MIGRATION SUMMARY

AUGUST 29^th to SEPTEMBER 4^TH, 2007

Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO)

Not many birds were encountered at the station this week yet migrants were still reasonably active despite just two days of north winds and generally warm temperatures.  Swainson’s Thrushes and Veery’s were abundant – 120 of 268 captures this week were members of the thrush family – but flycatchers, vireos and warblers were also present in good numbers in the final days of August. A young male Kentucky Warbler banded on the 31^st was a surprise and an unusual Fall record.     

August 29^th  

South winds and warm temperatures made for a fairly quiet morning. There were ones-and-twos of a nice variety of species but just eight warbler spp. recorded on the day. A banded Wood Thrush was new for the Fall and fairly late compared to previous years. Gulls and shorebirds were scarce although a season-high 800 Common Terns were counted on census.   

August 30^th

A few more birds in the area today with the following species recorded in moderate numbers – Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart and Ovenbird, along with a nice variety of other migrants. Fifty-eight species were tallied on the day including thirteen warbler spp.     

August 31^st   

Northeast winds and a cool 15° C at dawn made for a busier morning at the station both on the census and in the netting area. Sixty-three species were recorded during the morning count period and 66 birds of twenty-one species were banded, including a Kentucky Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was noted at the Tip during non-standard coverage.       

September 1^st   

Another active morning but with less diversity than the 31^st – fifty-four species were counted and fifty-three birds of thirteen species were banded. Lot’s of Swainson’s Thrushes (Daily Total 34/banded 23), Veerys and Red-eyed Vireos but not as many flycatchers and warblers. The first Lincoln’s Sparrow of the Fall was observed in the netting area.   

September 2^nd  

A very similar day with Magnolia Warblers, thrushes and an array of other September migrants filtering through the area in moderate numbers. All of the terns have departed from the Tip and there were no shorebirds among the fifty species recorded during the morning count period. The first Gray-cheeked Thrush of the season was observed on census.  

September 3^rd

It was quieter this-morning – just forty species were observed and twelve birds of six species were captured. A lone Sanderling and fewer than one-hundred gulls were observed at the Tip, and songbirds were scarce as well – just six warbler spp. and less than a dozen thrushes were counted during the official coverage period.        

September 4^th  

Migrants continue to arrive at Fish Point even though the wind is from the east and the weather is hot and humid. A Baird’s Sandpiper was one of three waders recorded on the census. The first Merlin and Common Yellowthroat of the Fall were two of forty-seven species counted on the day.

Ninety species were recorded at the Point this week compared to eighty-two last week and nine Fall ‘firsts’ were tallied, which brings the season species count to 117. In all, 268 birds were banded and seven recaptured during 403 net-hours for a catch-rate of .67 birds/net-hour.

Kentucky Warbler photo (hatch-year male/August 31) – PIBO

Next week’s summary will be posted on September 13^th.

Birds Documented at Fish Point   August 29^th – September 4^th, 2007