Navarre Marsh Banding Update

A week of wild weather with several cold fronts brought the birds we were expecting to see in late September to finally grace our presence as October began. The kinglets, Myrtle Warbler (MYWA), Orange-crowned Warbler (OCWA), Eastern Phoebe (EAPH), Slate-colored Junco (SCJU), White-throated Sparrow (WTSP), Brown Creeper (BRCR), Hermit Thrush (HETH), and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (YBSA) all arrived over the weekend.

Eastern Phoebe (EAPH)

For the week of September 26th - October 2nd, we had a total of 24 species of warbler including another Golden-winged (GWWA), Tennessee (TEWA), OCWA, Nashville (NAWA), Northern Parula (NOPA), *Yellow (YEWA), Chestnut-sided (CSWA), Magnolia (MAWA), Cape May (CMWA), Black-throated Blue (BTBW), MYWA, Black-throated Green (BTNW), Blackburnian (BLBW), Western Palm (WPWA), Bay-breasted (BBWA), Blackpoll (BLPW), Black-and-white (BAWW), American Redstart (AMRE), Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Connecticut (CONW), Mourning (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), and Wilson's (WIWA) captured.

*Special Note:
Did you notice the change in the alpha code for Yellow Warbler (YEWA) used above?
A great way for birders and banders to keep records in the field are the four-letter (Alpha) codes assigned to every North American species by the Bird Banding Laboratory. These codes, along with numeric codes assigned to each bird, are unique for each species and save considerable time. However, as name changes are approved by the American Ornithologists’ Union these Alpha codes may change as well. As seen above, the code for the Yellow Warbler has seen one of those changes. Originally known as YWAR (because the Yellow Wagtail (YWAG), would also be “YEWA”), this species was changed this year to YEWA when the Yellow Wagtail was renamed Eastern Yellow Wagtail (EYWA). Periodic checks of the codes issued by the Banding Lab will keep one up to date and in step with the common names. If you don’t like change, either in short hand or long hand, keep the numeric codes in mind.  They might take a bit more practice to learn, but the do not change!

Even after the strong cold fronts of Friday and Saturday, 14 species of warbler were captured on October 2nd. October 2nd also had a tie for number one bird which had been BLPW all week.  On 10/2, the BLPW was tied by the Gray-cheeked Thrush (GCTH). The YEWA captured earlier in the week represents a very late bird with most from the Midwest having left the region back in August. This bird had a greenish yellow cast which is indicative of YEWAs breeding in Alaska.

Let's give you a quiz bird to ponder:

Some other highlights for the week for you to enjoy:

Northern Parula (NOPA)

NOPA with diagnostic back with greenish-gold feathers forming a "golden" triangle

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR) male with black wings

RBGR Hatching year male with rose-colored wing lining.

Philadelphia (PHVI) and Warbling Vireo (WAVI)
PHVI has yellow wash from belly to bill. WAVI has white throat.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (YBSA)
note white wing patches diagnostic of YBSA

It is not too late to get outside and enjoy fall songbird migration.
Answer to the quiz bird is Orange-crowned Warbler with its split yellow eye ring, yellow breast with fine gray streaks, and yellow undertail coverts.
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Enjoy the beauty of the season!