Camas migration update 5-23

For those of you who have been following IBLE (Idaho Birders Linked Electronically - a yahoo groups listserv), you've seen that the last week+ has been eventful to say the least. In a 4 day period starting last Thursday, we saw (but did not catch) a Brown Thrasher that was singing his heart out and then we caught a Magnolia Warbler (adult female) Friday, a Wood Thrush (first one photo'd in the state - maybe 2nd state state record) on Sat that stayed until Tues and gained 4.9 grams!!, and caught a female Black-and-White Warbler on Sunday. Then we had 2" of snow yesterday! Some pics below ....

Overall, migration has picked up considerably but a few species have not yet peaked, including Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager, and Willow Flycatcher. In fact, though we have seen a few individuals of each species, we are still yet to band a Willow Flycatcher or a Western Wood-pewee. The next 2 weeks should be the peak for these species ...

Cheers,

Jay

The Wood Thrush (5-19-07); a second-year (i.e. 1 year old) bird that is one of 3 reports for the state and may represent the first photo evidence of this species in Idaho.

Magnolia Warber; after-second-year female (5-18-07)

Black-and-White Warbler (2nd-year - notice the paler primary coverts and flight feathers); caught on 5-20-07

Carlos banding a Red-shafted Flicker (his favorite capture of the season so far) and Jereme looking on.

Camas update May 10, 2007

Hi Folks

Only in the last 2 days (May 9-10) have we seen the first true wave of migrating songbirds. On May 7 and 8, we banded 5 and 6 birds, respectively, but we've banded 81 the last 2 days - including 52 Hermit Thrushes. A couple of the best-looking birds captured today are shown below - including a hybrid male 'Myrtle' x 'Audubon's' (Yellow-rumped) Warbler; this is shown in the first 2 pictures below (mostly Myrtle features but a yellow wash to the throat) and is evidence as to why these are not considered distinct species .... Below the Yellow-rumped is a studly male MacGillivray's Warbler - one of three captured today.

Also, Carlos (our Venezuelan field assistant) and I took a trip yesterday afternoon to see the headwaters of Camas Creek (which runs through the refuge) in the mountains N of Dubois and E/NE of Spencer. Below, Carlos in front of some coniferous forest and West Camas Creek above the town of Kilgore ....

Happy birding,

Jay