10 birders joined up with the crew from the McGill Bird Observatory, adjacent to the Morgan Arboretum on Sunday, August 7th. It was more of an educational outing rather than a conventional birdwatching trip. click photos to enlarge
The temperature gradually climbed throughout the morning, with partially cloudy skies and no rain. One species far out-numbering any of the bird species was the mosquito! They were out in full force and they were hungry!
We were able to follow Gay and her staff around various nets as they extracted birds from the nets and transported them back to the station for banding. In the banding station, we had the opportunity to see many birds up-close as they were banded, examined, catalogued and released. We were given detailed explanations of the steps and procedures followed for each banded bird.
We were able to follow Gay and her staff around various nets as they extracted birds from the nets and transported them back to the station for banding. In the banding station, we had the opportunity to see many birds up-close as they were banded, examined, catalogued and released. We were given detailed explanations of the steps and procedures followed for each banded bird.
Of particular interest were a Mourning Warbler, an Indigo Bunting, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ovenbird, Cedar Waxwings and a Gray Catbird.Gay also led us on a walk around the MBO property, pointing out some of the "hot" birding spots on the site.
Each day a bird census is taken by one of the volunteers at the station. On Sunday it was Leah. We combined our observations for the morning with her numbers accumulated on the census walk and with the species banded to come up with the bird list of 41 species for the day.
Wood Duck Canard branchu 4, Red-shouldered Hawk Buse à épaulettes 1, Chimney Swift Martinet ramoneur 4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird Colibri à gorge rubis 4, Downy Woodpecker Pic mineur 4, Northern Flicker Pic flamboyant 2, Pileated Woodpecker Grand Pic 2, (Traill's) Flycatcher (Alder or Willow) Moucherolle (aulne ou de saule) 1, Eastern Phoebe Moucherolle phébi 1, Great Crested Flycatcher Tyran huppé 3, Eastern Kingbird Tyran tritri 8, Warbling Vireo Viréo mélodieux 1, Red-eyed Vireo Viréo aux yeux rouges 9, Blue Jay Geai bleu 4, American Crow Corneille d'Amérique 17, Black-capped Chickadee Mésange à tête noire 31, White-breasted Nuthatch Sittelle à poitrine blanche 1, House Wren Troglodyte familier 6, Veery Grive fauve 1, American Robin Merle d'Amérique 34, Gray Catbird Moqueur chat 4, European Starling Étourneau sansonnet, Cedar Waxwing Jaseur d'Amérique 56, Nashville Warbler Paruline à joues grise 3, Yellow Warbler Paruline jaune 23, Chestnut-sided Warbler Paruline à flancs marron 1, Cape May Warbler Paruline tigrée 3, Black-throated Blue Warbler Paruline bleue 2, American Redstart Paruline flamboyante 11, Ovenbird Paruline couronnée 2, Mourning Warbler Paruline triste 1, Common Yellowthroat Paruline masquée 9, Song Sparrow Bruant chanteur 17, White-throated Sparrow Bruant à gorge blanche 1, Northern Cardinal Cardinal rouge 12, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Cardinal à poitrine rose 7, Indigo Bunting Passerin indigo 4, Red-winged Blackbird Carouge à épaulettes 4, Common Grackle Quiscale bronzé 34, Baltimore Oriole Oriole de Baltimore 5, American Goldfinch Chardonneret jaune 21
Please remember that the MBO is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, in any capacity, please contact Gay Gruner at the MBO. She will fill you in on the various tasks that need to be performed.You can learn more about the MBO through their website at
Thanks to Gay, Simon and the rest of the MBO staff for taking the time to show us around and to educate us on the operations of the banding station. - Sheldon
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