Well the Hawk Station has been set up since the beginng of September and thus far we are at 0 Bandings. I have been able to get out 7 days of the first 13 and there has not been a Flight to speak of. Hopefully the predictions of a warmer and dryer than normal Fall are not true and we will get a better Flight than last Season.
The Owl nets will be setup by the 20th of the month and time will tell how well we will do!
On a sad note , we are with a Heavy Heart with the passing of Nancy Heidenriech.
I was lucky to have made several ventures around the Innisfree Properties with Nancy and her Husband Conrad. If it wasn't for them, my work on the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas would have suffered emencely and I would not have had the Good Fortune to have start the Innisfree Banding and Hawk Watch Station.
She will be sorely missed !Our Condolances go out to Conrad and their Children and all that knew and Loved her!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Nestlings!
Every Season we try to band the Nestlings of the Osprey Platform and Kestrel Boxes. This season was no exception , and was shaping up to be a good season. Between 2 Nest Boxes that I knew were in use, there wher 9 eggs. Although they were about 3 weeks behind last years dates.
Banding of the Kestrels took place on June 27 and 28th last season as did the Osprey Chicks. This season they were a little later. July 1st saw the Osperys banded . 2 chicks and 1 Idled egg were in the nest. This brought our total to 12 Osprey banded over 5 seasons! This is a pretty good showing we feel , and look forward to many more seasons of banding the Osprey of Innisfree!
The Kestrels were just starting to hatch on the 1st of July at Innisfree and and a 2nd box down the road. A third box on the 3rd line fledged (again) before we had checked it! They had atleast 3 chicks as there were 5 Kestrels seen flying about the location on the 27th of June. A box on the 4th line I thought was not used as I had seen Starling often in the vicinity. Today on inspection I learned that the Kestrels I had seen down the road were obviously from this box. That was another 4 young for sure as 6 individuals were seen a few days earlier.
The boxes at Innisfree and the 2nd line were checked today with poor results! The box with 5 eggs yielded only 1 Chick and 2 Idled eggs. The Box on the 2nd line with 4 eggs , yielded only 2 Idled eggs and alot of Ants!
Needless to say I was quite disheartened about the outcome! But that is the way it goes I guess. I try not to disturb nests and have lost opportunity to Band Nestlings due to not being a little more pro-active of checking the Boxes. So I will endeavour to check all the boxes atleast twice a nesting season.
We did replace 1 old box today on the 6th Line and put up a box at a new site on the 5th Line. There will be atleast 10 more Boxes erected in the next 6- 8 months!
Banding of the Kestrels took place on June 27 and 28th last season as did the Osprey Chicks. This season they were a little later. July 1st saw the Osperys banded . 2 chicks and 1 Idled egg were in the nest. This brought our total to 12 Osprey banded over 5 seasons! This is a pretty good showing we feel , and look forward to many more seasons of banding the Osprey of Innisfree!
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| Osprey Chicks with new Stainless Steel Bands |
The Kestrels were just starting to hatch on the 1st of July at Innisfree and and a 2nd box down the road. A third box on the 3rd line fledged (again) before we had checked it! They had atleast 3 chicks as there were 5 Kestrels seen flying about the location on the 27th of June. A box on the 4th line I thought was not used as I had seen Starling often in the vicinity. Today on inspection I learned that the Kestrels I had seen down the road were obviously from this box. That was another 4 young for sure as 6 individuals were seen a few days earlier.
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| Liam and the Only Kestrel Chick that was Banded |
Needless to say I was quite disheartened about the outcome! But that is the way it goes I guess. I try not to disturb nests and have lost opportunity to Band Nestlings due to not being a little more pro-active of checking the Boxes. So I will endeavour to check all the boxes atleast twice a nesting season.
We did replace 1 old box today on the 6th Line and put up a box at a new site on the 5th Line. There will be atleast 10 more Boxes erected in the next 6- 8 months!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Well yeah ,it's been 4 months since I have posted, but there is not a whole lot of "New" news! The Spring banding season came and went with mixed success. I was able to get out several nights for Owl Banding, but caught no Saw-whets. I was able to catch 8 new Long-eared Owls however and had a retrap of the Eastern Screech Owl that we originally caught the night Nina was out for the Owl Banding.
On the Raptor front, it didn't fair well at all. I believe I caught only 1 Red-tail in the nets . Nigel had a bit of success with the Goshawk Traps at Edwards Farms. He caught a couple Red-tails, a Coopers and a Great-horned Owl. Road trapping was somewhat successful with a few more Red-tails,Kestrels and Northen Shrikes. A big surprise was a Snowy Owl caught and Banded in late april.
The summer is seeing a few of our Nest boxes being used by Kestrels, and will be checking them in a week or two for Banding the Fledglings. The Osprey are most likely raising young by now, and we will once again Band the Chicks. Turkey Vultures are once again nesting on the property of Innisfree Farms but in a differant Barn this time. The Eggs are probably hatched now, but I haven't been there in over a week. We are nt qualified to Tag the Turkey Vultures ,so will only monitor the nest and fledging for Dates.
Nigel has spent the Spring season as Head of the Banding Operations at Tommy Thompson Park on the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto. Although the Passerines are not what he endeavours to band , he has had a great Spring! Banding a new Species for him(Yellow-breasted Chat) and an extremely Rare Warbler Hybrid. A cross between a Black and Grey and a Townsends Warbler. This Hybrid has only been recorded a few times ever, but never in Ontario as they are both Western Warbler Species. It caused quite a stir when the info was released to the General Public, but that was not until it was confirmed by Experts from Cornell of their suspicions.
On the Raptor front, it didn't fair well at all. I believe I caught only 1 Red-tail in the nets . Nigel had a bit of success with the Goshawk Traps at Edwards Farms. He caught a couple Red-tails, a Coopers and a Great-horned Owl. Road trapping was somewhat successful with a few more Red-tails,Kestrels and Northen Shrikes. A big surprise was a Snowy Owl caught and Banded in late april.
Nigel has spent the Spring season as Head of the Banding Operations at Tommy Thompson Park on the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto. Although the Passerines are not what he endeavours to band , he has had a great Spring! Banding a new Species for him(Yellow-breasted Chat) and an extremely Rare Warbler Hybrid. A cross between a Black and Grey and a Townsends Warbler. This Hybrid has only been recorded a few times ever, but never in Ontario as they are both Western Warbler Species. It caused quite a stir when the info was released to the General Public, but that was not until it was confirmed by Experts from Cornell of their suspicions.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Winter Season
So far this winter has been short of spectacular! Although we are nearing the end of February, we really haven't experienced much winter . We have done Nil,Nada, Zilch Zip for Snow Buntings. They just haven't been around very much and definately not in Reliable Flocks. Horned Larks are already quite prevelent in the Fields and along the Roads of our Winter Study Areas. These are true Harbingers of Spring(not Robins)! We can only play the Cards we are dealt, and the Dealing has not been Great!
Second Year Northern Shrike
That being said, we have managed to catch 6 Snowy Owls(caught another today), about 6 Red-tails, 3 Kestrels, 3 Shrikes, 1 Coopers Hawk and 2 extremely unexpected Birds.
The first was a SY Red-shouldered Hawk . This is odd as they don't normally overwinter here in Simcoe County, especially as a Juvie.
Second Year Red-shouldered Hawk
The second was a SY Bald Eagle! Wow.........................didn't see that one coming!
Nigel caught the Eagle on a Bal-Chatri with a Hamster for Bait! He initially thought it was a Red-tail because the light was behind it, Boy was he surprised when this thing came Barrelling for the Hamster!In 30+ years of Banding this was Nigels first Eagle Species(Congrats)!
This also marked the first of both species for the Simcoe County Banding Group as a whole!
After Second Year Male Snowy Owl
Another ASY Snowy
After Second Year Male American Kestrel
My first Snowy Owl! An ASY Male
So I guess it hasn't been a total Bust! Actually it is a better season Raptor wise than last Winter, so lets hope that is a sign of things to come!
Nigel has left for a Banding Expedition in South Africa! He will be banding Raptors along the Kahlahari Trail(Lucky Bastard) ! He was selected by the AFC(Artist for Conservation) to recieve a Grant for this Trip. He will be doing Field Sketches and keeping notes ,aswell as taking alot of Photos. This is for when he returns he will have to do a series of Paintings and Tour with them , talking about How the importance of Bird Migration and Conservation is ! Congratulations on such an Honour Nigel!
Second Year Northern Shrike
That being said, we have managed to catch 6 Snowy Owls(caught another today), about 6 Red-tails, 3 Kestrels, 3 Shrikes, 1 Coopers Hawk and 2 extremely unexpected Birds.
The first was a SY Red-shouldered Hawk . This is odd as they don't normally overwinter here in Simcoe County, especially as a Juvie. Second Year Red-shouldered Hawk
The second was a SY Bald Eagle! Wow.........................didn't see that one coming!
Nigel caught the Eagle on a Bal-Chatri with a Hamster for Bait! He initially thought it was a Red-tail because the light was behind it, Boy was he surprised when this thing came Barrelling for the Hamster!In 30+ years of Banding this was Nigels first Eagle Species(Congrats)!
This also marked the first of both species for the Simcoe County Banding Group as a whole!
After Second Year Male Snowy Owl
Another ASY Snowy
After Second Year Male American Kestrel
My first Snowy Owl! An ASY Male
So I guess it hasn't been a total Bust! Actually it is a better season Raptor wise than last Winter, so lets hope that is a sign of things to come!
Nigel has left for a Banding Expedition in South Africa! He will be banding Raptors along the Kahlahari Trail(Lucky Bastard) ! He was selected by the AFC(Artist for Conservation) to recieve a Grant for this Trip. He will be doing Field Sketches and keeping notes ,aswell as taking alot of Photos. This is for when he returns he will have to do a series of Paintings and Tour with them , talking about How the importance of Bird Migration and Conservation is ! Congratulations on such an Honour Nigel!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
What Winter!
Well so far this seems to be the Winter that isn't! Some like it and others don't!
I don't!
We were hoping for a cold winter with average snows, to help bringalong our Winter Targets of Snowy Owls,Rough-legged HAwks and Snow Buntings. So far there have been few if any of these Species. The last week has brought more winter like weather, but we haven't ssen the Birds. We are still seeing lots of Summer Birds, such as Starlings,Robins and Flickers.
Such is life, when you set your Expectations High, you are often let down! We will still get a few of our Target Birds, that I am quite confident about, but "When?" is the question!
Our friend Mike Blom in Alberta, has had an Excellent year for Snowy Owls with atleast 18 Banded, plus some Hawk Owls.
Apparently from the Central Great Lakes and West, There is a huge push of Snowy Owls! These are mostly younger Birds. They had great Nesting Seasons with lots of Food, so they produced lots of Young. Now they are driven out by, "not lack of Food, but increased Competition with the many Snowy Owls" mostly Females that are larger than the Males.
All we can do is wait and see, and try to be prepared for when our moment arises!
Happy New Years, and heres to a productive 2012!
I don't!
We were hoping for a cold winter with average snows, to help bringalong our Winter Targets of Snowy Owls,Rough-legged HAwks and Snow Buntings. So far there have been few if any of these Species. The last week has brought more winter like weather, but we haven't ssen the Birds. We are still seeing lots of Summer Birds, such as Starlings,Robins and Flickers.
Such is life, when you set your Expectations High, you are often let down! We will still get a few of our Target Birds, that I am quite confident about, but "When?" is the question!
Our friend Mike Blom in Alberta, has had an Excellent year for Snowy Owls with atleast 18 Banded, plus some Hawk Owls.
Apparently from the Central Great Lakes and West, There is a huge push of Snowy Owls! These are mostly younger Birds. They had great Nesting Seasons with lots of Food, so they produced lots of Young. Now they are driven out by, "not lack of Food, but increased Competition with the many Snowy Owls" mostly Females that are larger than the Males.
All we can do is wait and see, and try to be prepared for when our moment arises!
Happy New Years, and heres to a productive 2012!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Closed for the Season
Well, I closed everything down this week! I just haven't had much time to get out,and thought I had better get it done before the Snow Flies.
It was not a great season in general, but I will accept it for what it was, after all I am in it for the long haul and each year is diffeent for whatever reasons.
The weather was the biggest factor,as it always is ,for good or bad!
We had far to many days of South winds that just don't help with the overall flight of migrating Raptors.Much of the winds were very strong and warm. Rain kept me from getting out on more than a dozen days and work got in the way!
Overall individual species numbers were down in comparison to previous years. We did how ever set 2 new "Station Highs" both on the same day!
Broad-winged Hawks and Bald Eagles
They came on an All-time High Count day at the station , and if it wasn't for this day the Season would have been a total Crash!
I finished with 14 Hawks Banded ,which is the lowest total in 6 years of Operation.
Red-tailed Hawks seemed to fail breeding wise , with mostly Adults being caught and not many being seen! The summer weather I thought was near perfect for Breeding, but maybe the Food Source just wasn't that great! They usually make up 75% of Hawks banded at the station, but this season made up for about 25%.
The Owl migration was also slow, due to the same problems as the Hawk migration.
I finished the year with 76 new Northern Saw-whet Owls and 1 Screech Owl.
6 Owls were caught that had been previously banded. Last year I caught 100 Owls and none were previously banded. 2 of them were from Whitefish Point!
I had one week that kept me busy with 54 Owls.
There were many highlights, such as when Minna came out and the night of the Northern Lights, so not all was lost!
Hopefully we will have a good winter and catch some Snowy Owls and hope for some surprises!
It was not a great season in general, but I will accept it for what it was, after all I am in it for the long haul and each year is diffeent for whatever reasons.
The weather was the biggest factor,as it always is ,for good or bad!
We had far to many days of South winds that just don't help with the overall flight of migrating Raptors.Much of the winds were very strong and warm. Rain kept me from getting out on more than a dozen days and work got in the way!
Overall individual species numbers were down in comparison to previous years. We did how ever set 2 new "Station Highs" both on the same day!
Broad-winged Hawks and Bald Eagles
They came on an All-time High Count day at the station , and if it wasn't for this day the Season would have been a total Crash!
I finished with 14 Hawks Banded ,which is the lowest total in 6 years of Operation.
Red-tailed Hawks seemed to fail breeding wise , with mostly Adults being caught and not many being seen! The summer weather I thought was near perfect for Breeding, but maybe the Food Source just wasn't that great! They usually make up 75% of Hawks banded at the station, but this season made up for about 25%.
The Owl migration was also slow, due to the same problems as the Hawk migration.
I finished the year with 76 new Northern Saw-whet Owls and 1 Screech Owl.
I had one week that kept me busy with 54 Owls.
There were many highlights, such as when Minna came out and the night of the Northern Lights, so not all was lost!
Hopefully we will have a good winter and catch some Snowy Owls and hope for some surprises!
Northern Lights Oct 24 2011
On the 24th of October I opened my Nets for another night of Owl Banding! Hoping to continue where I left off on the previous Saturday(Feel like a Bander Again). Under cool clear skies with a hint of a Northwest wind conditions seemed perfect!
After 2 netchecks of nothing I was starting to get a little discouraged! As I walked out for the 3rd netcheck, I thought that it was seemingly brighter! I looked half heartedly and saw no Moon in site and dismissed it as being tired. I checked my nets and found 1 Northern Saw-whet hanging in the Back nets. I did the normal thing of Banding,weighing, measuring and recording then proceeded to go out and release the Owl. As I watched the Owl fly off my hand , my eyes turned to the Skies! They were on fire with Greens,Whites and Reds of Northern Lights!
Wow,wow,wow Holly @$#% were the first words out of my mouth! I couldn't believe the pagentry of it all, they were quite litterally engulfing the night sky! I have never seen such colours this far south,! Only in northern Alberta and Ontario had I seen such spectular displays!
I called my kids and told them to" get outside and look up" !Todd who had answered the phone went out (with the phone in hand) and exclaimed "Holly @#$%, everyone get out here and see the Northern Lights they are so F*&^ing Awesome" ! I couldn't help but laugh with joy, although I told him he didn't need to swear!
I could everyone coming out and asking "what ", then hear thier excited comments of how amazing it was.
I told him to enjoy them while they lasted ! He said"thanks for letting us know about them , It is so bloody awesome" . I wished I could have taken credit for the Display, but was very happy to atleast been able to share with him and his Brother Liam, Sister Michaela and their mother!
Next I called Nigel at Scanlon Creek, who was also banding and had a large group of people from the Brereton Field Naturalists with him. He said thanks and out they went! He called back later in the evening and told me how everyone enjoyed the Light Show!It was definately a highlight for them.
I know that it is another night that I won't soon forget, even though I only caught the one Owl that night!
These are borrowed images!
After 2 netchecks of nothing I was starting to get a little discouraged! As I walked out for the 3rd netcheck, I thought that it was seemingly brighter! I looked half heartedly and saw no Moon in site and dismissed it as being tired. I checked my nets and found 1 Northern Saw-whet hanging in the Back nets. I did the normal thing of Banding,weighing, measuring and recording then proceeded to go out and release the Owl. As I watched the Owl fly off my hand , my eyes turned to the Skies! They were on fire with Greens,Whites and Reds of Northern Lights!
Wow,wow,wow Holly @$#% were the first words out of my mouth! I couldn't believe the pagentry of it all, they were quite litterally engulfing the night sky! I have never seen such colours this far south,! Only in northern Alberta and Ontario had I seen such spectular displays!
I called my kids and told them to" get outside and look up" !Todd who had answered the phone went out (with the phone in hand) and exclaimed "Holly @#$%, everyone get out here and see the Northern Lights they are so F*&^ing Awesome" ! I couldn't help but laugh with joy, although I told him he didn't need to swear!
I could everyone coming out and asking "what ", then hear thier excited comments of how amazing it was.
I told him to enjoy them while they lasted ! He said"thanks for letting us know about them , It is so bloody awesome" . I wished I could have taken credit for the Display, but was very happy to atleast been able to share with him and his Brother Liam, Sister Michaela and their mother!
Next I called Nigel at Scanlon Creek, who was also banding and had a large group of people from the Brereton Field Naturalists with him. He said thanks and out they went! He called back later in the evening and told me how everyone enjoyed the Light Show!It was definately a highlight for them.
These are borrowed images!
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