As many here know, I have had banders come to my yard (and my neighbor's yard) over the past few years. It started with hummingbirds, but then expanded to Painted Buntings and other wild birds.
Yesterday, the Painted Bunting banding crew from Stuart, Florida came up to capture and band what they could. This Fall starting on Oct. 11th, I began seeing previously banded Painted Buntings returning to my yard. So far, I've photographed and seen 7 banded returnees. Yesterday, the banding team captured and banded 4 new "green" birds and recaptured 3 adult male banded returnees. (The green birds may be female Painted Buntings or immature males.) The team also captured and banded: 1 Blue Jay, 1 Carolina Wren, 2 male Cardinals (both young birds), and 1 Grackle. (They also caught a Ruby-throated hummingbird in one of the mist nets, but let it go quickly as the hummers get stressed pretty rapidly. One of the banders didn't think to check it's leg as he did not know I had 3 banded this past Winter.)
So here are some photos of the event:
Grackle:
Male Painted Bunting returnee band number being verified:
"Green" Painted Bunting after legs were banded:
Checking wing feathers:
This bird had not eaten much yet and was given some sugar water to perk it up before being released. The banders take extra precaution of the welfare of the birds they are banding.:
Carolina Wren and it's beautiful feathers:
I didn't take as many photos as I usually do because I was back and forth between my yard and my neighbor's yard. As always, it's a real pleasure to invite this banding crew to my yard and learn more interesting information about some of the birds they band!
