We were able to band most of the morning of August 15, 2021 under cloudy and drizzly conditions, and started the season with 9 birds of 6 species! Our first capture was an adult male American Redstart and # 2 was a Louisiana Waterthrush, a very early migrant that first arrives in our region in July. Migration seems to be well underway at this time, and interesting birds are being reported around South Florida. The pace of migration will accelerate, slowly at first and with more momentum in September, reaching a peak in numbers and diversity between late September and mid-October.
It is always so exciting at the start of a new banding season, wondering what we will catch this year. The weather, proportions of regular species caught, any rare birds and the energy of the volunteer teams combine to make each banding season have its own ‘atmosphere’.
American Redstart. Photo by Miriam Avello
