Bird Banding at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve
Brian Johnson stopped banding birds at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve in mid-November. Final seasonal numbers will be posted here once they're available. For a description of typical activities this season, see our "Up Close and Personal" page.
New Birds Banded Sept-Oct 2007 = More Than 1,000 Individuals of 68 Species !
- Sunday, October 28, 2007 -
31 Birds: American Goldfinch - 3... American Robin - 1 ... American Tree Sparrow - 3 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 5 ... Cedar Waxwing - 6 ... Downy Woodpecker - 1 ... Fox Sparrow - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 2 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 2 ... White-throated Sparrow - 5. Visitors/volunteers included Lena Usyk, Lauren Johnson, Emily Johnson, Ric Pedler and Carolyn Weng. We passed the 1000 mark today (a large Black-capped Chickadee was Number 1000) and ended the day with 1,006 individuals so far this season!
- Friday, October 26, 2007 -
29 Birds: American Goldfinch - 11 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 3 ... Brown Creeper - 2 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 8 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... House Finch - 2 ... Dark-eyed Junco - 2 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 1. Visitors included 16 residents from DeBoer Nursing and Hermitage Assisted Living.
- Thursday, October 25, 2007 -
24 Birds: American Goldfinch - 5 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 6 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 3 ... Fox Sparrow - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... House Finch - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... Purple Finch - 1 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 1 ... Dark-eyed Junco - 2 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1.
- Tuesday, October 23, 2007 -
62 Birds: Highest Daily Count This Season! = American Goldfinch - 5 ... American Robin - 1 ... American Tree Sparrow - 2 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 7 ... Cedar Waxwing - 4 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 12 ... Fox Sparrow - 3 ... Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 7 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 3 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 4 ... Song Sparrow - 1 ... Winter Wren - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 9. Visitors included a group of North Muskegon High School students and Ric Pedler.
- Monday, October 22, 2007 -
36 Birds: American Goldfinch - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 2 ... Brown Creeper - 2 ... European Starling - 2 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 3 ... Hermit Thrush - 4 ... House Finch - 2 ... Magnolia Warbler - 1 ... Mourning Dove - 1 ... Nashville Warbler - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 4 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 2 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 3 ... White-throated Sparrow - 5.
- Saturday, October 20, 2007 -
48 Birds: American Robin - 2 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 7 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Brown Creeper - 1 ... Tufted Titmouse - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 6 ... Hermit Thrush - 7 ... House Finch - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 ... Northern Cardinal - 3 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4 ... Tennessee Warbler - 1 ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... Winter Wren - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 7. People included Lena Usyk, Brent Johnson, Hannah Johnson and Janet Helmer.
- Wednesday, October 17, 2007 -
60 Birds: American Robin - 2 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 6 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Eastern Phoebe - 2 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 14 ... Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 6 ... Mourning Dove - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 6 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 4 ... White-throated Sparrow - 11.
- Friday, October 12, 2007 -
29 Birds: American Robin - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 2 ... Blue Jay - 2 ... Eastern Towhee - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 8 ... Gray Catbird - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 7 ... House Finch - 2 ... Northern Cardinal - 2 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 2.
- Monday, October 8, 2007 -
Another photo quiz from Brian. Try to identify the following four birds. Answers below.
- QUIZ A -
- QUIZ B -
ANSWERS: Quiz A: Young male Cape May Warbler. Quiz B: Left: Adult male Orange-crowned Warbler; Middle: Adult male Nashville Warbler; Right: Young female Nashville Warbler.
- Sunday, October 7, 2007 -
12 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 5 ... Gray Catbird - 1 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 1 ... Song Sparrow - 1.
- Saturday, October 6, 2007 -
13 birds: American Robin - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 3 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 2 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 2. Visitors included Ric Pedler, Charlie and Carol DeWitt and Kate Kremmel.
- Friday, October 5, 2007 -
25 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 4 ... Cape May Warbler - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 1 ... Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8 ... Nashville Warbler - 4 ... White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 ... a very late Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 3. Hank and Barb Veldman from Grand Rapids visited today.
- Thursday, October 4, 2007 -
46 birds: American Robin - 3 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 1 ... Blue-headed Vireo - 1 ... Blue Jay - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 2 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... House Finch - 1 ... House Wren - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 18 ... Nashville Warbler - 2 ... Northern Cardinal - 2 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Philadelphia Vireo - 1 ... Purple Finch - 3 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Palm Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 4 ... Northern Flicker - 1.
- Wednesday, October 3, 2007 -
32 birds: American Robin - 1 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 1 ... European Starling - 2 ... Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 3 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 12 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 3 ... White-throated Sparrow - 7 ... Northern Flicker - 1. Visitors included Carolyn Weng, Kathy Neff and Ric Pedler.
- Tuesday, October 2, 2007 -
36 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 2 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 3 ... Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 ... Gray Catbird - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 1 ... House Wren - 1 ... Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 19 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1 ... Northern Flicker - 1. Visitors included Kathy Neff and Carolyn Weng, and Dayle & Nancy Vanderwier and granddaughter Sierra who contributed seed and suet to our project.
- Monday, October 1, 2007 -
31 birds: Brown Thrasher - 1 ... Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Gray Catbird - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 3 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 ... Nashville Warbler - 1 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 ... Philadelphia Vireo - 1 ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Rusty Blackbird - 1 ... Song Sparrow - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1.
- Sunday, September 30, 2007 -
39 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 1 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 1 ... Downy Woodpecker - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 2 ... Hermit Thrush - 2 ... Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 26 ... Northern Cardinal -1 ... Palm Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1.
- Saturday, September 29, 2007 -
35 birds:Blue Jay - 1 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 2 ... Hairy Woodpecker - 1 ... Hermit Thrush - 2 ... Magnolia Warbler - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 11 ... Nashville Warbler - 3 ... Northern Cardinal - 2 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Orange-crowned Warbler -1 ... Ovenbird - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 8 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 1. Visitors included Hank and Rick Veldman.
Here's a little photo quiz Brian put together of birds banded this season. How many of these birds can you correctly identify? (Answers below the photos.)
- QUIZ A -
- QUIZ B -
- QUIZ C -
- QUIZ D -
- QUIZ E -
ANSWERS: Quiz A: Immature male Scarlet Tanager. Quiz B:Left: Immature House Wren; Right: Juvenile Carolina Wren molting into first winter plumage. Quiz C: Wilson's Warblers: Left: male; Right: female. Quiz D: Two Empidonax Flycatchers: Left: Least Flycatcher, Right: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Quiz E: Left: Immature male Magnolia Warbler, Right: Immature female Magnolia Warbler. Notice the darker centers on the upper tail coverts, brighter throat, bluer head color and more noticeable wing bars of the male. These might be useful field marks when you are birding.
- Friday, September 28, 2007 -
44 birds: Today was the first day that temperate migrants outnumbered neotropical migrants, and we went over 500 birds for the season! Visitors included Carolyn Weng, John Walhout and the West Michigan Outdoor Group. Black-capped Chickadee - 1 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Tufted Titmouse - 1 ... European Starling - 1 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 1 ... Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 2 ... Hermit Thrush - 2 ... Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 3 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 16 ... Orange-crowned Warbler - 3 ... Dark-eyed Junco - 1 ... Song Sparrow - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 5 ... Northern Flicker - 1
- Thursday, September 27, 2007 -
29 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 3 ... Blue Jay - 2 ... Common Yellowthroat - 2 ... Downy Woodpecker - 1 ... Cray Catbird - 2 ... Lincoln's Sparrow - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 3 ... Mourning Warbler - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 (immature female in photo below) ... Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 ... Scarlet Tanager - 1 ... Song Sparrow - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 3. No visitors, rainy.
- Wednesday, September 26, 2007 -
42 birds: American Redstart - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee 2 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 1 ... Brown Thrasher - 1 ... Cedar Waxwing - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 4 ... Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 ... Gray Catbird - 2 ... House Finch - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 6 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6 ... Nashville Warbler - 1 ... Song Sparrow - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... Wilson's Warbler - 2 ... White-throated Sparrow - 9 ... Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafter, but with red shafts from berries) - 1. Visitors included Tom Hamilton and a group from Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
- Tuesday, September 25, 2007 -
12 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 2 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 2 ... White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (1st this season) ... Gray Catbird - 2 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 2 ... Carolina Wren (1st this site).
- Monday, September 24, 2007 -
32 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 3 ... Blue Jay - 2 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 5 ... Gray Catbird - 9 ... Least Flycatcher - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Red-winged Blackbird - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 3. Visitors included Lena Usyk and John Walhout. Also there was a hard-working crew from Herman Miller performing various tasks around the preserve today. Thank you!
- Sunday, September 23, 2007 -
20 birds: American Redstart - 1 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Brown Thrasher - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 3 ... Magnolia Warbler - 1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler - 4 ... Northern Waterthrush - 2 ... Wilson's Warbler - 2 ... White-throated Sparrow - 3. Visitors included Lena Usyk and Jean Freye.
- Saturday, September 22, 2007 -
23 birds: Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 (1st this season) ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 5 ... Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2 (1st this season) ... Common Yellowthroat - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 5 ... White-throated Sparrow - 2 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 1 ... Brown Thrasher - 1 ... Ovenbird - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 1. Lena was back today, and there were 23 visitors including Kathy Neff, Charlie DeWitt, Phil Willemstein, Ric Pedler and Roger Tharp.
- Friday, September 21, 2007 -
19 birds: American Redstart - 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee - 1 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 2 ... Gray Catbird - 4 ... House Wren - 1 ... Northern Cardinal - 1 ... Vireo Trifecta: Philadelphia - 1, Warbling - 1, Red-eyed - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 2 ... Song Sprrow - 1 ... Northern Flicker - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 1. Charlie DeWitt and Kathy Neff visited.
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 -
25 birds: Black-capped Chickadee - 2 ... Blue Jay - 2 ... Blackpoll Warbler - 1 ... Common Yellowthroat - 3 ... Downy Woodpecker - 1 ... Gray Catbird - 7 ... Magnolia Warbler - 1 ... Nashville Warbler - 1 ... Northern Waterthrush - 2 ... Wilson's Warbler - 1 ... White-throated Sparrow - 4. Jim Ponshair visited.
- Wednesday, September 19, 2007 -
11 birds: Gray Catbird - 4 ... Blue Jay - 1 ... Magnolia Warbler - 2 ... Downy Woodpecker - 1 ... Northern Waterthrush - 1 ... Swainson's Thrush - 1 ... American Redstart - 1
- Thursday, September 13, 2007 -
16 birds: Philadelphia Vireo - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 2 Gray Catbird - 4 Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Northern Waterthrush - 1 Mourning Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 4 Wilson's Warbler - 2
- Wednesday, September 12, 2007 -
36 birds captured, 12 of which were recaptures, the highest proportion to date: Downy Woodpecker - 1 Warbling Vireo - 3 Philadelphia Vireo - 1 Black-capped Chickadee - 1 House Wren - 1 Swainson's Thrush - 2 Gray Catbird - 9 Brown Thrasher - 1 Magnolia Warbler - 2 Ovenbird - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 3 Wilson's Warbler - 5 White-throated Sparrow - 3 Song Sparrow - 1 Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
- Tuesday, September 11, 2007 -
Brian sends us another pair of paired photos. Wanna guess what these birds are? (Answers below.)
Today Brian banded: Black-capped Chickadee-1, Blackpoll Warbler-1, Common Yellowthroats-3, Eastern Wood-Pewee-1, Gray Catbirds-9, House Finch-1, Lincoln's Sparrow-1, Magnolia Warbler-1, Philadelphia Vireo-1, Red-eyed Vireos-3, Swainson's Thrushes-3, Traill's (Willow/Alder) Flycatchers-2, Warbling Vireo-1, Wilson's Warblers-2 and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-1.
First Photo: Blackpoll Warblers, male (left) and female (right). Second Photo: Philadelphia Vireo (left) and Warbling Vireo (right).
- Monday, September 10, 2007 -
Today Carolyn Weng and Jim Ponchair were among the visitors. Brian banded: Black-capped Chickadee-1, Blackpoll Warblers-2, Common Yellowthroats-4, Gray Catbirds-9, Lincoln's Sparrow-1, Magnolia Warblers-2, Northern Waterthrush-1, Red-eyed Vireo-1, Swainson's Thrushes-3 and Warbling Vireos-4.
- Sunday, September 9, 2007 -
Brian banded for eight hours today and had 28 visitors including Kathryn Mork and G.B. Girardi. Brian processed 18 birds: Swainson's Thrushes-5, House Wren-1, Black-capped Chickadee-1, Gray Catbird-1, Magnolia Warbler-1, American Redstarts-4, Connecticut Warber-1, Common Yellowthroats-2, Wilson's Warblers-2, White-throated Sparrow-1 and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-1.
Here are some photos that Brian has put together for both our knowledge and pleasure.
American Redstarts: Adult male (left) and first-year male (right):
Mourning Warblers: Adult male (left) and first-year male (right):
Connecticut Warblers: Adult male (left) and first-year male (right):
American Woodcock:
Black-billed Cuckoo:
- Saturday, September 8, 2007 -
Today Brian banded from morning til evening. Visitors included some youngsters who helped him check the nets, Steve Minard and his group from Grand Rapids Audubon; James Fyfe, Ric Pedler, John Walhout, G.B. Girardi and Rosella Lombardi.
Brian processed 29 birds: American Redstart-2, American Robin-1, American Woodcock-1, Common Yellowthroat-4, Gray Catbird-6, Hairy Woodpecker-1, Mourning Warbler-1, Northern Waterthrush-2, Ovenbird-1, Rose-breasted Grosbeak-1, Song Sparrow-1, Swainson's Thrush-2, Traill's (Willow/Alder) Flycatcher-1, Wilson's Warbler-3, Palm Warbler-1 and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-1 (this recaptured bird with very high fat content. Is he hefting up at MLNP for a long migration flight? No one knows.)
- Wednesday, September 5, 2007 -
This female Black-and-White Warbler was the first of this species to be banded at MLNP:
Baltimore Oriole banded Sept. 5, 2007:
- Tuesday, September 4, 2007 -
Brian Johnson and Lena Usyk with Phil Williams visiting banded 43 birds of 19 species: American Redstart 4 ... Black-billed Cuckoo 1 ... Black-capped Chickadee 1 ... Blue Jay 1 ... Common Yellowthroat 1 ... Gray Catbird 3 ... House Wren 1 ... Lincoln's Sparrow 1 ... Magnolia Warbler 2 ... Mourning Warbler 4 ... Nashville Warbler 1 ... Northern Waterthrush 2 ... Ovenbird 2 ... Swainson's Thrush 1 ... Tennessee Warbler 4 ... Traill's Flycatcher (Willow/Alder) 3 ... Warbling Vireo 5 ... Wilson's Warbler 5 ... Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1.
- Saturday, September 1, 2007 -
Processing a Brown Thrasher:
Brian bands the bird and ...
... checks the condition of its flight feathers.
Lena records data.
Brian weighs the bird before releasing it.
