We officially had three more days of banding following the 100-bird day on May 12, but there was enough interest in keeping the station open a couple extra days so we banded until May 17. A steady stream of American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Black-throated Blue Warblers and Northern Waterthrush made up most of the birds moving through this late. Three more Connecticut Warblers pushed the spring total up to 22 banded! The previous high count was 15 in Spring 2007, another year that had a strong May due to the weather. This year’s Connecticut Warbler record will probably stand for quite some time.
Female Connecticut Warbler (photo by Miriam Avello)
The same weather patterns that brought us all these Connecticuts also brought in 6 Bicknell’s Thrush, another site record. Conversely, we banded no Gray-cheeked or Gray-cheeked/Bicknell’s intergrades this spring. American Redstarts led the totals with 267 banded, followed by 181 Common Yellowthroats, 146 Ovenbirds and 128 Northern Waterthrush. Overall 1,234 new birds were banded and 27 returning birds were recaptured of 35 species. Most returning birds were over-wintering from Fall 2021, but one Ovenbird has been returning to spend the winter at Cape Florida since 2014! Three new species were banded for spring; Wood Thrush, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Brown Thrasher.
Michelle gets ready to release an American Redstart. Safe flight, little one, and see you in Central Park! (photo by Miriam Avello)
The migrants have mostly moved through South Florida by now and are starting to fill the Northeastern woods with song and the fresh green of the new leaves await with caterpillars and other food. We’ll see you and your children in the fall!
Ovenbird (photo by Miriam Avello)
