The best day yet with a total of 9, and a record day for American Kestrels. Sue, Dalene, Pat and 3 first time visitors were treated to another day of perfect weather. It was in the 80's by mid afternoon with virtually no wind.
We started just after 7:30 and caught our first bird at 8:02. The early bird (trapper) catches the worm (most birds)!
The most Kestrels we have banded in 1 day since the project started in 2001 is 3, and we doubled that on Wednesday by banding 6. There were times when up to 3 were around the set together and at one point, 2 AMKE's were stooping a SSHA that landed in the close fir. One AMKE we banded had a grasshopper wing in with it's tail feathers.
Other highlights of the day were an abundance of Lewis's Woodpeckers, swarms of bugs moving through, and more than 17 Turkey Vultures observed, 2 of which Pat saw copulating in a fir near the power lines.
We are now up to a total of 24. In comparison to our other best years, in 2005 we had 10 as of August 29, and last year we had 9 as of August 29.
We are still waiting for our first NOGO, adult RTHA, and large falcon of the season!
Raptors banded:
1 HY male SSHA
1 HY female SSHA
1 HY female COHA
5 HY male AMKE
1 HY female AMKE
Photos of the day:
male AMKE
male AMKE
female AMKE
