My name is Emily Barnewall and I am the new intern. As most people already know my background is in entomology and invasive plants. I am looking forward to learning about birds and teaching birders about insects this coming summer! I have felt very welcomed this past week and I look forward to working with the keen RPBO volunteers this summer.
The 2011 Fall Migration season started on Saturday, July 23. We were delayed by 2 days due to base closers. Five people set up the nets while Brian Pomfret (the returning bander-in-charger) conducted the daily census. Sunday was our first banding day. Our first bird of the season was a Bewick’s wren. We banded 34 birds from 15 different species: willow flycatcher, brown creeper, bewick’s wren, pacific wren, swainson’s thrush, American robin, orange-crowned warbler, Macgillivray's warbler, common yellowthroat, Wilson’s warbler, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow, red-winged blackbird, American goldfinch. Not a bad start to the season. Many thanks to Ann S. for providing us with delicious muffins!
Tuesday, July 26 we added chestnut-backed chickadee and purple finch to the banded birds list and on July 27 we had a western tanager, Rufus hummingbird, and a downy woodpecker.
Thursday, July 28 was a half day. Our first Brown headed cow bird was banded today.
Friday, July 29 we banded our first house wren and the most exciting news of the week is that the port-a-potty finally arrived! The toilet had an unplanned stay at the dock for a few days after it was first delivered.
Saturday, July 30 highlights included coffee provided my Megan from Pedder Bay Marina. The café opens at 4:30 am so the early morning birds have another coffee option! Coffee and muffins were also provided by Jeremy. We had some buzzing birders this morning.
Natural history highlights included a pod of whales, skippers, Admiral butterflies, bumble bees, and dragonflies.
Quiz birds: Can you guess what these two birds pictured above are?
Species weekly total (Sunday, July 24 – Saturday, July 30):
Rufus hummingbird (2), downy woodpecker (1), willow flycatcher (2), pacific-slope flycatcher (14), chestnut-backed chickadee (10), brown creeper (7), bewick’s wren (11), house wren (1), pacific wren (6), swainson’s thrush (12), American robin (6), orange-crowned warbler (23), Macgillivray's warbler (2), common yellowthroat (3), Wilson’s warbler (26), western tanager (1), chipping sparrow (3), song sparrow (14), Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow (14), red-winged blackbird (4), brown-headed cowbird (3), purple finch (2), American goldfinch (3).
Banding total:
Total birds banded: 170, recaptures: 27, species banded: 23.
