the birds in the park are great.  Wide variety of species.  Tufted Titmouse, Bluebirds and Purple Martins were my faves.  A Killdeer nest is right near the last parking lot on the ground (marked off so nobody steps on it).

[Cody]

Looks great, Rob. I saw this today at the Long Point banding station. Certainly something that I'm interested in.

Cody

[Misty01]

I think hubby and I are going to stop by there tomorrow morning on our way to fishing Dunnville.
*crossing my fingers that the weather permits us*
Crystal

[Rob'in'To]

While the nets are obviously outside, they do the banding and all that goes with it inside a small building at the last parking lot.  So as long as it's not monsoon weather, the banding should still be a go.  I know really bad weather halts the whole process.  I don't think light showers matter much.

You can always google this, Rick does a daily blog too, and I think he's pretty quick to answer e-mails.

[Misty01]

Should be a fun stop over tomorrow; I googled the blog you were talking about and here's the link:
http://www.ruthvenpark.ca/natureblog/
Really a nice blog, I'll have to follow it.
Seems as though they had their best day yet yesterday; so looks like a good outing for tomorrow.
Hopefully the rain will cause a fall out  
Crystal

PS: if you look back they posted you and Angie on their blog :lol: (your famous) hehe