Day 21: Grand finale grackles

Today was the last official day of my internship (but I'll be banding one more time this summer on Thursday). The first few net rounds were fruitless and I was worried our last day would be a flop.
Luckily, a triad of grackles, an angsty wood thrush, a puffy common yellow-throat, a tail-less but fabulous bluejay and a beautiful grosbeak graced our nets.

Female rose-breasted grosbeak

This wood thrush is done with pictures after being caught  5 times this summer

Common yellow-throat

Bluejay

Grackle 1

Grackle 2

Grackle 3

Krista also found a spider skin and some nests, the later will contribute to a future project.

I will post again after banding on Thursday and share about my upcoming school year blog!

Day 20: Foreshadowing

On our way to the ecological station, Bishop thought he spotted a broad-winged hawk, but dismissed it for a crow. Little did he know that he was foreshadowing what would become a day bursting with bird nerd enthusiasm.

On an early net round I glimpsed a hawk flying away from a net that held a very lucky wood thrush. One net round later, Bishop came back with a broad-winged hawk in tow. 

I am amazed I got to hold such a beautiful creature this morning and learn about it. I even got to release it. Here's some high-quality video shot by Mr. Bishop. 

Our capture rates were splendid as well, possibly due to a few days of gusty northern winds. We caught thrushes with missing, molting tails and heaps of warblers.

Tailless wood thrush

Two tail feathered Swainson's thrush

Chestnut sided warbler female

Blue-winged warbler

Common yellow throat female

Finally, Krista found a cute dead mouse this morning and we came back to camp at one point to find Bishop having fun with it. 

Day 18: Fly fishing

The day was windy, bird catches were low, but a couple flies flew into our nets.

Unfortunately, only the first fly survived the detangling process. Chippewa has dried up. Queen Anne's Lace and thistles have overrun the trails.

A large group of local elementary schoolers learned about birds today. They liked to talk about bears too and some of them sniffed the birds nest that the nature center staff was handing around. 

Boy sniffing nest

Today we caught a very molty cardinal, a mysterious Swainson's Thrush and a juvenile male rose-breasted grosbeak among other things.

Rose-breasted grosbeak male juvenile

Swainson's Thrush. They don't nest at Chippewa, Bishop thinks that they just visit to molt. 

Female cardinal originally caught as an adult in 2008

Some more beauty on our last day at Chippewa.

Adult bald eagle in the upper left corner

Spotted sandpiper doing its signature butt dance