CVWO at First Landing State Park

.........And the End to a Most Disappointing April.

2011-05-01T20:36:00.002-04:00

While April has brought a number of warblers to our nets, including the Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Parula pictured above, the number of individuals netted in April has been profoundly disappointing. Only the 29th of April brought more than twenty new birds. A majority of days has brought fewer than seven birds to the station nets. Each neotropical migrant which has visited the station over the past six seasons in annual numbers greater than ten is well below that threshold. Kinglet, gnatcatcher and Hermit Thrush numbers, too, are at all-time lows and unlikely to improve in May. Today brought us only four new birds; not a good start to the final month of the season.

Another New Species........

2011-05-01T20:23:00.003-04:00

April 29th, the day following deadly tornadoes across the Deep South and strong storms in eastern North Carolina and Virginia Beach, brought a Kentucky Warbler to the station for the first time. The bird was extracted by eleven-year old Mary Michael Lipford with great skill and without assistance. The warbler was a handsome after-second-year male.

A Third New Species for the Station in 2011

2011-04-12T21:07:00.003-04:00

On April 7th an American Kestrel magically appeared in net "C5" in the late morning. I had not previously seen a Kestrel in First Landing State Park and other birders have since confirmed that the Kestrel, while common to the Eastern Shore of Virginia landscape, is rare within the Park. This individual is a second-year male and is the 114th species banded at the station.

First Prothonotary Warblers Netted

2011-04-12T20:42:00.002-04:00

Two, stunning, male Prothonotary Warblers were banded in the past week. The first bird was marked on April 7th and the second was netted today, the 12th. Whole blood was taken from each bird to compare with that of the Prothonotarys captured and bled last January on their wintering grounds in Panama City, Panama in conjunction with a VCU project. The plumage of each male was brilliant.

Bridge Almost Finished!

2011-04-12T20:38:00.003-04:00

CVWO 2011 field assistant, Kimberley Pasterik, is very pleased that the bridge across the tidal creek to White Hill Lake is about finished. Access to our group of "C" nets is much improved. More about Kim's background soon.

Recent Arrivals

2011-04-12T20:07:00.002-04:00

Early April has brought a steady trickle of new-for-the-year migrants. The female Black and White Warbler arrived today. One or two Prairie Warblers have been marked each time the temperature perks up. The Blue-headed Vireo made its annual visit a bit later than usual. And the House Wren completed our first ever "wren sweep" in a season--Carolina, Marsh, Sedge and House!

Two, New, Station Species in March? Yes.

2011-03-30T17:41:00.005-04:00

On consecutive banding days in late March, two new species were added to the list of birds marked at the First Landing Station. The First Landing species total now stands at 113.

A female Rusty Blackbird appeared late in the morning of the first CVWO bander training weekend in one of the wetland edge nets often frequented by Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. Rusty Blackbirds are in a steep decline in North America. Read about the Rusty here: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/research/rusty_blackbird/default.cfm

After a rain day, one of my favorite birds (and one rarely seen well by observers outside of the breeding season)appeared in one of our "roving" salt marsh nets. When I was much younger, the little bird (8 grams, this one) was called the Short-billed Marsh Wren. Now it is simply known as the Sedge Wren. The slightly larger wren pictured at the bottom above, now known as the Marsh Wren, was formerly the Long-billed Marsh Wren. What an appropriate description! But having the Sedge in the hand allowed me to "absolutely" separate Sedge from Marsh Wren: the length of the exposed culmen of the Sedge (length of upper mandible from the tip to the first feathers at the base of the bill) is less than the length of the middle toe, not including the claw!! Now who figured that out? One of the benefits of the shotgun era of ornithology? The exposed culmen of the Marsh is, of course, greater than the length of the toe! The Sedge Wren is distinguished from the Winter Wren by its lighter, overall appearance.

Which will be the next, new First Landing species? Oh, yes, the prior mystery birds? Song Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow.

A Nice Start to the 2011 Season.

2011-03-30T16:42:00.008-04:00

Events at a migratory bird banding station are always interesting. Take March 2010: talk about slow, only 140 birds of 31 species were marked in 19 days. Forty-four Myrtle Warblers led the way followed by twenty-one Swamp Sparrows, three Song Sparrows.

Now consider March 2011 (given the weather forecast for tomorrow, banding for the month is over): talk about a nice pace, in 20 days 309 birds of 32 species were banded (including two new species for the season, more soon). One hundred seventy-two Myrtle Warblers have been marked (already breaking the season record of 137 established in 2006) and twenty-eight Song Sparrows have been marked (exceeding the season record of 23 in 2007 and following a season low of 3 in 2010). Also 41 Swamp Sparrows have been marked to date, a record pace.

What does this all mean? Our working hypothesis is this: last summer was a successful breeding year for Myrtles, Swamps and Songs--given that a coastal station like First Landing captures mostly birds which were hatched last summer--called second-year birds by banders because all birds celebrate a birthday on January regardless of their hatching date! And those birds which hatched last summer, survived the 2010-11 winter thanks to the habitat provided by First Landing State Park and other undeveloped habitats in coastal Virginia.

Now, let us see what April brings. Pictures above, top to bottom, Song, Swamp and Myrtle.

More Bridge Progress!!

2011-03-30T16:37:00.004-04:00

The First Landing State Park crew, led by Sean, has been making great progress on the new bridge this week. Another day or two, weather permitting, and the deck should be finished.

The Bridge at Long Creek and White Hill.

2011-03-20T20:47:00.002-04:00

The bridge across the outlet of White Hill Lake at the intersection of Long Creek and White Hill trails in the Park was washed out by the November 2009 northeast gale. The banding station is nearby. Repair of the bridge is now underway. Over the past three weeks large laminated trusses have been moved into place by Park staff and mounted on two I-beams. With a little luck, the project will be completed by April 10, 2011. Bridge or not, foot traffic has crossed the outlet for the past 16 months!

Two New Mystery Birds.

2011-03-20T20:15:00.004-04:00

The first mystery birds (March 14) are Brown Creeper and Eastern Phoebe. The brown forked tail with extended shafts and the long claws mark the creeper as a bird which climbs trees to forage. The bill profile of the phoebe mark it as a flycatcher.

The new birds can each be identified correctly by their crowns and bill. The undertail coverts of each are quite beautiful, but not helpful. Try the Emberizidae family.

Can You ID These Two Birds?

2011-03-14T19:55:00.003-04:00

Using the characteristics of the toes and the color (brown) and shape of tail (out of focus, sorry) the identification of this cryptic winter Park resident is not that difficult.
The bill, bristles and crown of this migrant (a very few overwinter in coastal Virginia) reveal the identity of this signal of spring. The first of the season at the station was banded today.
Answer in a day or two.

Old Friends and Aquaintances and Opening Day.

2011-03-14T18:30:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, February 26, 2011, old and new friends gathered for the eighth time to set up the CVWO spring banding station at First Landing State Park. Under the direction of Bob Reilly, the nets were set in place at the station. Using the many talents of Robert Klages, the fabric structure covering the banding table was assembled with the customary difficulties. This is my fifth spring.

Terry Jenkins and I fine-tuned the aerial nets and rearranged the boards at the treacherous mud nets over the next two days. And after waiting for some temperate weather, I opened the nets for the first time on March 4th at 1000. Why so late in the morning?

In past years the first banding day has netted good numbers of birds. Temperatures around freezing and many birds in the nets at once are not a good match. So I waited for a day when the sun was up and the temperatures exceeded 40F on a bright day with little wind. Such was March 4th.

On the 1400 net run a fond acquaintance appeared in net A3; the Fox Sparrow pictured. Banded at First Landing on March 10, 2010, the bird was a picture of health and prepared for its long migration north to Canada after another comfortable winter at First Landing. Another winter resident, a male Myrtle Warbler from March 17, 2008 also found the nets. Other old mates captured during the first few days were local, year-around residents, two Carolina Chickadees (2009 and 2010) and a Carolina Wren (2010).

Fidelity of many bird species to the same nesting areas is well established. The fidelity of many bird species to the same wintering areas is less well known. Over the seven seasons of the First Landing station, winter residents such as Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, Myrtle Warblers, Swamp Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets have demonstrated their affection for the Park habitat by returning annually.

Finally, Eastern Bluebirds have done well in the Park in recent years. The male pictured earned a band on opening day. And not to be left out, a female Common Yellowthroat appeared from out of the marsh-the earliest of her species yet banded at the station. There will be many more Yellowthroats to come.

2010 CVWO Bander Training at FLSP

2010-04-27T17:38:00.002-04:00

Over two weekends, one in late March and the second in early April, CVWO hosted a bander training session for the second consecutive year. This session was attended by nine individuals, plus the CVWO bander intern. The weather cooperated and bird numbers were sufficient to allow each participant to handle a number of birds using the skills they learned. First Landing State Park provided living quarters and a central meeting/lecture room.

The goal of the session is to demonstrate and teach the basic skills necessary to participate in all aspects of a bird banding project. Various tasks were undertaken by each attendee, including net set-up, take-down and furling. This year the participants included a college student, two college professors, two state environmental agency employees (one from VA; other from NC), an NCAudubon employee, a VSO board member, a CVWO board member and a "professional" volunteer. It was a wonderful group with which to work and interact.

Is the Migration Finally Here?

2010-04-27T17:13:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we banded 64 birds: today we marked 23 more. Finally, the dawn chorus included chips and songs of species other than our resident Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. (Even a Chuck-will's-widow called in the distance.) Wood Thrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Black and White Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler all magically appeared in our nets--along with a number of Gray Catbirds and White-throated Sparrows. The endless disappointing, nearly birdless, days of late March and early April were forgotten for a moment.

Meet CVWO's FLSP 2010 Bander Intern

2010-04-27T15:45:00.003-04:00

Mindy Mathenia of Downer's Grove, IL (west of Chicago) was just the type of individual CVWO had in mind when the banding intership at FLSP began in 2009. A recent recipient of a M.S in Biology from Northern Illinois University, Mindy had the desire yet little opportunity to gain field experience because of logistics and academic course load. Her thesis is entitled “Effects of Rainfall and Spatial Variation on Small Mammal Populations in North-Central Chile”.

Since her arrival at First Landing in mid-March, Mindy has developed the keen eye necessary to age and sex passerines and the dexterity and care necessary to extract and handle small birds. She is also a good field companion whether there are few birds or many birds at the Station.

My goodness, that looks like a new species for the Station in Mindy's left hand on the "bridge" crossing the tidal creek to White Hill Lake!! Get out your field guide (or shotgun). I think it is a game bird. Could it be a Virginia Rail?

The Migration Gathers Momentum

2010-04-02T17:21:00.005-04:00

The three species above are each a member of the Parulidae (or wood-warbler) family. And each species tends to migrate earlier than other members of this large New World family. The Orange-crowned Warbler is a hardy warbler which spends the winter across the southern tier of the United States and into Central America. It nests in the Canadian boreal forest and in the high country of the American West. And it is infrequently captured at First Landing. This individual was captured on March 24th and is only the second in six seasons. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/id

The Louisiana Waterthrush is also an early migrant, but flew a great distance to visit First Landing. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Louisiana_Waterthrush/lifehistory Salt marshes and tidal creeks are not Louisiana Waterthrush breeding habitat, but the two birds pictured above seem to enjoy the Park. They were each banded on March 31; and each recaptured on April 2d. They had gained a little weight for the next leg of their migration. Note that the two waterthrushes are slightly different in the throat. Still white; and with a stout, long bill and white undertail coverts Louisiania's each.

The Northern Parula arrived today, April 2d. Parulas, of course, breed in the Spanish Moss in the Park each spring/summer---with some banded birds returning on multiple springs to nest within the area in which we band. This first arrival was an unbanded, after-second-year male. Perhaps this bird spent the winter in The Bahamas. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_parula/id

These three arrivals signal that the migration is underway and gathering momentum. It will not be long before Gnatcatchers, Catbirds, Flycatchers and the later-arriving warblers visit First Landing once again. Come see them some morning.

Here Comes Trouble...

2010-03-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

All banders and mist net extractors know that Common Yellowthroats can do remarkable things in a mist net. Simply stated, they can become very tangled and then, more tangled, in a very brief period of time. The Yellowthroat is also one of the two most commonly captured migrants at First Landing each spring; the COYE competes with the Gray Catbird for "top bird". Two hundred or so of each species are marked. Thus, while we were pleased to see this handsome male on March 25th (and he behaved well in the A2 net), trouble is not far away!

A Turtle and A Salamander

2010-03-30T09:14:00.005-04:00

Whether it is still,sunny and warm or blustery, sunny and cold or just miserable, March is the slowest month for spring songbirds at First Landing station. Between and during net runs, however, interesting and unusual wildlife can appear--consider March 23 and 24.

The Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum) pictured above was found inside its carapace (shell) along a dry, sandy stretch of Long Creek Trail as joggers ran past almost stepping on it. This turtle can be identified by its plastron (underside)with its two hinges and the triangular shape of its pectoral scute (plate). see also: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7152.html I picked up the turtle and gave it a lift to a nearby fresh water wetland. The turtle soon emerged from its carapace and crawled off into the mud and water.

While walking in the saltmarsh above the bridge which crosses the tidal creek to White Hill Lake, I found the salamander. Before I picked it up, I thought it was an eel. Upon picking it up, I had no idea what it was, although eel was no longer on the list of possibilities. Mindy Mathenia, CVWO 2010 spring intern, and Sheila Scoville, CVWO board member, each identified the creature as a salamander. Indeed, it is!!

The Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) was cold and inactive. Out in the open in the marsh it looked like a meal for the Great Egret which forages there daily. The pictures show the two toes on the small, vestigial limbs which characterize the species. Coastal Virginia is at the northern edge of this Amphiuma's range. see: http://people.wcsu.edu/pinout/herpetology/ameans/index.html and http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_alpha_&where-genus=Amphiuma&where-species=means The salamander was released into similar salt marsh habitat nearby the station.

Bahamas Plover in Cape Cod!

2010-03-29T15:36:00.008-04:00

The third Bahamas plover re-sighted in the US this spring was seen on Bank Street Beach, Harwich, MA by Susie Gallagher, Town of Dennis plover monitor with MassAudubon for three seasons, and her colleague Ed Nash. [coordinates: N 41.663379° W 070.072140°] The bird was spotted on Saturday, March 27, at 1645. The bird was marked with a black flag on the upper left leg, white band lower left leg; upper right leg unbanded; lower right leg dark blue over orange bands.

This piper was captured, banded and released on South Beach, New Providence, The Bahamas on January 17, 2010. [coordinates: N 25.00693; W 077.33325] The bird was in the first group of birds caught in the Environment Canada Piping Plover Project. It is ~1225 miles from the banding site to the re-sight location.

The top picture above was taken on the Pea Island NWR beachfront just south of Oregon Inlet on December 17, 2005. I spent that winter following Piping Plovers in a Virginia Tech project undertaken by the lab of Dr. Jim Fraser. This is among my favorite images. And it is, in large part, responsible for our ability to capture as many plovers as we did in The Bahamas last winter. The bird with the piper is, of course, a Black-bellied Plover. Pipers always seem to feel safe from outside threats when in the company of the wary "mama" plover. Thus, I had David Rhodes, a noted shorebird carver and conservationist from New Jersey, carve a black-belly for our use this winter. The decoy worked like magic; not only were pipers attracted to the decoy, live black bellies fell in love with her.

UPDATE: Thanks to Ellen Jedrey of MassAudubon for supplying the bottom two photos above, taken by Susie and Ed of the Harwich/Bahamas plover.

Second Bahamas Plover in South Carolina

2010-03-18T20:11:00.002-04:00

Tuesday afternoon, March 16th, on the beach at Kiawah Island, South Carolina the second Piping Plover color-banded in The Bahamas this winter was seen by Aaron Given, a biologist with the Town of Kiawah. This bird was banded on Barbary Beach, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas on the late afternoon of January 27, 2010. Kiawah is ~425 air miles from Barbary Beach.

No pictures of the plover on Kiawah are available, but the identification is solid. Another likely ASY, male plover. The picture above is of Barbary Beach, located on the south shore of Grand Bahama. Seven plovers were marked on Barbary on the 27th. The birds foraged on the exposed shelf during low water and roosted on the narrow beach either side of high water.

First Phoebe = Spring!

2010-03-15T13:52:00.005-04:00

Spring arrived officially at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach on the 1145 net run of Thursday, March 11th in net C5. The season's first member of the flycatcher family, Tyrannidae , a second-year Eastern Phoebe, was in the net. As I extracted the bird it snapped its bill together to remind me that it eats flies and to assure me that winter weather is past.

The Picidae Quartet

2010-03-15T13:04:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday and Friday, March 10th and 11th, as the temperatures warmed to the upper 50s and into the 60s, woodpeckers were suddenly active about the station. And for the first time this season, woodpeckers found the nets.

The male Pileated pictured was an old friend--of Jethro Runco, the first station bander! This bird, which I aged as an after-third-year bird by virtue of three generations of primary coverts, was banded by Jethro in the spring of 2006 as a third-year bird, meaning that this individual hatched in the Park during the 2004 breeding season. He was fit and trim and weighed 264 grams or 9.25 ounces. (You thought he would weigh more, did you not?) The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a handsome second-year male by virtue of the retained, brown, juvenile, body feathers on his breast (among other things). The male Hairy is a fine third-year bird because of retained, worn, inner primary coverts on his wings.

As for the Red-bellied female, she would not hold still for a picture until I agreed to let her grab my thumb (we reached an agreement that she would not peck a hole in it). The resulting image does not reveal how beautiful an after-third-year bird she is.

First Bahamas Piping Plover Re-sighted!!

2010-03-12T19:00:00.005-05:00

Today at Little Talbot Island, Duval County, FL, Pat and Doris Leary re-sighted and photographed the first marked Bahamas Piping Plover. The Learys are devoted shorebirders and have re-sighted untold numbers of marked waterbirds in Florida for many years.

The plover was captured and marked on February 17 on a sand flat near South Blanket Sound, Andros Island and was the last of the 57 birds banded in The Bahamas in the 2010 Environment Canada/Bahamas National Trust project. It is ~440 air miles from the Andros capture location to Little Talbot Island.

At Andros the bird was aged as after-second-year and was sexed as likely male. Today's picture shows that the definitive pre-alternate molt has proceeded by the distinct black forehead and breast band, together with the orange base to the bill. The band combination is upper left leg black flag, lower leg black over orange; upper right leg no band, lower left white.

Please be alert for banded Piping Plovers as they migrate to their breeding grounds this spring. They are coming; more will arrive soon.

Rusty Blackbird Road Trip

2010-03-09T18:26:00.004-05:00

The Rusty Blackbird is declining for reasons which are poorly understood. Given the robust populations of many blackbird species in North America this is surprising to many birders. Sadly it is real. The Rusty Blackbird Working Group was formed in 2005 to discover and understand the cause(s) of the decline. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rusty_Blackbird/default.cfm

At present there are research projects in progress throughout the range of the Rusty Blackbird.

One of the projects is taking place on study sites in the Carolinas by a University of Georgia/Smithsonian graduate student. Her efforts are directed to understanding aspects of the wintering ecology of the Rusty. During the 2008-09 winter she was able to trap good numbers of Rusties using mist nets. This winter capture rates were discouraging to the point that use of a new method was in order.

Whoosh nets in the back of my truck and the prospect of poor banding conditions in Virginia Beach for a few days, I drove to a study site near Greenville, South Carolina and back between March 3-5. The whoosh net is a modern, bungee-powered net which throws a folded net over birds within the capture area when triggered. The net gains elevation by the use of launch poles. The net is very fast, safe when used properly and can be made in many sizes. The nets used in Greenville were ~38 feet by ~15 feet in coverage. The whoosh pictured above is 19 feet by 14 feet. The net is set and ready to fire.

I have been building and using whoosh nets (usually in concert with my drop nets) for six years. Over that time I have whooshed many targeted species of shorebirds (including many of The Bahamas plovers, see Feb 2010 blogs), Virginia Rails, lure birds for the CVWO Kiptopeke raptor station (Starling and Rock Dove), and some passerines, including 100s of Red-winged Blackbirds. Thus, notwithstanding the almost "mythological" wariness of the Rusty, I had confidence that they could be whooshed if there was a location at which the birds regularly fed AND at which a whoosh could be set.[note: whoosh and drop nets are active nets which only capture birds which the researcher intends to capture, i.e. target species; the mist net is a passive net which catches most birds which encounter the net, target or not.]

By 0630 on the morning of March 5th in a gravel driveway in a surburban neighborhood outside Greenville, we had the whoosh in place. The birds arrived just before 0700, as they had the previous morning when we were still setting the whoosh. Five minutes and one pull of the trigger line later we had eight Rusties to process and release.

The Mixture of Early March Birds

2010-03-09T17:58:00.004-05:00

Carolina Wren, Brown Creeper (and remarkable rectices), Fox Sparrow and Blue-headed Vireo represent that which is early March at First Landing: a reliable resident, two predictable winter residents about to begin their migration and a surprise. Such species cause me to arise well before dawn, walk in the cold to the station and open and tend to the nets. That some of these same individuals, year to year, survive and reproduce in the Park or winter, migrate, breed, return and survive in the Park demonstrate the need for undeveloped, open space throughout modern America.

After only five banding days, sixteen birds banded in previous seasons have been recaptured. Among these individuals are Carolina Wren, Myrtle Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Cardinal and Eastern Bluebird. Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and Pine Warbler will surely join this group soon.

Bluebirds, Galore!

2010-03-09T17:08:00.003-05:00

During my Bahama "absence", Kurt Pederson, good friend and excellent birder, reported large flocks of Eastern Bluebirds on Long Creek Trail this winter. Kurt was correct. Six bluebirds, including a recapture from 2009, found the warming "C" nets as late-morning became noon on March 2d.

Bluebirds are loyal to each other when a member of the flock is in distress. At first, two birds were found in net C3; both were calling. As I took the first out, two more birds became entangled. While I took the now four bluebirds out, three others vocalized and flew back and forth above the net scolding me. The group quickly re-united above the station as I banded and released the four. An hour later two more bluebirds found net C5 and the process repeated itself except that no additional birds were caught. ASY female (top) and male are pictured. The male is the 2009 recapture.

Opening Day Re-run

2010-03-09T15:47:00.005-05:00

The very first day of my first spring as bander at FLSP banding station was March 14, 2007. The very first bird banded on the first net run of that first day was a male, after-second-year, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, band 2410-54719.

On the first day of March 2010, the opening day of the sixth CVWO spring season at First Landing, kinglet 2410-54719 was recaptured for the first time since 2007. And the lad looked very fit for a 6.5 gram (1/3 ounce) bird of at least 5 years of age. Sorry, no pictures; it was cold and windy and kinglets are best sent on their way in such conditions.

Some other early observations of note: a. winter-resident Myrtle Warbler numbers are down at the station and elsewhere in the Park; b. while there are Osprey present in the Park and the Osprey nest near the station survived the November northeaster and subsequent storms, the nest and tree is being used much of the time by two Black Vultures; c. Woodcock have been heard and seen towering in the wetland along lower Fox Run; d. dead and living trees all over the Park have fallen or been pruned by the wind and snow of fall 2009 and winter 2010; e. Brown-headed Nuthatches are excavating a total of three cavities along Long Creek and within the station ; f. a partially-leucistic Myrtle Warbler was netted and banded on opening day. Pictures above.

Setup for the 2010 Season Completed

2010-02-28T10:41:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, in the sun and out of the wind among the "B" nets at the CVWO First Landing spring banding station, it felt like an early spring Saturday. A Yellow-rumped Warbler jumped into net B7 before it was even open! Brown-headed Nuthatches, Pine Warblers, Hairy Woodpeckers and Tufted Titmice sang. A banded Hermit Thrush was spotted. All to welcome the eleven individuals, including CVWO President Brian Taber (who provided the above images of the day) and Master Bander Bob Reilly, who came to clear the net lanes, set the mist nets and erect the banding shelter for a sixth season.

The project was completed by 1500. Rob and Collette had the shelter up in a flash. Marty and Bob set the mist nets as soon as Laura (2009 CVWO intern), Sheila, Ingrid, Kurt, Terry, Brian and I cleared the net lanes and rearranged the boardwalks moved by winter storms. Terry, Brian and I set the aerial nets. Kurt, our good friend from Norway, and Ingrid, our new acquaintance from Sweden, added an international flair to the day.

The station will open for the 2010 season on Monday, March 1st. During the first two weeks of March the station will be open for seven days of the fourteen. This Monday and Tuesday the weather looks good. Later in the week the weather also looks promising.

Beginning March 15th the station will be open daily until May 31st, weather permitting (if it is not raining we are open). The station opens one-half hour before local sunrise and remains open for at least 6 hours thereafter. Come visit us at the junction of Long Creek Trail and White Hill Lake Trail in First Landing State Park. It is a beautiful walk.

Piping Plovers of The Bahamas

2010-02-24T09:13:00.007-05:00

Where to begin? Can you imagine seeing 89 Piping Plovers in one place at the same time? Sid Maddock, my banding partner, and I saw such a flock roosting on a flat off Andros Island in The Bahamas on the morning of February 3, 2010. Over the past five weeks as part of an Environment Canada research project and with the able and generous assistance of the Director and staff of The Bahamas National Trust, http://www.bnt.bs/ , Sid and I trapped and marked 57 Piping Plovers which spend the non-breeding season (perhaps as long as eight months) in The Bahamas. Birds marked were found on New Providence, Grand Bahama and Andros.

Now the exciting work begins! And your eyes and optics are needed. The primary purpose of the project is to discover the migratory stop-over sites and nesting grounds used by The Bahamas plovers. During our work only a single, previously-marked Piping Plover was seen among several hundred viewed. That bird was from the endangered Great Lakes population http://www.nps.gov/slbe/forteachers/upload/GLPloverdoc.pdf. From this sighting two tentative inferences may be drawn. First, some of the 57 plovers may be Great Lakes nesters. Second, as no marked Missouri River birds (see Terry's Plover blogs, below) or marked Canadian prairie birds were re-sighted (and there are many marked birds from each of these areas), most of the 57 are likely from elsewhere--namely, breeders from the Atlantic provinces of Canada and the Atlantic Coast of the US from North Carolina to Maine. Your assistance in sighting and reporting The Bahamas plovers is solicited.

When will the plovers begin their spring migration? No one is certain, but sooner than you might think. Bahamas Trust staff and volunteers on the islands are watching the marked birds in an effort to determine spring departure dates. Wintering birds along the southern Atlantic Coast are known to begin moving north as early as March. Last year there were some plovers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in mid-April. Before we left Andros Island on February 19, many of the plovers there were molting into breeding plummage. Plover spring is in the air elsewhere, even if it is only 39F in Virginia Beach just now.

How may a sighting be reported? Simple. Report all sightings to CHERI GRATTO-TREVOR, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4 Canada, EM: cheri.gratto-trevor@ec.gc.ca , noting the color and location of each band on the bird, and location and behaviour of the bird (on nest, brooding, foraging at migratory stop-over, etc.), as well as presumed sex of the bird, if possible.

What do color bands of The Bahamas plovers look like? They look like the three Bahamas plovers pictured above. All have a black flag on the upper left leg. Each have a single white band on one of the lower legs, right or left. Each have two color bands (neither of which is a white band) on the lower leg opposite the leg with the single white band. Colors used were: red, orange, yellow, white, light green, dark green, dark blue, and black. No metal bands were placed on any of The Bahamas birds; nor were color bands placed on the upper right legs of the birds.

How should the color markers be reported? When you see a marked Piping Plover, immediately write down a detailed description of the bands and their location on the bird's legs (always using the bird's right and left). Make a note if you are unsure of the color or location of any of the bands or if you did not see all bands clearly. Please report incomplete sighting. The Bahamas Piping Plovers pictured above would be described as follows: (top image) black flag upper left, white band lower left, unknown upper right, black over dark blue bands lower right; (middle image) black flag upper left, orange over light green bands lower left, nothing upper right, white band lower right; (bottom image) black flag upper left, white flag lower left, nothing upper right, black over light green bands lower right. One final note, there are a several plovers with two bands of the same color placed over each other on the lower leg opposite the single white band (e.g. orange over orange). Together these two bands may look like one very tall band.

GOOD SHOREBIRDING AND BEST LUCK.

Terry's Piping Plover was Banded on Missouri River!

2010-02-24T08:51:00.005-05:00

Early in February Terry was contacted by Ben Simpson, a wildlife biologist at Virginia Tech, concerning the color-banded Piping Plover Terry spotted and photographed near Fort Meyers, Florida. Ben had captured and marked the individual in 2008 as an adult along Lewis and Clark Lake. The lake is formed by the Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River along the South Dakota and Nebraska border just west of Yankton, SD.

The green flag is used by Virginia Tech researchers to identify piping plovers banded on the Missouri River. The color bands identify the individual bird. VPI researchers are studying piping plover use of sandbars constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide habitat for least terns and piping plovers on the Missouri.

More of Terry's Plover!

2010-01-12T15:15:00.006-05:00

Careful examination of color-marked birds is critical. [Is there an echo in this blog?] Was the green flag not visible to you? Others had the same observation. This afternoon Terry Jenkins provided me with this third photograph which shows the green flag distinctly.

As it turns out, looking at Terry's Piping Plover may be good practice for coastal Virginia shorebirders this spring. In recent years there has been little marking of the threatened Atlantic population of Piping Plovers. The endangered Great Lakes and Northern Great Plains populations have been widely marked (and re-sighted from Oregon Inlet, NC to the south Texas coast) for many years as part of the recovery effort.

Recent winter census efforts have found significant numbers of Piping Plovers wintering in The Bahamas. [Smart plovers, especially this winter.] To which of the three Piping Plover breeding populations these birds belong is unknown, although it is suspected that they may be from Atlantic Canada: Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Magdalen Islands (Quebec) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In any event, the Canadian Wildlife Service has funded and partnered with The Bahamas government and The Bahamas Trust in a project to capture and color mark up to fifty plovers wintering on several islands in The Bahamas this January and February. Each plover captured will have a plastic black flag placed on an upper leg together with a unique combination of plastic color bands on their lower legs. There will be no metal bands placed on the birds.

Come late March to mid-April some of these marked plovers may stop along the mid-Atlantic coast. Two plovers were seen by a CVWO volunteer on the Chesapeake Bay beach at First Landing State Park on April 16, 2009. Other plovers are seen annually on spring migration along the Back Bay beaches and at Chincoteague NWR. With luck and vigilance you could find a banded plover as did Terry. Have your optics ready and your camera at your side.

Look What Terry Found in Florida!!

2010-01-12T12:07:00.009-05:00

Terry Jenkins, a new CVWO board member and an able banding station volunteer, is always birding. Terry birds while playing golf or attending a sporting event or vacationing in Florida over Christmas 2009 with his wife, Josie. His vigilance provided important data from a sandbar off Fort Meyers on Christmas Day when he spotted this color-banded Piping Plover.

Thanks to e-mail and birding friends, Terry was able to learn within hours of his sighting that this individual bird was banded as a chick on the upper Missouri River as part of an on-going Virginia Tech/Army Corps study overseen by Dan Catlin from the lab of Dr. Jim Fraser, a prominent shorebird researcher. The Northern Great Plains Piping Plover population is an endangered species. [The date of marking and exact location are not known at this writing. Will update.] Remarkably, Terry also learned that Sidney Maddock of Buxton, NC had seen this same individual plover on March 12, 2008 at Estero Lagoon, Florida (just south of Fort Meyers) while doing research for Environment Canada. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=estero%20lagoon%20fl&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Terry's photographs provide a opportunity to understand how to record observations of color-marked birds. First, one photograph or a quick observation will not always disclose all the markings. Careful observations, a handy camera or both are critical. Here, it took two photos to confirm that the plover has a green flag on its upper left leg. [Left and right are always in relation to the bird's right or left. Upper and lower leg refer to markers above or below the "ankle" joint.] Second, the color bands on the lower left and right legs, clearly visible and not faded here, must be recorded to note their relationship with each other. Thus, the lower left leg is white over yellow and the lower right leg is red over green. Third, the upper right leg is obscured. There could be a metal USGS band, another color band or nothing above the joint. Based upon these photographs, the status is unknown and should be recorded as such. Partial observations of color-banded individuals are useful and often definitive, as it was with Terry's bird. For more information on color-marked birds see: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/aboutaux.htm

2010 Bander Training at FLSP

2010-01-05T14:00:00.004-05:00

Greetings. The 2010 spring season is but eight weeks away! The Station will set up on the weekend of February 27-28. We will be open on seven of the first fourteen days of March again in 2010 and daily thereafter until May 31st.

Basic bander training will be offered for the second year over two weekends, one in late March and one in mid-April. The Notice is below.

Water levels in the Park are now unusually high, given 61" of rainfall in 2009--much in the late fall. This may attract some interesting migrants come spring 2010. Plan to visit the Station this spring as the weather warms and the birds become active. Above are two birds from 2009--a resident Pileated Woodpecker and a migrant Bicknell's Thrush. The Bicknell's is likely enjoying some time in the Dominican Republic just now.

Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
at First Landing State Park.

Basic Bird Banding Training Session, 2010.

The Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory (“CVWO”) with the cooperation and assistance of First Landing State Park will offer a basic, bird banding training program over two weekends in March and April 2010. The program is intended to begin to train individuals with an interest in pursuing avian field research opportunities in the necessary skills and basic literature essential to such research. This is the second year that CVWO has offered bander training at First Landing.

The single session will be held over two weekends of March 26-28, 2010 and April 9-11, 2010 in the Park and at the passerine banding station run there by CVWO. Participants will stay in a group residence in the Park. Seminar sessions will take place during Friday and Saturday evenings. Field training is on Saturday and Sunday beginning one hour before sunrise, weather permitting, at the banding station which is a twenty-minute walk by Park trails from the residence. Sunday training will end in the early afternoon.

Training will include: netting and trapping techniques, removal of birds from mist nets, Potter traps and whoosh nets, proper handling and processing of birds (including biometrics, ageing and sexing) and data management. The course will use training manuals produced by the North American Banding Council and Pyle, Identification Guide to North American Birds, vol. 1, (1997). The course will be taught by an NABC-certified Trainer.

A preference will be given to current college students or recent graduates demonstrating an interest in avian research. Enrollment will be opened to other interested individuals after March 12, 2010. The proceeds of the course will benefit the research and conservation programs of CVWO. The cost for the course to students/recent graduates, which includes housing and course materials, is $275.00 ($250.00, plus a $25.00 registration fee). The cost to other participants is $450.00. Transportation, food and bedding are the responsibility of each participant. A kitchen is available in the group residence, as are beds and bunks. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of ten participants.

All interested individuals should promptly contact Peter Doherty by e-mail at leasttern AT hotmail.com. Please provide a statement of your particular interest in participating in the training session. If seeking the “student-recent graduate preference”, also provide an outline of current or recent college affiliation and course of study, together with at least one faculty reference and contact information. Decisions concerning enrollment will be made beginning February 24, 2010.

An Interior Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

2009-05-18T19:20:00.004-04:00

The marsh nets continue to yield marsh wrens and sparrows along with an occasional Common Yellowthroat. On May 9th a Nelson's appeared early in the morning. Given the bright white markings on its back and bright, buffy orange breast, it is likely of the nelsoni subspecies which breed from the Canadian prairie to South Dakota. Quite a nice bird.

Mystery Bird: Eastern Kingbird

2009-05-18T18:52:00.004-04:00

Many of the early field guides (I am looking at the a 1966 Golden Field Guide of Birds of North America just now) mention and show crown patches on kingbirds. I have looked for such a patch through binoculars and spotting scopes since I was a young lad without success! Thus, after extracting the Eastern Kingbird from net A2 on April 30th, I immediately examined the crown. The color was beyond belief. The outer primary tips were also remarkable. The feathers were notched and emarginated. The white terminal tail band, of course, confirms the ID.

While we have not caught another kingbird this season, there are a number of them moving about the station daily. Two were seen chasing an Osprey over the salt marsh just the other day. A single bird was seen on a perch near one of the marsh nets over the weekend. It seems as if they may be nesting in the Park this year.

CHARADRIIFORMES at the Station?

2009-05-07T14:48:00.003-04:00

The First Landing State Park banding station is a constant effort, spring migration banding station intended to capture and band passerines and near-passerines--songbirds. Essentially the same nets are placed in the same location each year during the same period of time and are opened daily during the same hours, weather permitting. This week we made an exception---and banded a small shorebird with yellow legs, a small hind toe and a long wing.
The Least Sandpiper is a common shorebird which can be found across the United States during migration. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Least_Sandpiper/id The species nests in Alaska and northern Canada. We see and hear the Least along with other shorebirds, such as Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper, at the station from time-to-time during the spring.

On May 5th the pictured Least was foraging in the mud path between two nets across the saltmarsh at the station. I saw the bird and herded, or "twinkled" as the British call it, the bird to the net. The bird weighed just 15 grams (1/2 oz), about the weight of a Swamp Sparrow.

Warblers in the Rain

2009-05-07T14:30:00.003-04:00

This week has been warm and wet and, at times, very windy. Yet the station has been open each day for at least part of the morning, although some of our nets have been closed at times. Gray Catbirds have arrived in good numbers along with the first wave of Common Yellowthroats. The pictured warblers have also been banded. The species shown are: American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler. Are you able to match the name with each species pictured?

Can You ID This Bird?

2009-05-07T14:10:00.003-04:00

This fine bird was netted on April 30th. Two clues, the pictures show (1) remarkable crown feathers and (2) shape of outer primariy feather tips; one hint, the only previous example of this species banded at the station was captured in 2006. So it is not a kinglet!! Answer will follow.

Pictures for Laura

2009-04-28T20:28:00.004-04:00

Laura Duval, CVWO's able spring intern, was not feeling well over the past weekend. Indeed, she did not have a sore throat or an upset stomach; rather appendicitis! She is now resting comfortably at home in Norfolk and will return to the station shortly. As the spring rolls on, she has missed a few "new species". Get out your Sibley and Pyle Guides, Laura. Have a go at ageing and sexing these birds netted in your absence!!

Station Decor and More

2009-04-28T17:44:00.003-04:00

For four springs our signature blue tarp has been the "roof" over the Station in fair weather and foul, rain, sleet and snow. No, not that TARP! CVWO.org paid for the tarp and all the banding equipment with the generous assistance of its members and supporters.
This season, after a brief setback, a new white shelter has replaced the old tarp (and its temporary camoflage replacement, donated by Terry Jenkins). No longer do visitors have to duck under the "roof" to see the birds being banded underneath. Nor do the banders have to move outside into the sunlight to see the "true" color of a bird's feathers. Thanks, Rob Klages (CVWO treasurer) and Brian Taber (CVWO president) for erecting and securing the Station's new cover. Birders, come visit us and see the brilliant migrants as they visit First Landing State Park during the next four weeks. It is worth the walk. Follow the signs from the Trail Center. And try to come early. The FLSP gates open shortly after 6:30 a.m.

"Blue" Birds

2009-04-28T17:36:00.003-04:00

While we have now netted a station-record 6 Eastern Bluebirds in the 2009 spring, blue birds have continued to find our nets. On April 22nd and 23rd these beautiful adult males were banded. Can you pick out which is the Blue Grosbeak and which is the Indigo Bunting? Each are after-second-year birds--meaning that they were hatched in 2007 or earlier.

April Marsh Birds

2009-04-28T17:06:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the season's first Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow was netted in one of the Station's four "marsh nets". Our season's first Seaside Sparrow appeared last week. A steady stream of Marsh Wrens, now numbering nineteen, have been banded since 30 March. Each of these species depends upon healthy wetlands to survive, yet in the Lynnhaven estuary, Virginia Beach and elsewhere around the United States wetlands continue to be altered, mitigated and "hardened" in the name of progress and economic prosperity.

CVWO at FLSP 2009 Spring Intern.

2009-04-26T19:22:00.004-04:00

Laura Duval is CVWO's first spring intern at the FLSP station. She is a biology graduate of Virginia Commonwealth and grew up in Norfolk. Her family owns and operates Cobb's Marina in Little Creek. Laura recently worked for the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in the waterbird section.
During her five weeks at the station, she has become an accomplished extractor and has demonstrated the fine eye so necessary to ageing and sexing many passerines. Understandably, the Pyle Identification Guide to North American Birds has become one of her favorite books!!
Laura has a pleasant, easy way about her, takes her responsibilities at the station seriously and possesses a strong conservation ethic. If she chooses to pursue field ornithology, Laura has a bright future. Come meet Laura at the station!

Things Are Heating Up.

2009-04-26T19:01:00.002-04:00

This weekend has been a warm one at the Station. Each day under bright sun the temperature has reached the 80s before noon. Such heat surpresses bird activity and can present a danger to birds caught in a mist net. But before dawn and in the early hours of the morning, the south winds have brought migrants to the Station and into our nets. Today these three arrivals, Prothonotary, Yellow-breasted Chat and Chestnut-sided, were among the eight species of warblers banded. The others were: Myrtle, Black and White, Prairie, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Parula.

Basic Bander Training 2009

2009-04-26T18:23:00.005-04:00

Over two weekends in late March and early April, a basic bander training session was held at the First Landing station. Nine recent college graduates, current undergraduates and graduate students pursuing or planning to pursue ornitholigical research attended the session. They came from Virginia Commonwealth University, William and Mary, Old Dominion and Central Michigan University.

The session provided an opportunity for each participant to observe, practice and discuss the skills necessary to capture, handle, identify, age, sex, measure and evaluate the general condition of passerines and near-passerines. While the weather was a bit on the cool side and bird numbers were not high, each student banded and handled a number of birds and learned how a seasonal, migratory banding station operates.

The session could not have taken place without the support and assistance of First Landing State Park and CVWO volunteers. All involved seemed to enjoy and benefit from the experience; it is likely that another session will be held in 2010.

A New Sparrow for the Station!

2009-04-07T19:47:00.004-04:00

Over the past four-plus seasons, twelve species of the Emberizidae family have been banded at the station. Five were added last year alone-Savannah, Field, Seaside, Nelson's Sharp-tailed and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed. Swamp Sparrow numbers are annually among the top five birds banded at First Landing. Slate-colored Junco, Eastern Towhee, Fox, Song and White-throated are banded in good numbers annually. Lincoln's Sparrow is banded infrequently.

Last Saturday a bright Chipping Sparrow expanded the group to thirteen. Although the Chipper is a frequent spring visitor to feeders in the Virginia Beach area, the pine forest and wetlands around the station are not "prime" Chipper habitat. Read more about this sparrow here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chipping_Sparrow.html

Of the North American sparrows likely to be encountered along the Atlantic coast during the spring, only the White-crowned Sparrow has yet to be banded at First Landing.

Frosty Nets, Fox Sparrows and Bluebirds.

2009-04-04T17:40:00.005-04:00

This is the fifth spring season of passerine banding at FLSP. In 2005 and 2006 the station opened on March 1. In '07 and '08 opening day was moved to 15 March. The two week "delay" avoided some nasty patches of weather but it missed many of the earliest migrant to pass through FLSP--the remarkable Fox Sparrow. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Fox_Sparrow_dtl.html

With this in mind it was decided to open the station on seven of the first fourteen days in March this season.

The decision was a good one. Several mornings found the nets frosted, even "welded" together until the sun did its job. But between March 9 and March 18, ten new Fox Sparrows were banded. And on March 16 an old friend appeared in the nets. Originally banded on March 5, 2005 by Jethro Runco as a second-year FOSP and recaptured last year on March 18, this individual is on its fifth north-bound journey to the northern reaches of Canada! Indeed its band was very worn and quite thin. Fearing that it might be lost, we removed the well-travelled one and rebanded the bird with a shiny, new one.

Four Eastern Bluebirds were caught in the same net at the same time on March 16. Two other bluebirds which were not captured remained near the net as their mates were extracted. Among the four was a fine male which had been banded at FLSP on March 28, 2007. Steve Living of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries was visiting the station on that day and banded the individual. Bluebirds seem to be doing well in the park this year. Their calls are heard almost daily along Long Creek. A beautiful female is pictured above.

Too Busy to BLOG !!

2009-04-04T17:10:00.005-04:00

Greetings, finally. March has been a very busy month at FLSP. Station setup occurred over the last two days of February. A nor'easter rearranged things over the next two days. Terry Jenkins and I put the pieces back together. Battery problems (essential for the station computer) cropped up; periods of wet weather were followed by days of cold, frosty weather.

The first weekend of the basic banding skills class came and went. And old banding friends from New Brunswick and Ohio visited FLSP for a few days before Bob Reilly and I followed them to the Eastern Bird Banding Association annual meeting, held this year in Chincoteague. Bob and I gave a presentation concerning CVWO activities at Kiptopeke and First Landing. We did band a few birds. More on that shortly.

Welcome to the 2009 blog. Consider visiting us at FLSP some morning between now and May 31. Simply follow the signs in the Park from the trail center road. If you cannot, we will keep you posted of what is going on.

Bird Banding Training, Spring 2009.

2009-02-03T13:32:00.005-05:00

Greetings. March is close at hand on this chilly, gray February day. And March brings the opening of the 5th season of spring, passerine banding at First Landing State Park by CVWO.org and the re-awakening of this blog. Do not be misled! It will be chilly and gray on more than a few March days at the station. But spring will be in the air and birds will find the nets again.

Indeed, some winter passerine banding has been undertaken this year in the Park. A handful of new Brown-headed Nuthatches have been marked and a number of previously marked BHNU have been re-spotted in familiar settings. [More about that in an upcoming, first-annual project report.]

Fifteen swamp sparrows which are wintering in the Park have been target netted on territory using a two-panel net and a MP3 player. Of great interest are two recaptures of previously marked SWSP on November 26 and Decamber 9, 2008. The individuals were banded last spring at FLSP on March 31 and April 16, 2008, respectively, and not recaptured thereafter during the spring. As SWSP do not breed in FLSP, another returning winter resident can tentatively be added to the list.

This spring a basic bird banding training session will be held at FLSP for the first time. Participation in the training session is limited to ten participants. A preference will be given to current college students and recent graduates demonstrating an interest in bird research. A notice of the session may be found here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhcd63wk_2f5bwsjd9

Finally, this season the station will open on March 1, rather than March 15, and close on May 31. Between March 1 and March 14 the station will open on seven days only. After March 15th the station will be open daily, weather permitting, 30 minutes before sunrise for six to eight hours each day. It is thought that the March 1 to March 14 opening on selected fair weather days will allow allow us to capture greater numbers of wintering passerines, such as American Robin, Eastern Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and Yellow-rumped Warblers, before they depart from the Park on their north-bound migration.

Spring Migration is Winding Down; Summer is Here.

2008-05-27T21:36:00.004-04:00

The push is over. Chickadees and Pine Warblers and Brown-headed Nuthatches have fledged their young. The Blackpoll Warblers have passed through on their journey to the boreal forest. And a lone Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, as photographed by Brian Taber last Sunday, sang in a sea of salt marsh south of the station. Renee, John, Sheila, Terry and I enjoyed the fair weather of the Memorial Day weekend, but banded fewer than twenty birds over the three days. 2008 has been a fine season. Here is the tally with one week remaining: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg

Three Sparrows and the Lynnhaven Estuary.

2008-05-20T22:25:00.003-04:00

As the 2008 spring season begins to wind down, one thing has become apparent. Three, rare and declining sparrows rely on the Lynnhaven estuary as a migratory stopover haven. On April 8th two new nets were established in the small, protected salt marsh along the tidal creek leading to White Lake upstream of the footbridge. On May 2d two more nets were set in the marsh along the opposite side of the tidal creek. These nets were placed in the marsh as far as possible away from the shrubs and trees of the uplands.

The nets immediately began to capture a number of migrating Marsh Wrens, 23 to date. Thereafter, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow and (pictured above) Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow have been banded, 16 in total so far. Five Nelson's found the nets in the last week and they were each very fresh and bright having just completed their unusual spring molt. Today the marsh was quiet, but more will likely arrive before the season is over. This spring's captures, together with salt marsh sparrow observations of last fall, have led me to believe that the Lynnhaven estuary is an important link in the migratory route of the these three sparrows along the Atlantic coast.

Outside of First Landing State Park the coastal wetlands of the Lynnhaven estuary are widely disturbed and fragmented. And there are many pending applications and plans to alter and fill more wetlands within the estuary. Many find a need to alter the estuary's landscape to fit their requirements.

The Nelson's and other wetland birds are also facing another insidious threat to their existence-methyl mercury contamination. To read about this issue, go to: http://www.briloon.org/science-and-conservation/centers/mercury-toxin.php

An Intergrade and a Variant.

2008-05-20T21:52:00.004-04:00

This season the nets have provided two unusual, perhaps rare for southeastern Virginia, examples of two bird species. In March the intergrade Northern Flicker pictured above was captured. The Red-shafted Northern Flicker of the west and the Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker of the east interbreed broadly over the central regions of North America. Outside of that area individuals showing mixed traits are known as intergrades. To read more about this example of wandering genes, look at: http://http//www.umd.umich.edu/dept/rouge_river/nofl.pdf

Last weekend an after-second-year Scarlet Tanager variant was netted. The individual displayed a wing bar of red median coverts. It was the third Scarlet Tanager of 2008 and only the fourth since the station opened in 2005.

Another Big Week.

2008-05-19T17:06:00.003-04:00

Rain, wind and extreme high water kept the station closed for two full days last week. Nevertheless, the species list has reached 82 for the season. Further, the numbers of new birds banded in 2008 exceede one thousand. Check out the week of May 10 to 16 at: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg

Special thanks to the volunteers who have assisted at the station in recent weeks, including Kathy, Jenny, Terry, Sheila, Renee and John. Finally, the many adults and children who have visited the station and enjoyed the migrants as they pass through the park have made this spring most enjoyable.

Are you able to identify the birds above? The bottom bird is impossible as you cannot hear its song nor measure it. It is an Alder Flycatcher.

Views of the Station.

2008-05-12T09:48:00.005-04:00

Several readers have asked what the banding station at FLSP looks like. Here is an assortment of images, including one showing this morning's high water. The banding takes place under the blue tarp. One may also get a bird's eye perspective of the station by entering its latitude and longitude into Google Earth. The lat/long may be found in the heading at the top of the blog.

Week Summary: May 3rd to 9th.

2008-05-12T09:09:00.005-04:00

Last week was a good week. Catbirds and Common Yellowthroats were abundant and new species for the year continued to arrive. Including a Bicknell's Thrush on May 10, the species count stands at 75 for the season. The near-term weather pattern does not look favorable (today was a blow-out and the water heights in the Lynnhaven estuary this morning are very high. But such is not unusual for a mid-Atlantic spring. Click here to see the summary: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg

When is a Brown-headed Nuthatch Not?

2008-05-12T08:03:00.006-04:00

Well, almost. A fledgling nuthatch lacks a brown head, at least when the bird is only eight days out of the nesting cavity as is the individual pictured above. The clutch at the station cavity fledged on Sunday, May 4. This individual was caught in aerial net C1, about twenty yards from that cavity, yesterday morning at 0715. The brown cast to head which appears in the last image is greatly exaggerated, probably caused by poor early morning light conditions.

For the record, the fledgling weighed in at 10.3 grams. This is an "adult" body weight. A nuthatch in the egg weighs about 1.2 grams. (Six BHNU eggs were weighed at a nest placed in a nesting box along Long Creek several weeks ago. Each weighed 1.2g. Unfortunately this nest was destroyed by an unknown predator.) Quite a transformation in six weeks time! It took four adults feeding daily, often before dawn, for 25 days or so to pull it off.

Yesterday afternoon before the storm rolled through Virginia Beach, three new adult BHNUs were captured using the high net while hauling feed to a recently-discovered nesting cavity just off the 64th Street road in the Park. (There are now four active cavities under observation in this section of the park.) The three newly-marked adults together with the fledgling pushed to thirty the number of nuthatches marked at First Landing since mid-January 2008.

Marsh Birds in the Marsh Nets.

2008-05-09T13:53:00.004-04:00

If you look at the tally summary sheets, you will note that the numbers of marsh birds continues to grow. The Marsh Wren has broken into double figures and the Seaside Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow are not far behind.

Each visitor and volunteer fortunate enough to be present during the banding of one of these elusive marsh denizens has marveled at their remarkable, yet subtle, colorations and their adaptations to cope with wetland living. The toes of the Seaside are very long and strong; the Wren can wiggle through anything, including the mesh of the net upon occasion. And the Sharp-tail can run through the grass with amazing speed thanks to short wings, a short, pointed tail and long legs. Small wonder that so many birders have so few good looks at these species.

The small marsh adjoining the station receives new migrants periodically as the uplands do. Some days there is not a bird to be heard, seen or flushed in the marsh. The next morning it is full of new individuals moving along the coast headed for their wetland of choice in which to attempt to breed another generation. (Marsh Wrens actually breed in cattail marshes.) Will that wetland be in tact? And will there be other healthy wetlands in which to stop for the night to rest and refuel? Or will the chain be broken? Some believe the chain is weak for the Seaside and for Sharp-tails. They are each on brink of being listed as endangered or threatened species-recall that the non-migratory Dusky Seaside Sparrow of Florida is extinct and the Cape Sable Seaside of the Everglades has been profoundly endangered since the 1960s.

Life in the High Net.

2008-05-08T19:56:00.005-04:00

The Brown-headed Nuthatch project is moving along. Seven cavities are or have been under observation by volunteers throughout the Park. And more cavities are being searched for during this nesting season. The nest in the cavity in the snag near the bridge by the banding station fledged at least four young nuthatches over the weekend of May 3-4.

The post-hatching, feeding phase of the nesting period provides an opportunity to capture and mark each adult within a cluster. (The birds are highly unlikely to abandon a nest in which there are hatched, growing young.) In the case of the station cavity, three of the four adults attending the young had been marked earlier in the spring before nesting began using a call tape and net. To catch the fourth adult required a "high " net. That was accomplished on April 29th.

CVWO provided funding to purchase two 30' telescoping aluminum poles. These poles were lashed to two 6' farm fence posts driven into the ground. A 20' mist net was suspended between the poles and raised to the general elevation of the cavity entrance in one of the flight paths used by the adults to bring food to the cavity. Good fortune was on our side, as the first bird captured was the unmarked adult. The bird was the breeding female of the group. She became white over purple and some of us now call her "Jellybean." If you look closely, you may see her in the far lower, left hand corner of the high net, about 24' in the air! There are now 28 color-marked nuthatches living in FLSP.

A Busy Time at FLSP.

2008-05-08T19:37:00.003-04:00

South winds bring in migrants. Last week (and the current week which ends tomorrow) have been very busy. If you click on this link: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg you will see that the catbirds and yellowthroats are here along with a growing list of other species. Some are seemingly "late" by captures in prior seasons--the Northern Waterthrush comes to mind--but most are on schedule and moving north almost immediately. Get out your field guides and ID these images.

Another 2005 Northern Parula Recap!

2008-04-24T20:10:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday, a sixth recap Northern Parula was netted. The bird was an after-second -year male when banded by Jethro Runco at FLSP on April 20, 2005. The individual was recaptured in April 11, 2006 at First Landing and again at the station on May 11, 2007. Thus, the bird was hatched during the 2003 breeding season or earlier. Further, the bird has undertaken and completed at least 5 round trips from FLSP to its wintering grounds in the Caribbean, Mexico or Central America.

A Yellow-throated Vireo Hits an Aerial Net.

2008-04-24T20:03:00.003-04:00

A Yellow-throated Vireo became the first ever captured and banded at FLSP today. The species was the eighth new species to be caught at FLSP this year when the bird was extracted from the sixth pocket at Bob's Net by Dr. Scoville. Three aerial nets (where two mist nets are stacked one above the other on a single pair of poles) were built at FLSP this year in an effort to capture migrants which prefer higher habitat (see pic with white bird bags in pockets 2 and 8). The boardwalk below Bob's Net was also added this year along with direct electronic data entry via a Panasonic model CF-28 Toughbook. Things are looking up at the station!!

Brown-headed Nuthatch Project Underway.

2008-04-21T12:23:00.004-04:00

The Brown-headed Nuthatch ("BHNU") is a year-around, cavity-nesting resident of the pine and oak forest at First Landing. This little bird, which frequently excavates its own cavity, is overlooked by most visitors as it spends much of its time high in the forest canopy, usually among pine cones searching for seeds. The birds are more often heard than seen as their "squeaky toy" contact calls are distinctive. At First Landing the Brown-headed is near the northern extreme of its range, which extends south to Florida and east to Arkansas and east Texas. As such, many birders from Canada and northern tier states come to FLSP to see their first BHNU. To see a range map and listen to the call go to: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown-headed_Nuthatch.html

The BHNU is also a frequent, cooperative breeder. This breeding system is not uncommon among birds world-wide, but is unusual among species in temperate climates. Fundamentally, offspring of cooperative breeders receive forage from helpers as well as parents. The helpers are usually closely related to the breeding pair. The group of BHNU and other cooperative breeding groups are known as "clusters."

With financial assistance from CVWO.org and the Virginia Beach Audubon Society through the National Audubon Society, Dr. Sheila Scoville and I commenced a long-term project during January 2008 to study the BHNU at First Landing. The study will seek to discover the breeding preferences and other aspects of BHNU living at the northern edge of its range in pine/oak habitat in which fire is surpressed. To date 21 BHNU have been captured, banded, color-marked and released unharmed at various locations within the park. Feathers and small blood samples have been taken from each bird to aid in sexing the individuals, to determine the relationship between individuals within the clusters and to evaluate and compare the DNA of Virginia BHNU with those of Florida and Georgia.

Since January many marked individuals have been re-spotted and several have been recaptured and released. At the present time, five active nesting cavities are being watched by three volunteers and by video tape on a regular basis. New breeding cavities are being searched for by the volunteers and others. Progress with the BHNU study will be reported here from time-to-time. Should you wish to assist with this effort, post a comment.

Returning Parulas in the Majority.

2008-04-20T19:04:00.007-04:00

First, a few words about banding terminology. A bird which is caught in our nets and does not have an aluminum band on one of its legs is an unbanded bird. Unless it is a hummingbird and as long as we are able to identify the species of the individual bird, we place a uniquely numbered band on the leg of the bird. Such a bird is known a a newly-banded bird or "new" bird. If this new bird is caught again during the same banding season at FLSP, it is known as a "retrapped" bird. If more than 24 hours has passed since it was banded or last captured, a notation of this retrapping is made in our data records and some additional information is usually taken about the bird, such as its weight. If a FLSP banded bird is again caught at First Landing during any subsequent spring season, it is known a local recapture or a "recap." [A bird banded elsewhere and caught at FLSP at any time is known as a "foreign recapture." So far there have been only two such recaptures at FLSP.]

The Northern Parula is a small, neo-tropical warbler which enjoys nesting in areas with Spanish moss (i.e. in FLSPark) and, farther north, in areas with old man's beard lichen. (Must be comfy as they use the material in their nests.) The parula winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, a few in south Florida. You may read about the Northern Parula, hear its song and see its range map at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Parula.html

During the initial 2005 spring, 26 parulas were banded at First Landing. During the second season 11 new were ringed, and last year there were 16 more. So far this spring only four new parulas have been banded. Remarkably, however, we have recaptured five FLSP parulas this spring! Indeed, the first two parulas caught this season were recaptures. (And there were parulas singing around the station for a week before the first was netted.)

Three of the birds were new in 2007-two females and one male. The fourth bird is a female from 2006 who was not recaptured in 2007. The fifth bird is a male from 2005 who was recaptured at FLSP in 2006 and 2007. Each individual was captured within a week of the date of its initial capture and was extracted from nets which are within yards of the nets in which the birds were first caught. (Think of the miles each bird has flown to return to FLSP.)

It would seem First Landing's Northern Parulas like and depend upon the park as much as the people who visit and enjoy the park! Thanks to CVWO.org President Brian Taber for the photo of the banded parula taken this past Saturday at the station. If you have the opportunity, come visit the station to hear and see a FLSP Northern Parula.

The Week in Review.

2008-04-20T15:57:00.006-04:00

The week of April 12th thru the 18th saw 13 new of the year species banded at FLSP, including two species, Seaside Sparrow and Cedar Waxwing, not previously banded at the station.
Numbers were also up for the week, with 108 individuals banded along with 38 recaptures. The first two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the season were netted, processed and released without banding. The weekly tallies for the 2008 season may be seen on sheet 3: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg

An Influx of Migrants.

2008-04-13T16:35:00.004-04:00

Today and Saturday saw a new and more diverse flight of migrants arrive at First Landing. Two brilliant male Prothonotary Warblers, a male Blue-winged Warbler and a second-year White-eyed Vireo joined the gnatcatchers, Palm Warblers, Prairie Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, a Gray Catbird and a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Dr. Lesley Bulluck and a group of her undergraduate students from the Ornithology Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University visited the station on Saturday. The migrants gave them a colorful glimpse of the beginning of the 2008 spring migration in coastal Virginia.

Last Week at First Landing.

2008-04-13T15:14:00.009-04:00

The weather slowed matters down a bit at the Station last week. Overall, numbers of new birds banded and birds recaptured were down from the previous two weeks and from the same week last year. However, the species list continued to grow and yesterday, Saturday, the first day of the next banding week, was the best day of the 2008 season so far. Click on the link which follows to see our weekly totals. Go to sheet 2.

http//spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg&hl=en

About the male Belted Kingfisher pictured above: he lost his fish when he hit the net. The net caught the fish, too. I reunited the bird with his fish. And after banding, measuring, etc., he flew off with the fish!

New Sparrows.

2008-04-13T15:01:00.003-04:00

Three new sparrows were banded at First Landing over the past three days. One was simply lost, the Field Sparrow. The other two were always there, but our nets were not.

The extreme high water of last week flooded out a number of our net lanes for several days. Although the high water also flooded the saltmarshes which adjoin the station, the water came and went with each tidal cycle. Not so with the water in our net lanes. Thus, after cutting off a ripped trammel from each, I set out two old mist nets in the saltmarsh. Success in the form of a Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and a Seaside Sparrow came quickly. No doubt there will be more, as the Lynnhaven seems to be an attractive estuary to each species. Perhaps a Nelson's Sharp-tail will soon appear.

Nice Weather for Peas, Herons and Picidae.

2008-04-09T11:16:00.008-04:00

Since Saturday last the weather has been in a rut. Drizzle, light rain, fog, a NE wind and temperatures, day and night, between 46 and 49. The station was closed on Sunday; Monday and today, Wednesday, were short and disappointing banding days. Tuesday was long and disappointing.

Of course there was much activity in the Park. Extreme high water in the Lynnhaven Inlet caused by the lunar cycle and the storm offshore brought out the fish-eaters. Osprey were fishing from perches everywhere along the tidal creek which feeds White Hill Lake. Belted Kingfishers were flying, calling, perching, diving and chasing. Tri-colored (Louisiana) Herons, Great Blue Herons and White (American) Egrets were wading and foraging in pools which appear in the marshes only during high water events. (Indeed, a pair of egrets were seen feeding from the edge of Long Creek Trail near Fox Run!) And Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Double-crested Cormorants and Common Loons were fishing in the bays and creeks.

A fine after-second-year male Eastern Towhee with brilliant red eyes showed up during one dry, damp stretch when a few of the nets were open. And the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female together with the Red-bellied Woodpecker male moved the station closer to a mid-atlantic Picidae sweep. Only the Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers remain to be caught during the 2008 season.

Nevertheless the breeding feathers of the Tri-color confirm that some warm, dry and sunny days lie ahead. As do the continuing songs of Northern Parula from the soggy spanish moss.

First Foreign Recovery of FLSP Banded Bird

2008-04-06T16:09:00.007-04:00

Last week CVWO master bander Dr. Robert Reilly was notified that a White-throated Sparrow banded on April 26, 2007 at CVWO's First Landing State Park passerine banding station was recovered dead near Wells, Maine. At the present time the date and exact place of recovery are unknown. The sparrow was brought to the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. On February 5, 2008 the band was discovered when a staffperson was preparing a study skin of the bird. More details will be provided as available.

Wells, Maine is located along the southern Maine coast. Wells lies some 572 straight line miles NE of the First Landing station. The sprawling metro areas of New York and Boston lie between Wells and First Landing.

A total of seventy White-throats were banded at First Landing last spring; the species was the fourth most numerous passerine banded in 2007. Thirty-four were banded on April 26, 2007. When banded this sparrow weighed 23.1 grams, had a modest fat score and was aged as an after-second-year individual. The age designation means that the bird was hatched during the summer of 2005 or earlier. The age of adult, small passerines cannot be fixed more precisely. The bird was a male.

White-throated Sparrows breed across Canada and the northern tier of the United States to the tundra. It is not likely that the bird nested near Wells. For a range map see: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-throated_Sparrow.html

Thus, the bird would have at least migrated south from its natal grounds during the fall of 2005 and north in the spring of 2006 to breed. The bird would have migrated south during the fall of 2006 and north again in the 2007 spring before dying in Wells, possibly when south-bound following the 2007 breeding season.

Band 1791-75615 was apparently not noticed at the point of initial recovery. Its "belated" discovery demonstrates the importance of examining in some manner any bird found dead in the wild. A stick or other simple tool will do the trick should one do not wish to handle the bird. A quick visual examination of the bird's legs will suffice. If a band is observed, it may be removed, the number may be carefully and exactly noted or the bird may be placed in a plastic bag for later inspection by a third-party. The place and time of discovery should be recorded. The band number may be reported by telephone, 1-800-327-BAND (2263), or electronically, http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/call800.htm

Banding Totals: Weekly, March 15 thru April 4, 2008.

2008-04-06T11:07:00.007-04:00

Greetings. By clicking on the hyperlink which follows, the CVWO First Landing State Park spring banding station results for the first three weeks of the 2008 spring season may be viewed. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pFpBjD7qHqD3d1D5fM3ZIdg

Cool Weather Fly Catchers

2008-04-04T21:08:00.003-04:00

Over the past two weeks the weather has been on a March, now April, roller coaster. Such has not deterred the early season fly catchers including: Eastern Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Palm Warbler and an early Prairie Warbler (today, April 3). In this fourth spring season at First Landing, the season record for phoebes has been shattered by a factor of three (a record 6 netted in 2006; 16 this year and counting). The gnatcatchers arrived two weeks earlier than last year (the first BGGN was not banded until 4 April 2007), are arriving daily and will likely eclipse the 2007 standard of 35 (23 to date). Three days ago the first palm warblers were banded, although individuals had been seen/heard within the park for almost a week. The Prairie Warbler was a bit of a shock. Last season a record 22 were banded, but the first did not arrive until 20 April. The Northern Parula will be next. Several have been heard since Monday at the station and along Long Creek Trail to the west.

About Mrs. Osprey

2008-03-28T19:52:00.003-04:00

Yes, she is back and using the same nest as she did in 2007. Last breeding season she fledged two Osprey. Her mate is unbanded as he was last year.

Over the past two weeks they have been busy re-fitting the nest with sticks, Spanish moss and grasses. Her mate has been bringing fish to her at their nest and there has been much sunbathing about the nest in the recent warm weather. Eggs cannot be far off. The picture was taken on March 15, 2008.

Last and First

2008-03-28T18:48:00.007-04:00

Greetings from First Landing State Park. The CVWO spring migratory bird banding station opened as scheduled on March 15, 2008. The station will be open daily from sunrise for six to eight hours, weather permitting, until May 31, 2008. The location remains at the intersection of Long Creek Trail and White Hill Lake Trail. The station can only be reached on foot. The shortest route from the Trail Center at First Landing is Cape Henry Trail to Kingfisher Trail to Long Creek Trail to the in intersection with White Hill Lake Trail. The walk can be a brisk 20 minutes or a leisurely 45 minutes. All are welcome.

During the 2007 spring 1293 birds new birds of eighty species were netted and banded along with 162 recaptured birds. The Alder Flycatcher pictured above was the last bird captured in 2007. A male Northern Cardinal was the first bird captured on March 15, 2008. He sported a band on his right leg. As he initially had been banded on the opening day in 2007, one might say Mr. Cardinal "threw out the first leg" of the spring banding season. More later about other recaptures in 2008.

Three new species have been banded already at the station in 2008. An American Woodcock, a Belted Kingfisher and two Red-breasted Nuthatches have been ringed. The Kingfisher was netted by one of our three new aerial nets as she took a shortcut through the woodland bordering the marsh. What a surprise to be netted nearly twenty feet in the air!

2 = ## Osprey Chicks of Female 788-20124.

2007-05-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

The past few days have been busy about the Osprey nest tree. Fish are brought in directly to the nest with greater frequency in the early morning. So, too, are sticks and Spanish Moss. And, yes, the chicks are moving about, peeking their heads over the rim of the nest and even pulling chunks of fish from carcasses on their own! Today I finally was able to get a reasonable images of single chicks in the nest, and one with both!! The opportunities occurred when Mom 788-20124 was beginning to provide shade to the chicks at about 1000. 788-20124 spreads her wings as the air temperature approaches 80F and the chicks move to take advantage. Mom also elevates her body feathers to cool her own body as the image above without a chick demonstrates. The chicks are safely underneath, protected from the heat of the sun.

Yesterday there was quite a crowd at the banding station. Renee, Sheila, John, Terry (a noted local birder and baseball nut) and I took turns between net runs looking at the Osprey nest through a spotting scope trying to catch a glimpse of a chick. Terry briefly spied two small heads in the late morning. I was able to confirm his sighting today. Each appears healthy and is growing juvenile feathers. Their size seems about equal. If all goes well, I suspect they will fledge just after the 4th of July.

Peter

Oh, Canada!!

2007-05-29T13:23:00.000-04:00

Just now the Ottawa Senators are playing in the Stanley Cup finals against the Mighty Ducks. This morning a SY, male Canada Warbler, the season's first, dropped into our nets. It was one of only three birds banded on this warm, humid day. What a beautiful bird it is. Perhaps a sign that the Cup will finally return to Canada?

Peter

Success Before the Heat.

2007-05-27T20:01:00.000-04:00

The past three days have been summer-like. Warm dawn temperatures in the mid-60s, clear skies, light to moderate SW winds and daily highs in the mid to upper 80s. Sounds perfect? Well, for the beach and swimming and volleyball, perhaps. But not, necessarily, for birds on an unshaded nest (consider Osprey and beach-nesting shorebirds/terns trying to shade/protect eggs and chicks from the sun while controlling their own body temperature) or migrants caught upside down in a mist net in the direct sun or heat. Banders must be careful to attend all nets frequently (every 20 minutes or so) or to furl them for the day. Thus, the banding day at First Landing has been ending by 1030 or 1130 recently.

Our daily tallies have been modest, 20 new, or less, but there has been an interesting assortment of warblers (Magnolia, COYE, Northern Waterthrush, Blackpoll), a thrasher, a catbird, vireos, wrens,chickadees, a sparrow and WOODPECKERS. Today, Sheila brought in a brilliant, adult Red-headed Woodpecker from net C3-a first of the banding season! The bird's back was a remarkable blue-black. The secondaries were a flawless white with black shafts. And the bill was gun metal blue. And the bird liked Sheila. No surprise there.

Compare the Red-bellied Woodpecker also pictured above. A member of the same genus (Melanerpes) as the Red-headed, the bill and general appearance of the Red-bellied is more coarse or less refined. I admit to a few favorite birds. The Red-headed Woodpecker is one.

Peter

An Eve to Remember.

2007-05-27T19:22:00.000-04:00

On Friday afternoon, Brett, First Landing Park Ranger, and I made plans and preparations to attempt to mist net a remarkable summer breeder in the Park, the Chuck-Will's-Widow, a nightjar. Check out, for example: http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/Digest%20Articles/Chuck_wills_widow.htm
We painted aluuminium net poles, cleared net lanes and gathered other needed gear, including electronic calling equipment.

The group of volunteers included newcomers Terry, Aaron and Rich along with the always dependable Renee, Sheila and John. Before sunset, we set up the mist nets (which were in two groups, one of three, the second of four) in formations around the audio equipment and placed a white bird bag in a pocket of each mist net (an English trapping practice said to attract nightjars). We then retired in the gathering darkness to watch Common Nighthawks in the clear skies above the Park.

Soon, we heard Chuck's calling in addition to our electronic versions. Our first of four net runs was at 2100 hours. Brett's group found the two Chuck's pictured above on that run in the same net. Each was in close proximity to the white bag! No other Chuck's were netted.

The species is remarkable. The plummage is soft to the touch; owl-like. The gape (bill opening) is an avian version of a baleen whale-enormous (able and willing to eat a Common Yellowthroat whole in Brett's experience). The feet and legs are small boned and semi-palmated. And the middle toe of each adult has a remarkable comb. The birds we captured were banded, measured and released. They were each adult males, as demonstrated by the white outer tail feathers, which number only ten in nightjars. Each bird weighed about 4 ounces.

Peter

Not Easy Being a Snake!

2007-05-24T21:45:00.001-04:00

As I have written before, on slow days there is much going on at the station. Today, the Osprey were busy feeding chick(s), shading them from the sun and undertaking some nest remodeling with new sticks and Spanish Moss.
Meanwhile, I caught a Great Blue Heron in the act of catching, killing and eating whole a large water snake. The distance and heat shimmer do not allow a clear image, but you can grasp the general idea. There was much snake shaking while holding both the head and then the tail. As usual, the prey was swallowed head first.

Peter

Prothonatory Success!

2007-05-24T21:23:00.000-04:00

Over the past several weeks, Renee, John and Ross, a CVWO volunteer about to graduate from Old Dominion with a degree in Biology, have been busy locating, cleaning and checking the 80 boxes which CVWO placed at First Landing last year in an effort to recover the numbers of Prothonatory Warblers breeding in the Park. On Tuesday afternoon, we visited several of the boxes which earlier scouting had indicated Prothonatory nesting activity.
Indeed, using her home-made net, Renee, after quietly wading into the swamp in her hip boots, captured an incubating female at a nest box. The bird was then banded, aged, measured and weighed before being released back near the nest box. The pictures show it all!
It was a fine start to the 2007 chapter of the project which will continue through the breeding season. Chicks will be banded as well as adults. The goal of the project is to restore this wonderful warbler, a symbol to many of the southern cypress wetlands, to First Landing State Park.

Peter

Riches to Rags; the Flood and Ebb of Migration

2007-05-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

Monday was the biggest day of the migration. Before dawn it was apparent that there were many birds about the station by both song and movement. I only opened 14 nets and began closing nets during the second net run. At the end of the day 109 new birds were banded with 9 recaps. New species included: Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo (finally) and Baltimore Oriole. A Gray-cheeked Thrush is also pictured. It was a tiring, long day. Common Yellowthroats were 44 strong, followed by 13 Black-throated Blue Warblers and 9 American Redstarts. Catbirds only numbered three.
Monday night the birds moved north en mass. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday new birds failed to break 10 each day. The avian activity about the station was limited largely to local breeders, including a recaptured ATY Red-bellied Woodpecker, a first of season.
There remains a group of migrants yet to come through, such as Wood Pewee. Perhaps they will arrive on the next warm south winds.

Peter

Feels Like May, Again.

2007-05-20T20:03:00.000-04:00

And the birds are on the move again. With 40 new birds of twelve species on Saturday (plus two hummers) and 98 new of twenty-one species on Sunday, migrating songbirds were again on the move. Six new-of-the-season species were netted over the weekend, of which four are pictured. The new species were: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Marsh Wren, Wilson's Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated-green Warbler and Red-winged Blackbird. Recaps were few: three on Saturday, one Sunday.

Common Yellowthroat was the most numerous species each day, with 21 on Saturday and 32 on Sunday. On Sunday there was a surge of American Redstarts and four thrushes of the Catharus genus, Swainson's, Bicknell's, Veery and Gray-cheeked. Warblers were eleven species: Redstart, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue(all females), Black-throated Green, Parula, Wilson's, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Northern Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat. Catbirds were on the decline with only three banded on Sunday.

Neither day could have been successful without our volunteers. Marcia, a Virginia Master Naturalist participant, patiently and accurately scribed each day. Renee, Sheila and John helped keep the nets cleared (and brought more bird bags when they were needed) on Sunday. Brendan, my nephew visiting from Washington D.C., provided logistical support and encouragement. All netted birds flew off because of their efforts.

Finally, the station was visited by many individuals over the period. Two interested groups of Cub Scouts and Brownies from Virginia Beach took the opportunity to view the birds up close at the banding table. They began to appreciate the critical importance of stop-over places like First Landing State Park to migrating songbirds in a chain which stretches across two continents from wintering grounds to breeding grounds and back.

Peter

Feels Like April.

2007-05-18T17:35:00.001-04:00

This morning it was overcast, wind in the NE and lightly raining as I walked to the station. After opening the most sheltered nets, conditions only became more raw and damp for the birds. Following two catbirds and four bandits (male Common Yellowthroats), I closed up and returned to quarters.

Yesterday was a rainout, blowout day, although Renee and John took me for a soft-shell crab sandwich lunch at Bubba's! I recommend the fare and location at Lynnhaven Inlet.

Wednesday was quite productive, although a strong SW wind left many nets closed. Temps in the mid-80s slowed things down by late morning. Sheila and I banded 47 new, with 5 recaps, of 13 species. Yellowthroats outnumbered catbirds 16 to 14, with Blackpoll Warbler next at seven. Highlights of the day were a season's first Bicknell's Thrush (we measured everything) and ASY female, Indigo Bunting, pictured.

Peter

Two Productive Days.

2007-05-15T19:33:00.001-04:00

Monday and Tuesday each were fine spring days to be outdoors. Monday saw a record low temperature for the date in Virginia Beach. It was 7.1 C at the the station. Tuesday also had a cool start. But the sun quickly warmed the air and dried the nets.

Monday brought 15 new and 5 recaps of ten species, including five warbler species, a House Wren and a Swainson's Thrush. There were no new species. Summer Tanagers were singing in the trees above the station most of the morning. No cuckoos.

Tuesday brought a brisk and building SW breeze which may bode well for tomorrow. Thirty-three new were banded with six recaps of only nine species, none new. Common Yellowthroats were most numerous at 13, followed by Blackpoll Warbler with 8 and Gray Catbird 5. Also of note were four Magnolia Warblers and a Great Crested Flycatcher.

John, Renee, Sheila and Ross (CVWO Prothonotary Warbler intern) were at the station. Renee and Sheila each did some of the banding, Sheila for the first time. John, Renee and Sheila also assisted with extracting birds and furling the nets as the wind freshened sharply at mid-morning.

Peter

Cape May Visit!

2007-05-13T17:21:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day at the station was overcast, breezy and sharply cooler. Indeed, it was 56 degrees when I furled the last nets about 1330, fifteen degrees cooler than the predawn temperature yesterday. The nets were damp when opened at 0530 and remained so throughout most of the morning making extractions about the toes difficult. We managed 39 new birds and 7 recaps for the day.

Catbirds outnumbered Common Yellowthroats eleven to ten. Magnolia Warblers held on for place with four new. Counting recaps, our species total was fifteen, including eight warbler species, Veery and Indigo Bunting. The final few net runs of the day were worth freezing for.

As we began banding the 1000 net run, Sheila, CVWO's now-accomplished extractor, calmly announced to me that there was a new species in one of the bags from net A7. She was not certain of the identification. The run had yielded a dozen or so birds and we were hanging the bird bags from a pole under the banding table to keep them comfortable and out of the NE wind. Thus, we did not search through the bags for those from A7.

As it happened, the A7 bags were two in number and they had been placed on the pole first. Therefore they were the last to come off the pole. Sheila is an accomplished birder. As she was writing down the data pertaining to the other birds I was banding (that is called "scribing"), she managed furtive looks at the fine, color plates in the Peterson Warbler Guide. She had made a silent, private, tentative identification of her bird as I pulled it from the last bag of the run.

There is a simple difference between birding and banding birds. When birding you do not have to be certain of the identification of the species you are fortunate enough to see. One can be reasonably certain that one saw this species or that and announce it to the world. Unless it is a rare species or one outside of its usual geographic range, your identification will likely be accepted without further question.

When banding birds, which is a scientific undertaking, it is a cardinal rule that one must be certain of the identification of each bird before a band is placed upon its leg. Thus, when Sheila and I first gazed upon the drab warbler pictured above, neither of us was certain that it was a second-year, female, Cape May Warbler. We looked at the Peterson Warbler plates. Could be. We looked at the Sibley plate. Perhaps. Then we pulled out The Pyle Guide, measured the wing and tail of our mate, fussed about the rump and auricular patch and went through the description of a second-year female Cape May Warbler phrase by phrase while examining the bird in my hand. We also briefly considered whether the individual could be a second-year Myrtle Warbler as suggested by Pyle. Then I crimped a ring on the girl. Such moments make field ornithology a wonderful endeavor.

See if you agree with our identification as you review the first three images above.

A day's second first-of-season warbler arrived on the last net run, a second-year, female Yellow Warbler. Yellow Warblers had been heard about the station for the past two days, so it was very fine to net one. Now, if our nets could do the same for a certain cuckoo or two....

Peter

Attack of the Yellowthroats?

2007-05-12T16:34:00.000-04:00

Sheila and I had a satisfying, turnaround day today. With Sheila scribing and extracting more than her share of catbirds and warblers (including ten warblers from wallpapered net C1 on the 1000 net run), we banded 66 new with 3 recaps. Common Yellowthroats were everywhere, but mostly in the lowest pockets (of course). Most COYE displayed remarkable restraint and refrained from doing their helicopter trick (which leaves them in a great tangle of net, legs, wings and feathers).

Blackpoll Warblers, including the first females of the season, were 9 in number. We also had Black and White, Black-throated Blue (both sexes), Magnolia, American Redstart and Ovenbird. Veery, Red-eyed Vireo and a Cardinal rounded out the day.

Yellow-billed Cuckoos continue to be seen and heard about the station. It is just a matter of time before we catch one, especially as there is some low-elevation chasing going on.

Peter

Disappointing Days.

2007-05-11T17:18:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday have been slow days yielding no new species for the season and few total birds; fifteen on Wednesday tops the list! Renee, Sheila, Cindy, John and Brian have each joined me at the station hoping for an influx of migrants. Each left disappointed. Today, Yellow-billed Cuckoos were seen and heard as were Blackpolled and Yellow Warblers and Red-headed Woodpeckers, but their numbers were few and they were high in the tree canopy.

We did have our first, female, Black-throated Blue Warbler today, but she seemed a bit stressed, so she was allowed to fly off unphotographed. The Veery and the male Ruby-throat pictured will have to do. We are still looking to the south for a brisk wind, clear night and new migrants.

Peter

The Week That Was.

2007-05-08T18:51:00.000-04:00

Weather conditions have caused the banding station to be closed the past three days, Sunday-Tuesday. High winds out of the NE coupled with occassional rain and showers have kept the nets closed. The winds damaged the tarp at the station and blew limbs and debris into some of the net lanes and nets. Repairs and cleanup were undertaken this morning. The wind is down just now, but the forecast is for rain showers again tomorrow morning.

On last Thursday, Dr. Bob Reilly and Renee operated the station. They handled two new species for the season--- Blue Grosbeak and a Magnolia Warbler. On Friday and Saturday, there were no new species banded and many recaptures netted (including Thursday's Maggie, pictured). When the wind gets out of the NE later this week, we should be in for some big days. Flycatchers, orioles, cuckoos and more warblers---such as a Yellow and Wilson's, have yet to be ringed this season. Perhaps a Cape May?

Peter

Osprey News.

2007-05-08T18:36:00.000-04:00

No, these are not First Landing Osprey. Rather thay are Westport, Massachusetts Osprey pictured in 2006---just out of the egg and almost ready to fledge. First Landing Osprey 788-20124 and her mate have hatched at least one chick during the past week. They can seen brooding and tending the chick(s) on the nest, although the height of the nest above my vantage point does allow me to see any chick(s).

The Osprey were seen on and about the nest today. I infer that the chick(s) have therefore survived the NE winds, rain showers and cool temperatures of the past three days.

Peter

Mayday a Day Late!

2007-05-02T16:30:00.000-04:00

The wind was blowing out of the SW, hard. Only fourteen nets were open at dawn. Renee was there at first net run. Sheila and Jeff showed up shortly thereafter. There was some dawn bird song, but I had my scope out to check out the Osprey nest for signs of chicks. Big mistake. Never got a peak at the Osprey.

The first net run yielded some fourteen birds, some badly tangled. We did a second net run before we banded the first bird. Yet, the morning went smoothly. Final tally, 76 new, three recaps, no hummers (for the 2d day). Three new species for the year were banded: SY Rose-breasted Grosbeak (not handsome), Swainson's Thrush and American Redstart. Further, Scarlet Tanager was heard and a Kentucky Warbler was seen by the reliable Sheila. Also, Red-headed Woodpecker, Black-throated Green Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo were seen.

Thirteen warblers were banded: Redstart, Blue-winged, Black and White, Black-throated Blue, Prairie, Prothonotary, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, Myrtle, Blackpoll, Ovenbird, Northern Parula and Northern Waterthrush. A fine Mayday.

Peter

Catbird Seat.

2007-05-01T19:14:00.000-04:00

The past four days have brought modest numbers of birds to the banding table. Saturday 53 new, Sunday 25 new, Monday 16 new and today 36 new. No new species for the season were recorded and catbirds were the most numerous species each day.
But I like catbirds (and White-throats) and so do our volunteers, Kathy, Renee, John and Sheila. Indeed, Renee banded her first passerine on Monday, a fine catbird!

Peter

Indigo Morning.

2007-04-27T14:55:00.000-04:00

Renee Hudgins and John Young joined me this warm, humid morning for another interesting day of migration banding. Renee and John extracted many birds and assisted at the banding table to make a busy day most enjoyable.

The southeast wind was blowing hard enough to keep a few nets closed. Rain showers, wind and heat finally shut things down by 1100. Nevertheless, we ringed 18 species, including three, male, first-of-season Indigo Buntings.

The final tally was 38 new banded, 5 recaps and one hummer (released at net). Gray Catbirds were eight; Black and White Warbler and White-throated Sparrows were each four. In all, there were nine warbler species: Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, B&W, Palm, Black-throated Blue, Prairie and Northern Parula. The station's first male Eastern Towhee was banded along with another Wood Thrush.
Peter

Are There Fewer White-throated Sparrows at Your Feeder Today?

2007-04-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

It was a cool 52 degrees and the wind was in the east before dawn, but the chip calls of White-throats were everywhere as I opened the nets at 0540. I placed a dozen birds in bags just walking back to the banding table before the first net run was to start. Eight of them were White-throats!

The station has been open for six weeks this spring. During that period exactly two White-throats were netted. No Tom Peabody songs were heard. Today, forty-six now sport some bling. Yes, White-throats are on the move. And they are everywhere in the First Landing State Park today. In the leaf litter, on the shrubs, in the sand trails--there are sparrows foraging and singing.

There were three new species today among the 82 new banded, 5 recaps and one hummer. The station was so busy I only took an image of one—a Blackpoll Warbler. A Veery and a Blue-headed Vireo were the others. In all the activity, the fourth Pileated Woodpecker of the season was just another avian. More tomorrow.

Peter

Do We Have a Trend?

2007-04-25T19:12:00.000-04:00

The tally today was 42 new banded, 3 recaps and 2 hummers (released unbanded). Twenty-three species, of which seven were new for the season, were handled with able assistance from volunteers Renee, Kathy and John. All went smoothly on the net lanes and at the banding table. Highlights of the day were season's first Yellow-breasted Chat, Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Waterthrush and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Seven Swamp Sparrows led the day followed by four Northern Parulas and four Northern Waterthrushes. Get out your field guide to ID the new species pictured. Hint: the last bird shown is a female and has yellow undertail coverts.

As the daily numbers rise, more able assistance is needed at the station. If you have extracting or scribing skills, kindly contact me at caspiantern at gmail.com or Dr. Bob Reilly at rjreilly at vcu.edu.

Peter

A Prothonotary Sort of Day.

2007-04-24T17:19:00.000-04:00

When I think of a Prothonotary Warbler visions of damp, shaded, hot Southern swamps come to mind. With the air temperatures now unseasonably warm and a brisk southerly breeze blowing through the Spanish Moss, a Prothonotary arrived in net B7 just after ten. My first in hand and I had the bird as an ASY female. Do you agree?

With the addition of Ovenbird, House Wren and Common Grackle it was a very nice day at First Landing. (And the wind kept five of our 21 nets closed.) The day's final tally was very respectable: 31 new birds banded, three recaps and two hummers released at the net-eighteen species in all. Gray Catbirds placed with four, but Yellow Palm Warblers numbered eight to take the day. Among the eight was a SY individual with the white primaries and primary coverts pictured. This example of partial albinism is highly unusual. Google the term and you will find this to be the case. Note the dramatic wear on the tips of the white primary feathers of each wing.

Peter

South Wind Turnover.

2007-04-23T17:31:00.000-04:00

It cannot be called an influx. The daily numbers of new birds banded on Sunday and Monday did not break the teens. However, the south breeze of Saturday night and again Sunday brought in a Catbird, an Ovenbird, a Worm-eating Warbler and a Great-crested Flycatcher, each new species for the season. Things are looking up. More birds are behind these. Gnatcatchers have moved on; no recaptures or new individuals in two days. None heard today.

The Green Heron pictured is the individual here at First Landing. The previous pictured Green was an Everglades bird.

Peter

Storm Holdovers Gone; No Replacements.

2007-04-21T14:35:00.000-04:00

The last three days have been slow, slower and slowest. Only four, new banded birds today with but two recaps (although one of the new was a SY Brown-headed Nuthatch). The migrants which were trapped here during the NEer have departed in the gentle evening breezes which have prevailed here since Thursday. This morning was calm, cool, damp and quiet at dawn. Until a southerly wind brings in some replacement migrants, it is likely to remain the same. A group of Catbirds and Ovenbirds would be nice.

One new species was banded yesterday, a female Prairie Warbler. Other images show an alternate plummaged, SY male Myrtle Warbler, a recaptured SY Pileated Woodpecker (banded earlier this season) together with a look at the equipment which allow him to climb vertical surfaces with such ease (with tail assistance).

A south wind would be wonderful.

Peter

A Gnatcatcher Day.

2007-04-18T16:46:00.000-04:00

Thirty new birds banded today; six recaptured. No new species netted. Fifteen of the thirty were Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Warblers were Common Yellowthroat, Myrtle, Northern Parula, Pine, Palm and Black and White. Kathy Spencer, a participant in the Master Naturalist Program, assisted at the banding table and nets today.
Peter

All's Well and Active.

2007-04-17T13:38:00.000-04:00

I visited the banding station mid-morning to check on the nets, net lanes and banding table. Everything was in good order and secure.

On the walk in and out along Long Creek I came upon a number of feeding flocks composed of gnatcatchers, parulas and Black and White Warblers. There were also groups of chickadees, Brown-headed Nuthatches, titmice and kinglets. The banded Osprey and her mate were by the nest and they looked to have survived the blow, which is slowly moderating. Our nets will re-open on Wednesday morning.

Perhaps there have been additional migrants brought in by the storm. A quick look at www.birdingonthe.net yields some interesting possibilities: tanagers and grosbeaks are on the eastern end of Long Island, for example!

Snowy Egrets are now numerous about the marshes along the Creek. A group of 12 Glossy Ibis flew overhead. The Horned Grebes were no longer present, but the Buffleheads, mergansers and Common Loon continue. The Green Heron remains as well.

Peter

Green Herons.

2007-04-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

On Saturday the 14th, the first of the season Green Heron appeared at the station. [As three Snowy Egrets had flown past on Friday, this completed the list of herons expected to be seen at First Landing during the breeding season.] The sight of a Green Heron always causes me to reflect on a flightless, still somewhat-downy, juvenile Green Heron which I “boarded” in my bathtub for two weeks in late July a number of years ago in upstate New York.

That heron had walked out of the hayfields and into the front yard on a Sunday morning. It was about to be killed by my farm flock of laying hens. I grabbed the bird before the hens could undertake their plan.

According to the first breeding bird atlas of New York State, Green Herons did not breed in my county. Nor did they breed above 1200 feet in elevation. This heron disproved both hypotheses. The bird wanted no part of wetted dog food. But the juvenile instantly grabbed an offered frog and knew what to do with it. As that Green Heron daily consumed a dozen or more frogs and fished from a large dog bowl as many minnows as I could catch, it allowed a glimpse into what it is to be a wild creature and how proficient they are at it. (The bird never tolerated close human presence. It hissed at every approach.)

On the morning of the bird’s release, a bright band identifying this Green Heron was placed on the right leg. With a cotton hood over the bird’s head to reduce stress, I walked the heron down to the stream which runs through my farm out of which I had taken many of the frogs and minnows. As the time came to release the bird into our world, I found myself trembling and in tears. What would become of “Esmeralda?” Would THIS bird survive a first south-bound migration? Would THIS heron find wintering habitat in which to survive the non-breeding season? Would THIS individual complete a north-bound migration and perhaps even return to this area to breed?
My fears were not about Esmeralda’s fitness to survive in an environment in which Green Herons had evolved for countless generations. Rather, it was whether this bird could survive the obstacles of what we call “our civilization.” I ask that question and wish good fortune for each wild bird I have the privilege to handle. Each year these obstacles rapidly grow in number and degree.

It is now possible for everyone to follow individual wild birds of many species through web cams and satellite positioning devices. [The weight of such devices is now light enough to place such transmitters safely aboard birds weighing as little as 100 grams.] Likely you know about web sites for eagles, falcons and loons. Thanks to a tip from an old friend in New Zealand, you might try following the current north-bound migration of Bar-tailed Godwits, a shorebird related to the Marbled and Hudsonian Godwits seen on the east coast of the United States, from wintering grounds in New Zealand to breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska at: www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/shorebirds/overall.html or www.nzshorebirds.com Read about the destruction of important stop-over sites in Korea.

If you find yourself bound to these remarkable birds do not be surprised for we are each bound to the other; do something. Join an organization, like Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, cvwo.org, or Defenders of Wildlife, defenders.org. Speak out for the conservation and preservation of healthy ecosystems in your community. Ask questions of government, such as why the Cape Hatteras National Seashore allows off-road vehicles year-around use of beach areas essential to the survival and recovery of sea turtles, migrating shorebirds and beach-nesting plovers, terns and oystercatchers.
Peter