Fall rolls in....... By Chris Sukha

Chrsi Sukha with a kingfisher we caught last week

Today's blog is by Chris Sukha. Chris is our bander in charge and has been with us for years. I would have to ask Chris how many. He resides in Field Ontario and his banding resume includes banding in Northern  British Columbia and the Yukon as well as Thunder cape and Long point Bird observatories. We are lucky to have his expertise guiding us and helping to train the next generation of banders. This is Chris' first full Autumn with us and  I am  glad he has been here to witness our record season. We may well be talking about the autumn of 2017 for years to come. So here is my good friend Chris Sukha with today's blog. 

FALL ROLLS IN…

Ah, September! September is time of change, a season of transition. Leaves slowly start changing from deep green to yellows, oranges and red, the air gets a certain chill in the early hours of the morning, and flocks of Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes start to visit local hay fields. Birds that were before only migrating short distances are now undertaking their southbound adventures in earnest, needing to get south before cold settles in.

black throated green warbler

Today the first thing I noticed was a lack of Hummingbirds at the Marsh today. We don’t always catch them in the nets, but we had been seeing or hearing them whirr around almost non-stop since early August. Today, none. To be sure, there will likely be a few yet to come through, but many will already be in the Middle states by now, on their way to winter grounds in South America.

a leucistic  canada goose  Leucism is an abnormal colouration in feathers created by a genetic condition  that prevents colouration of many of the feathers 

And numbers of Canada Geese have been steadily building, along with the bugling of Sandhill Cranes. Ducks are flying around more now as well, and many more sparrows seem to be moving about, calling in the thickets. Many more Swamp Sparrows, affectionately called “swampies” by us banders, will be showing up in the nets soon! Almost 1-third of all Swamp Sparrows banded in Ontario per year are banded at our very own Hilliardton Marsh! Lincoln’s Sparrow, lovely little brown jobbies that breed at the Marsh and northward have started showing up as well, another sure sign of change in the air.

a normal Canada and "Casper the friendly goose"

On the one hand, it’s always sad to see summer leave us. On the other band, uh, I mean hand, the arrival of September signals the migration of many cool species at the Marsh, including my personal favorite, owls. Gotta love those cute little Saw-whet Owls!!! And the graceful Long-eared Owls, and those mysterious, feisty Boreal Owls! As we say goodbye to one set of Marsh species, another set moves in.

Sarah Bonnett showing off the blue from yesterday

Numbers drop in early September, as this season of transition comes upon us, but we know that many more exciting days of migration are ahead of us as the month goes on, and we stand poised for the waves of sparrows to hit by day, and migrating owls by night. Stay tuned!!!

Here are today’s totals;  Sept 5th 2017

Alder Flycatcher 1

Least Flycatcher 1

White-throated Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 1

Lincoln’s Sparrow 2

Swamp Sparrow 7

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2

Red-eyed Vireo 6

Philadelphia Vireo 3

Black-and-white Warbler 2

Nashville Warbler 4

Northern Parula 1

Yellow Warbler 1

Myrtle Warbler 1

Magnolia Warbler 1

Chestnut-sided Warbler 2

Black-throated Green Warbler 1

Mourning Warbler 2

Common Yellowthroat 15

Wilson’s Warbler 3

American Redstart 1

Gray Catbird 1

Swainson’s Thrush 1

Veery 2

for a total of 62 birds, of 24 species,

Chris Sukha.

 

volunteer Rick Caldwell with a Northern Parula