MIGRATION SUMMARY FROM MAY 1st – 7th, 2008

Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO)

Warm southerly winds provided the backdrop for a noticeable jump in migration activity at Fish Point during the first week of May. Nineteen warbler species were recorded during the official count period along with a nice variety of other songbirds including twenty-six ‘firsts’ for 2008. New arrivals included Common Tern, Black-billed Cuckoo, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Indigo Bunting and Orchard Oriole. A Yellow-breasted Chat was banded on May 5^th along with a Hooded Warbler on the 6^th.         

May 1^st   

The netting area was inactive this-morning and there was not much to report on census apart from a few new arrivals including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Lincoln’s Sparrow and Baltimore Oriole.    

May 2^nd   

Light south winds and warm dawn temperatures (17° C) made for an enjoyable morning of coverage with 63 species tallied in the count area. Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers were active along with small numbers of seven other warbler species. Not many sparrows recorded but there were ones-and-twos of Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, and a few lingering Rusty Blackbirds.     

May 3^rd   

Lots of rain and only a few migrants observed on census or in the netting area. Two Solitary Sandpipers at Peregrine Pond were the only notable sightings on the day. Despite the poor weather, an inquisitive group of Canadian and American members of the Institute of Journalists and Natural Resources spent part of the morning at the field station along with Point Pelee National Park Superintendent, Marian Stranac, and an associate from the Ohio State Park system.      

May 4^th    

It was fairly active at the Point this-morning even though the majority of migrants in the netting area remained in the canopy, which made for a quiet morning of banding.  New Spring arrivals included an early Black-billed Cuckoo, Northern Parula and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Fifty-eight species where noted including nine warbler spp.    

May 5^th    

A similar day to the 4^th with fifty-six species tallied along with five new arrivals including a banded Yellow-breasted Chat.

May 6^th

An enjoyable morning of activity with lots of variety on the day (67 species). Spring-firsts included Blue-winged, Magnolia and Hooded Warbler. A group of secondary school students from London, Ontario, visited the mist-net area mid-morning and then set-up nest boxes and worked in the vegetable garden at the PIBO cottage in the afternoon. Thanks for all your hard work!        

May 7^th     

Nashville and Yellow Warblers were quite active this-morning along with eleven other warbler spp. Tennessee and Blackburnian Warbler were new for 2008. Other notable migrants included small numbers of Eastern Kingbird, four swallow species, Lincoln’s Sparrow and Orchard Oriole.

A total of 103 species was recorded at the Point this week during the official count period compared to 77 last week. Twenty-six Spring-firsts were documented, which brings the season-to-date species total to 142. Just 72 birds were banded and one recaptured during 378 net-hours for an average catch-rate of .20 birds/net-hour.

Yellow-breasted Chat photo – Sumiko Onishi

PIBO’s next summary will be posted on May 16^th.   

Birds Documented at Fish Point by PIBO Staff from May 1^st – 7^th, 2008