Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2015
Pictured: American Tree Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 74
- Number of Recaptures: 27
- Number of Species Banded: 18 (+3 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Golden-crowned Kinglet 18 (+3 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12, American Robin 9 (+1 recap), Red-winged Blackbird 7, and White-throated Sparrow 5 (+5 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 50
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: American Tree Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Gray Catbird, and House Finch.

Notes: Nice early/late combination with Tree Sparrow and Northern Waterthrush. Tree Sparrow and House Finch first for the season.

Weather: Winds North. Temperature in the 50s.


*Sunday the 25th marked the last day of the fall banding season at the Navarre Marsh Banding Station, and it seems only fitting that a bird synonymous with winter (the American Tree Sparrow) would make its first appearance at the close of the season. We will continue our Navarre Marsh daily updates next Spring, beginning in April 2016. Until then, you can review all that has happened this past year by following the links below:

For complete reports on Daily Banding Totals and Daily Bird Checklists (where you can see how many of each species was banded and what species were seen on each day) from the 2015 Fall and Spring banding seasons, click over to BSBO's website -http://www.bsbo.org/passerines.html

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015
Pictured: Swamp Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 21
- Number of Recaptures: 18
- Number of Species Banded: 8 (+5 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Golden-crowned Kinglet 8 (+1 recap), White-throated Sparrow 3 (+4 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3, Winter Wren 2, and Gray Catbird 2.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: Not run
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 45
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 2 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 4.3

Highlights: Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Common Loon off the lake shore.

Notes: Considerable less bird activity with the southerly winds today.

Weather: Winds Southwest. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, October 23, 2015
Pictured: White-crowned Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 102
- Number of Recaptures: 17
- Number of Species Banded: 18
- Top Five Species Banded: Hermit Thrush 17 (+3 recap), American Robin 12 (+1 recap), Common Grackle 10, Slate-colored Junco 10 (+ 1 recap), and White-throated Sparrow 9 (+3 recaps).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 21
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 40
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 3 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Slate-colored Junco, Fox Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird.

Notes: Turnover of birds, with fewer recaptures due to NW winds yesterday evening and overnight.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 50 going to low 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2015
Pictured: American Robin (This "common" bird often times receives little attention from observers. But look closer and you'll see just how beautiful these birds actually are.)

- Number of Birds Banded: 41
- Number of Recaptures: 36
- Number of Species Banded: 15 (+6 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: American Robin 10 (+1 recap), Hermit Thrush 7 (+15 recap), Myrtle Warbler 5, Slate-colored Junco 3, and Fox Sparrow 3.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 36
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 3 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Northern Waterthrush, Nashville Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, and Purple Finch.

Notes: Still lots of Pine Siskins moving heavily about an hour after sunrise.

Weather: Winds Southwest turning to the NW. Winds predicted to be light and variable overnight.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, October 21, 2015
Pictured: Rusty Blackbird - Adult Male *Read below for more information on RUBLs*

- Number of Birds Banded: 37
- Number of Recaptures: 46
- Number of Species Banded: 16 (+2 recap only)
- Top Four Species Banded:, Hermit Thrush 7 (+18 recap), American Robin 5, White-throated Sparrow 5 (+1 recap) and Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (+3 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 23
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 37
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.75

Highlights: Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Rusty Blackbird, and Fox Sparrow.

Notes: Large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Pine Siskins moving around this morning, but south winds are preventing movement of other migrants into the area.

Weather: Winds Southwest. Temperature in the 50s going to 60s.

*Aging Rusty Blackbirds in the fall is a fairly easy task. Adults should have white/yellow eyes, and hatching-year birds should have mostly brown eyes. In fall, Male RUBLs (pictured today) tend to be darker with less "rust" on the edges of their feathers, and have a blue-green iridescence or gloss to the majority of their black feathers (especially the wing feathers). Fall Female RUBLs have noticeably more "rust" throughout their body feathers (especially the face) with an obvious pale eyebrow, and lack any gloss to their dark gray-black body feathers, which appear more matte or flat.
Mostly all of the rusty edging on the feathers will wear away during winter, and by spring, returning Rustys will be entirely black.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Pictured: Hermit Thrush

- Number of Birds Banded: 18
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 8 (+4 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Hermit Thrush 6 (+14 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (+1 recap), American Robin 2, White-throated Sparrow 2, and 4 with 1.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 16
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 33
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 2 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.25

Highlights: Swainson’s Thrush and American Woodcock (not captured).

Notes: Major drop-off with the south winds. Diversity and abundance both down.

Weather: Winds South. Temperature in the 50s in early morning.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2015

- Number of Birds Banded: 79
- Number of Recaptures: 58
- Number of Species Banded: 19 (+2 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: White-throated Sparrow 15 (+3 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 12 (+2 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11 (+9 recap), Hermit Thrush 10 (+23 recap), and American Robin 8.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 29
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 53
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Nashville Warbler, Purple Finch, and several flights of Tundra Swan fly overs.

Notes: Purple Finch movement along with siskins. First sightings of Tundra Swans for the season.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 30s going to low 50s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015
Pictured: Lincoln's Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 87
- Number of Recaptures: 87
- Number of Species Banded: 20 (+6 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Ruby-crowned Kinglet 23 (+6 recap), White-throated Sparrow 13 (+12 recap), Hermit Thrush 9 (+19 recap), Myrtle Warbler 8 (+3 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 (+5 recap), and Cedar Waxwing 7.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 32
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 59
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Common Yellowthroat.

Notes: Late Lincoln’s Sparrow and Nashville Warbler. Still a good number of Blackpolls in area but most have been here for a while (banded 1 new and recaptured 19).

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 30s going to low 50s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, October 16, 2015
Pictured: Fox Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 105
- Number of Recaptures: 68
- Number of Species Banded: 16 (+7 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: White-throated Sparrow 22 (+11 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 17 (+3 recap), Hermit Thrush 16 (+13 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 15 (+7 recap), and Swamp Sparrow 14.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 21
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 48
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.25

Highlights: Fox Sparrow, Tennessee Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Common Yellowthroat.

Notes: First Fox Sparrow of the season. Major increase in Swamp Sparrow. Still a good number of Blackpolls in the area but most have been here for a while (banded 3 new and recaptured 19). Major cold front coming in over night.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 40s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Pictured: White-eyed Vireo

- Number of Birds Banded: 115
- Number of Recaptures: 86
- Number of Species Banded: 16 (+5 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: White-throated Sparrow 19 (+12 recap), Hermit Thrush 19 (+22 recap), Myrtle Warbler 16 (+1 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 (+6 recap), and Blackpoll Warbler 12 (+21 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 31
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 53
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 3 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Field Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo, and Rusty Blackbird.

Notes: Good movement of Myrtle Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and kinglets today. A lot of stopover occurring.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 50s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Pictured: Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Number of Birds Banded: 137
- Number of Recaptures: 65
- Number of Species Banded: 21 (+7 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Myrtle Warbler 50 (+1 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 27 (+12 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 (+3 recap), White-throated Sparrow 10 (+6 recap), and Blackpoll Warbler 9 (+18 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 26
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 49
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: White-eyed Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Waterthrush, and Rusty Blackbird.

Notes: Good movement of Myrtle Warbler and kinglets today. Season’s first White-eyed Vireo and first capture of Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Weather: Winds West. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, October 12, 2015
Pictured: Carolina Wren

- Number of Birds Banded: 72
- Number of Recaptures: 48
- Number of Species Banded: 22 (+2 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Golden-crowned Kinglet 13 (+3 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 (+3 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 8 (+14 recap), Myrtle Warbler 6 (+1 recap), and White-throated Sparrow 6.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 47
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 5 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)

- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Northern Parula and Carolina Wren.

Notes: Southerly breeze has things slow on the ridges.

Weather: Winds South. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015
Pictured: Orange-crowned Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 184
- Number of Recaptures: 40
- Number of Species Banded: 26 (+6 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Ruby-crowned Kinglet 46, Golden-crowned Kinglet 23, Hermit Thrush 20 (+10 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 16 (+11 recap), and White-throated Sparrow 14 (+4 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 29
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 62
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 10 (27 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Orange-crowned Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, and considerable Pine Siskin movement.

Notes: First Orange-crowned Warbler for the season.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, October 9, 2015
Pictured: Pine Siskin

- Number of Birds Banded: 109
- Number of Recaptures: 41
- Number of Species Banded: 26 (+5 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 21 (+14 recap), Myrtle Warbler 12, Hermit Thrush 10 (+8 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9 (+3 recap), White-throated Sparrow 8, and Cedar Waxwing 8.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 54
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 8 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.75

Highlights: Cape May Warbler, Wood Thrush, and first captured Pine Siskins for the season.

Notes: Good variety with lots of Pine Siskins, Cedar Waxwings, and American Robins moving.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2015
Pictured: Slate-colored Junco

- Number of Birds Banded: 119
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 24 (+6 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Hermit Thrush 24 (+3 recap), White-throated Sparrow 16, Golden-crowned Kinglet 11, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10, and Blackpoll Warbler 9 (+5 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 28
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 57
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 7 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Marsh Wren, American Redstart, Slate-colored Junco, Rusty Blackbird, and large number of Pine Siskins flying over in diurnal migration.

Notes: Winds changed to SE and reduced the bird activity on the ridge. Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes dropping off as Hermit Thrush increases.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Pictured: Marsh Wren and Northern Parula

Marsh Wren

Northern Parula

- Number of Birds Banded: 253
- Number of Recaptures: 29
- Number of Species Banded: 33 (+1 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Myrtle Warbler 69, Blackpoll Warbler 32 (+13 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 28, Hermit Thrush 22 (+1 recap), and White-throated Sparrow 20 (+2 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: -
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 70
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 12 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 7.0

Highlights: Marsh Wren, Northern Parula, Western Palm Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Rusty Blackbird, and large number of Pine Siskins flying over in diurnal migration.

Notes: Highest day of diversity this season. Major change from yesterday. Major switch from Swainson’s Thrush to Hermit Thrush as dominant thrush species. Big increase in Myrtle Warbler, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and kinglets today. American Robin and Rusty Blackbird migration starting to pick up as well.

Weather: Winds Northwest. Temperature in the 50s – 60s.

COYE Aging/Sexing Techniques

A major objective of our migration monitoring project is to better understand the timing of migration and how well these migrants are doing while at this stopover site. In addition, as banders we are always trying to improve our skills in aging and sexing species that pass through the station.

While the process of skulling or looking at the pneumatization of the skull makes for a generally definitive aging tool, some circumstances--weather conditions, number of birds waiting to be banded, and lighting conditions to "see" the windows in the skull of Hatch Year (HY) birds--can make this method sub-optimal. Use of plumage characteristics has become a more reliable alternative with many advantages. 

Returning birds of known age and sex can make for a valuable comparison tool, as well as providing useful characteristics of aging and or sexing individual species.  Here are a few examples of known-aged Common Yellowthroats (COYE).

COYE banded August 21, 2013 as a HY of unknown sex.
Recaptured on September 26, 2015 as an AHY female.

COYE Banded September 13, 2011 as HY Unknown
Recaptured on September 27, 2015 as an AHY male
Note the bill color is dark signifying an AHY bird

Common Yellowthroat underside bill colors
HY bill on left and AHY on right
Note the darkness to the AHY bill

Tail shape can assist in aging some species, including COYE.
Left is HY bird with more pointed tips to the retrices.
Right is more truncate or rounded retrices of an AHY bird.

To properly age a bird, a bander utilizes multiple pieces of information to build a picture. There are a series of consistencies that include feather wear and shape (especially the primary coverts and alula), culmen coloration, and rectice shape. Becoming familiar with the molt patterns and timing of your target species can allow for more precise ageing of many species and provide detailed information for life cycle management of this valuable natural resource.

As a note. there are always exceptions to every rule. For warblers, the Prothonotary Warbler bill coloration differences appear to be reversed for the age classes, with AHY bills presenting much lighter and pinkish in color. Banding is a constant learning process, but there are so many rewards--for us and for the birds. The better we understand species demographics the better we can ensure their future.

The Navarre / Blackpoll Warbler Connection

Weather has really been a big story for migration this fall. A high pressure sitting over the Great Lakes the last third of September has stalled movement through the region. Other reports indicate a major movement off the western side of Lake Superior which may be a result of all the northeast wind we have encountered. Little early presence of the typical October species has occurred except for Winter Wren, with more than 10 banded in late September.
Navarre has been the site of many returning BLPWs during the fall migration season over the years, and this year is no exception. As of the first of October, we have encountered two Blackpolls previously banded in 2014. One was a Hatching Year (HY) bird banded on September 20, 2014 and captured again on September 27, 2015 as an After Hatching Year (AHY) male. The other Blackpoll was banded in Navarre on October 3, 2014 and returned to the same stopover site on September 28, this year.  This puts great emphasis on the value of the Lake Erie Marsh region, arguably the most important stopover site for migrating Blackpoll Warblers in fall. 

Fall Blackpoll Warbler 

A big question has always centered on how many birds migrate through any area. While this is extremely difficult to determine for songbirds, the Blackpoll recaptures have offered a small window into this important question. Accepting a few very big assumptions, we have used the simplest of mark-recapture analysis tools (the Lincoln Index) to assess that volume. So far, using the recaptures, the number banded last year, and the number banded this year a point estimate of ~ 340,000 Blackpolls have passed along the beach ridge of Navarre this fall. Applying an approximate figure for the percentage of the stopover habitat Navarre represents to the marsh region, and you come up with nearly 7 million of these winged wonders visiting the Warbler Capital of the World so far this fall.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Pictured: Winter Wren

- Number of Birds Banded: 50
- Number of Recaptures: 16
- Number of Species Banded: 14 (+4 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Golden-crowned Kinglet 9, Common Grackle 9, White-throated Sparrow 7, Swainson’s Thrush 7 (+3 recap), and Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 (+2 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 27
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 52
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 7 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Magnolia Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, and large number of Pine Siskins flying over in diurnal migration.

Notes: Considerable reduction in birds from yesterday.

Weather: Winds South-Southeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, October 5, 2015
Pictured: Bay-breasted Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 90
- Number of Recaptures: 28
- Number of Species Banded: 22 (+4 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Golden-crowned Kinglet 23 (+4 recap), White-throated Sparrow 17, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9, Blackpoll Warbler 8 (+7 recap), and American Robin 6.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 30
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 62
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Eastern Phoebe.

Notes: Wind starting to shift south this morning. Major increase in kinglets and a reduction in stopover birds.

Weather: Winds South-Southeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015
Pictured: Brown Creeper

- Number of Birds Banded: 84
- Number of Recaptures: 59
- Number of Species Banded: 22 (+6 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 19 (+25 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 12 (+10 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12 (+1 recap), White-throated Sparrow 8, and Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 (+2 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 23
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 60
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 11 (26 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.75

Highlights: Northern Parula. Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Swamp Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo, and sightings of Rusty Blackbird, Pine Siskin, and Slate-colored Junco.

Notes: Wind has finally let up a little, resulting in a lot more bird movement. Still heavy stopover with the unfavorable easterly winds. Season's first Northern Parula was a nice sighting.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, October 2, 2015
Pictured: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Female (L) and Male (R)

- Number of Birds Banded: 45
- Number of Recaptures: 22
- Number of Species Banded: 15 (+4 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 16 (+9 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 6 (+2 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 (+1 recap), Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4, and White-throated Sparrow 3.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 20
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 42
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 6 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 4.5

Highlights: Blue-headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, and sightings of Eastern Towhee and Slate-colored Junco.

Notes: Lot of stopover with the Northeast winds.

Weather: Winds Northeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Pictured: Blue-headed Vireo

- Number of Birds Banded: 71
- Number of Recaptures: 35
- Number of Species Banded: 20 (+2 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 26 (+13 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 6 (+5 recap), Golden-crowned Kinglet 6, Tennessee Warbler 4 (+2 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 (+6 recap), White-throated Sparrow 4, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 14
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 41
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.0

Highlights: Blue-headed Vireo, House Wren, Northern Waterthrush, and Brown Creeper.

Notes: Lot of stopover with the Northeast winds.

Weather: Winds Northeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Pictured: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Number of Birds Banded: 127
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 24 (+3 recap only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 53 (+7 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 17 (+5 recap), Tennessee Warbler 11, Gray-cheeked Thrush 7 (+5 recap), and Myrtle Warbler 5.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 17
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 45
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 11 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Least Flycatcher, and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Notes: Weather change over night has made a lot of bird community changes. Kinglets increased along with Hermit Thrush and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Weather: Winds Northeast. Temperature in the 60s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Pictured: Connecticut Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 197
- Number of Recaptures: 18
- Number of Species Banded: 22
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 77 (+5 recap), Myrtle Warbler 23, Swainson’s Thrush 22 (+4 recap), Tennessee Warbler 14, and Magnolia Warbler 13.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 20
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 52
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 15 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.5

Highlights: Connecticut Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Western Palm Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Hermit Thrush

Notes: Increase in Blackpolls moving ahead of a front coming in today. Increase in Myrtle, Magnolia, Tennessee, and Cape May warblers as well.

Weather: Winds West-northwest. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, September 28, 2015
Pictured: Blackpoll Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 107
- Number of Recaptures: 20
- Number of Species Banded: 17 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 69 (+6 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 7 (+2 recap), Common Yellowthroat 6 (+4 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 (+1 recap), Downy Woodpecker 3, Gray Catbird 3 (+4 recap), and Tennessee Warbler 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 27
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 46
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.67

Highlights: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Pine Siskin (fly-over).

Notes: Increase in Blackpolls moving ahead of a front due tomorrow. Another banded Blackpoll Warbler was captured that was originally banded as an After Hatching-Year female on 4 October 2014 at Navarre.

Weather: Winds South. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2015
Pictured: Connecticut Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 66
- Number of Recaptures: 21
- Number of Species Banded: 16 (+3 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 26 (+4 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 14 (+2 recap), Common Grackle 9, Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+8 recap), Black-throated Blue Warbler 2, and Magnolia Warbler 2 (+2 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 19
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 45
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 9 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.75

Highlights: Connecticut Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Myrtle Warbler, and White-throated Sparrow

Notes: A banded Blackpoll Warbler was captured that was originally banded as a Hatching-Year male on 20 September 2014 at Navarre.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2015
Pictured: Yellow-shafted Flicker

- Number of Birds Banded: 39
- Number of Recaptures: 21
- Number of Species Banded: 14 (+4 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 10 (+3 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 6 (+2 recap), Gray Catbird 4 (+6 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 3 (+4 recap), and Common Yellowthroat 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 23
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 42
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 7 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Notes: Continued east wind is keeping things very slow for this time of September.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Friday, September 25, 2015
Pictured: Red-eyed Vireo

- Number of Birds Banded: 35
- Number of Recaptures: 14
- Number of Species Banded: 11 (+2 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Gray-cheeked Thrush 9 (+4 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 8 (+2 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 7, Red-eyed Vireo 3, and Gray Catbird 2 (+4 recap).

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 26
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 44
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 5 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Lincoln’s Sparrow

Notes: Continued east wind is keeping things very slow for this time of September.

Weather: Winds Southeast. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2015
Pictured: Black-throated Blue Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 31
- Number of Recaptures: 16
- Number of Species Banded: 13 (+3 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Blackpoll Warbler 7 (+1 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 6 (+3 recap), Common Yellowthroat 3 (+1 recap), Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, and Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+3 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 20
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 42
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 10 (25 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Winter Wren, and Northern Parula (seen).

Notes: Continuing east winds are keeping things very slow for this time of September. The season’s first Northern Parula was seen on site.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Pictured: Wood Duck and Eastern Screech-Owl

- Number of Birds Banded: 30
- Number of Recaptures: 7
- Number of Species Banded: 13 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Common Yellowthroat 5 (+1 recap), Swainson’s Thrush 4 (+1 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 4, Winter Wren 4, and Gray-cheeked Thrush 3 (+1 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 18
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 41
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 5 (24 plus Brewster’s for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Wood Duck, Eastern Screech-Owl, Canada Warbler, and Winter Wren

Notes: Volume wise, very slow. Species wise...wow! The station’s first captured Wood Duck, plus an Eastern Screech-Owl. And, how is this for a combination on the same day: Canada Warbler, fledgling Northern Cardinal, and Winter Wren.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Diversity of Warblers at Its Fall Peak

Migration continues to progress slowly along the shores of Lake Erie. Considerable SW winds have resulted in a slow but continuous change over in birds. Twenty warbler species were captured or seen over the first half of September including: Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged, Brewster's, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Canada, and Wilson's.

The presence of Blackpoll Warbler, Gray Catbird, Swainson's Thrush, and Gray-cheeked Thrush has been constant. Their numbers will continue into early October.

Brewster's Warbler (BRWA)
A pleasant surprise for the season

Important knowledge gained through banding includes demographics of populations, timing of migration, productive success, and age ratios of various species. 

One such species beginning to arrive that can be easily aged and sexed (often through binoculars) is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They often reveal their presence with their distinctive and loud "chink" call. In fall migration the males, both Hatching Year (HY) and After Hatching Year (AHY) are donning their basic plumage where the body feathers match closely to those of the female grosbeak.

HY Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR)
Note the begining of a pre-supplemental molt
in the greater and median coverts of this individual.

Note the pink or "rose" under the wings and a tiny spot of rose on the breast.

Dorsal View of the HY Male RBGR
The basic plumage looks similar to female. The few black feathers seen are a result of a pre-supplemental molt. It will molt into its alternate plumage on the wintering grounds.

Now, about those "Baypolls"...
As a group, the Bay-breasted and Blackpoll warblers have to be two of the most confusing fall warblers. There are distinctive leg coloration differences with the BLPW having lighter colored legs and yellow pads to its feet and the BBWA having darker legs with gray pads to its feet. These are helpful even in the field as the lighter leg color of the BLPW will reflect light differently than the dark gray leg of the BBWA. Additional field marks that help both in the field and the hand are the many streaks found on the flanks of BLPWs and the somewhat clear flanks of the BBWA. Both species show considerable streaking in their backs that separates them from the similar Pine Warbler that has a clear back.

Even in the hand, banders must work hard to determine the age and sex of BLPWs. Knowing the sex and age demographics of a population gives information supporting the condition of the population. For example, having no juveniles or HY during fall migration is a signal that there may have been poor production on the breeding grounds. Understanding the age and sex structure of the banded sample can give clues to where in migration a location is at in migrational timing for the given season, age ratios for life cycle modeling, and even some indication of how important a site may be to the species as adults tend to show more site fidelity.

Here are examples of After Hatch Year (AHY) male BLPW and BBWA. 

Blackpoll Warbler (BLPW) AHY male
Note: the light colored legs and streaking on the flank (just below the wing).

Dorsal view of the AHY male BLPW
Note: the many black streaks on the back. This often adds to the picture in determining the sex of a BLPW in the hand.

AHY Male Blackpoll Warbler
The dark bill is another useful tool in determining the age of this AHY bird.

AHY Male Bay-breasted Warbler 
Note the rounded alula edged in white and the "bay' wash on the flanks.

Dorsal view of the AHY male Bay-breasted Warbler
Note the "bay" feather on its head.

Diversity of species will continue to increase through the end of the month. Volume is just beginning to pick up for this fall, and diversity will continue to increase for a couple of weeks. Many species have not arrived at our latitude as of yet including: Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, kinglets, Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, and juncos. ---There's still a lot of migration to come. 

BSBO will host a free Public Banding Demonstration this Saturday, September 26th at 10:00 AM at the Observatory.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 
Pictured: Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Number of Birds Banded: 38
- Number of Recaptures: 19
- Number of Species Banded: 16
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 7 (+5 recap), Gray Catbird 7 (+5 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 6 (+5 recap), Common Yellowthroat 4, White-throated Sparrow 2 (+1 recap), and American Redstart 2.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 24
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 49
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 6 (24 + Brewster's for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.5

Highlights: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Winter Wren.

Notes: High pressure and lake winds have brought migration to a near halt. Lots of stopover occurring. First Sharp-shinned Hawk of the season at the station. A few more White-throated Sparrows showing up. A three wren day with House, Winter, and Carolina.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Monday, September 21, 2015
Pictured: Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Number of Birds Banded: 54
- Number of Recaptures: 20
- Number of Species Banded: 17 (+4 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 17 (+7 recap), Gray-cheeked Thrush 9 (+1 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 6, Gray Catbird 5 (+5 recap), and Common Yellowthroat 3.


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 26
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 46
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 8 (23 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 6.25

Highlights: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Traill’s Flycatcher.

Notes: Swainson’s Thrush and Blackpoll Warblers remain most abundant species. The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Myrtle Warbler made appearances today, despite unfavorable winds for migration.

Weather: Winds East. Temperature in the 70s.

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2015
Pictured: White-throated Sparrow

- Number of Birds Banded: 98
- Number of Recaptures: 25
- Number of Species Banded: 24 (+1 recapture only)
- Top Five Species Banded: Swainson’s Thrush 24 (+6 recap), Blackpoll Warbler 18 (+2 recap), American Redstart 10, Gray Catbird 6 (+11 recap), and Gray-cheeked Thrush 5 (+1 recap).


- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 21
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 51
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 11 (23 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 5.67

Highlights: White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Philadelphia Vireo.

Notes: Swainson’s Thrush and Blackpoll Warblers remain most abundant species. Cold front came in Saturday and brought with it the season’s first White-throated Sparrows.

Weather: Winds North. Temperature in the 70s.

Fall Passerine Migration Commences in the Lake Erie Marsh Region

The Navarre Migration Banding Station began the daily 2015 fall season on August 17th. From then until Labor Day weekend, 22 species of Warbler were captured, which is quite good for this early in the migration. August and Early September represent the return south of migrant Yellow (YEWA) and Prothonotary Warblers (PROW), Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), and Flycatchers as well as the staging locally raised birds of these species.

The August warblers included Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Golden-wing (GWWA), Black-and-White (BAWW), Prothonotary, Tennessee (TEWA), Nashville (NAWA), Connecticut (CONW), Mourning (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), American Redstart (AMRE), Cape May (CMWA), Magnolia (MAWA), Bay-breasted (BBWA), Blackburnian (BLBW), Yellow, Chestnut-sided (CSWA), Blackpoll (BLPW), Black-throated Blue (BTBW), Western Palm (WPWA), Canada (CAWA), and Wilson's (WIWA) warblers.

Connecticut Warbler

As we begin September, Blackpoll Warblers and Swainson's Thrushes are picking up in numbers. Warbler diversity will be increasing as we traverse September.

An advantage to birds in the hand is the ability to gather demographics on species captured. This permits the determination the age of all birds and the sex of many. However, birds still sporting some of the juvenile plumage, such as these Song Sparrows (SOSP), could have their age determined in the field as well. The juvenile and basic plumage of the chest and face of these two separate Hatching Year (HY) bird and After Hatching Year bird (AHY). The loose feathers of the HY bird are noticeable with no real central chest spot in juvenile plumage. 

AHY Song Sparrow (left) and HY Song Sparrow (right)

AHY Song Sparrow (left) note spotted breast.
HY Song Sparrow (right) with loose, yellowish/tan juvenile feathers

Bill coloration is another way to determine age for many species at this time of year. Here are two female Baltimore Orioles (BAOR). Note the lower mandible is all slate gray in the AHY bird and pink or lighter in coloration for the HY bird. This would not be quite as noticeable in the field.

HY Baltimore Oriole
Note the pinkish lower mandible

AHY Baltimore Oriole
Note the slate-colored lower mandible.

In Empidonax flycatchers, HY birds have olive to buffy edged wingbars. But this Eastern Wood Pewee (EAWP) (which is not an Empidonax) also carries the same colored wing bars, a clear indication of a HY bird. 

Eastern Wood Pewee
Note the lack of a distinct eye ring and the bi-colored beak unlike Empidonax flycatchers
which have obvious eye rings. (Eastern Phoebe has an all dark beak.)

Hatching-year Eastern Wood Pewee
Note buffy olive-edged wing bars. Sitting with an open mouth, a typical behavior of flycatchers in the hand, allows the opportunity to observe the bright mouth lining.

Back of Eastern Wood Pewee
Note the buffy-edged upper tail coverts as well as buffy wing bars which is definitive of a HY bird.

Confusing as some of the fall warblers may be, getting to know slight differences is important to becoming a better observer. These two birds are often mistaken for one another. However, they are of different sizes and very different throat coloration.

Here are two quiz birds that often trip birders up in the field. They look similar (especially in the field), but note the size difference, and the difference in the coloration of the throat.

Mourning Warbler (left) and Common Yellowthroat (right)
Again, note the size difference. 

Hatching-year Common Yellowthroat
 Note the strong yellow throat. Up close it may look like a lighter colored eye ring but from a distance that will disappear or be less apparent.

Mourning Warbler
Larger than the COYE, the split eye ring may look similar on some fall COYEs.
Note the throat and chest of this MOWA are gray. The throat on a COYE is yellow.

Fall Warblers can be a bit daunting, but with time and repetition observing the field marks you can figure them out (at  least most of them).
Good luck!
Free Public Songbird Banding Demonstration at the Observatory on Saturday September 26th at 10:00 AM.