March 26, 2023
The pace of migration through Cape Florida has slowed down this week, as easterly winds have pushed the migrating birds to the west side of the peninsula. A few wintering birds are still around while some, such as Myrtle Warblers and Eastern Phoebes, seem to have moved on to the north. We recaptured two more Swainson’s Warblers banded in Fall of 2022, for a total of three that probably spent the winter at Cape Florida.
The week started with interesting weather. A band of heavy rain kept us from opening until 9AM on Monday March 20, so we only were able to band 3 birds that day. The next day we were rewarded with our busiest day so far, with 16 new banded birds and one return from another season. The winds were still out of the north, and Black-and-White Warblers were the bird of the day. They were calling throughout the woods and working the branches and trunks around the nets. Eight of them were banded, including this lovely female.
Female Black-and-white Warbler (photo by Miriam Avello)
By Wednesday the wind direction had swung around to the east and the wind speed had picked up. As a result, we banded between 0 and 4 new birds a day for the rest of the week. The wind is shifting more and more to the south as the days go by, with no relief until the middle of next week. South winds give the birds an express ride to the north. We still are weeks away from the peak of migration, however.
This adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk provided our entertainment for the rest of the week. The males of most diurnal raptors are smaller than the females, with the male Sharpie the smallest of them all. He is the size of a Blue Jay, but has a big personality. This guy was very high-strung, and was glad to be rid of us after we banded him.
Adult male Sharp-shinned Hawk (Photo by Julie Bracken)
