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Breeding Season 2005
Hannah Suthers
Paucity of rain and record heat impacted the breeding
season. ATVs fractured the largest vernal puddle on Featherbed Lane so
that it drained, and the other four also dried by mid June, stranding
thousands of wood frog tadpoles and salamander larvae. The vernal
pool under study had water throughout, and attracted birds and other
wildlife. Insects requiring water in their life cycle were fewer in
number. Ground cover was wilted by June, and the drought-resistant,
invasive stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) overgrew. Fledglings were
few and late, but multi-brooded species still had subsequent broods.
The ground-nesting Ovenbirds were hard hit, with only 8 young banded,
compared to 14 last year and 27 in 2003. The feral cat persists and
a fox has moved in. The ground-nesting Towhees were also hard hit.
Breeding species totaled 63, of which 24 were Neotropical, 17 temporate
migrants and 22 resident. Highlights of singing male census and banding
are as follows:
| Wild Turkey | poult found dead mid June |
| Cooper's Hawk | Aug 14 flythrough |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 pairs throughout |
| Eastern Screech Owl | pair heard throughout |
| Great-horned Owl | 2 pairs |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 3 pairs heard throughout |
| Hairy Woodpecker | with two fledglings June 20 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 1 pair, possibly 2, seen throughout |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 2 pairs |
| Great-crested Flycatcher | 6 pairs |
| Eastern Wood Pewee | 6 pairs |
| Willow Flycatcher | 1 pair |
| Eastern Phoebe | 2, banded fledgling and breeding female July 24 |
| Baltimore Oriole | 13 pairs |
| House Finch | only 3 pairs |
| Field Sparrow | 3 pairs, banded female July 10 |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | 15 pairs, banded male June 5, fledgling June 12, female July 10, hatch-year July 24 |
| Indigo Bunting | 2 pairs, banded female July 3 |
| Scarlet Tanager | 7 pairs |
| Barn Swallow | 5 pairs had 20 fledglings |
| Tree Swallow | seen on 24 July |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 11 pairs, banded family July 24 |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 5 pairs |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 2 pairs, banded hatch-year Aug 28 |
| Blue-winged Warbler | 10 pairs, banded 3 males, 2 females, 2 fledglings |
| Yellow Warbler | only 2 pairs |
| Common Yellowthroat | 28 pairs, banded adults and young |
| American Redstart | 1 pair, banded hatch-year Aug 7 |
| Hooded Warbler | banded breeding male July 3, hatch-year male July 24 |
| Gray Catbird | 59 pairs, banded adults and young |
| Hybrid Chickadee | 1, banded breeding female July 3 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 pair |
| Gray Catbird | 59 pairs, banded adults and young |
| Wood Thrush | 29 pairs, banded adults and young |
| Veery | 13 pairs, banded adults and young |
| American Robin | 39 pairs (increasing), banded adults and young |
| Eastern Bluebird | 1 pair, small flock 24 July |
| Worm-eating Warbler | seen Aug 28 |
| Early Migrants: | |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | banded Aug 28 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | banded Aug 28 |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | seen Aug 28 |
| Canada Warbler | seen Aug 14, banded Aug 28 |
| Magnolia Warbler | banded Aug 28 |
The first fall migrant, a Northern Waterthrush, was banded on 3
August. By 8 August adult birds were gone except for multibrooded
Catbirds and Robins. Migrant Chestnut-sided Warbler and American
Redstarts were banded. A Hooded Warbler was banded on 15 August and an
accipiter sighted. On August 22, in addition to the above mentioned
species, Alder Flycatcher, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green,
and Canada Warblers were banded. On August 29 the first Magnolia
Warbler was banded.
Hannah Suthers and the Featherbed Lane Banding Station Crew
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