| Author | Content |
Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:37 AM Post #6775491
| On June 7, I visited the Patuxent Research Refuge (North Tract) on the suggestion of Lithicum, via Dmail. While waiting for the refuge personnel to open the gate, I struck up a conversation with a gentlemen who also was waiting to enter the refuge…so happen it was Lithicum; what a small world (he just told about the refuge a few days before). He showed me his birding spot; a good one I might add.
While there, we met a young couple that works for the parks and planning commission who catches and band birds for research purposes. We watch them set up a net, put out a speaker box and played the sounds (bird calls) of the Prairie Warbler and the Black and White Warbler; it was amazing how fast these birds reacted to the birdcalls. I don’t know if it’s legal or not but if you want to attract birds get yourself a speaker and the specific bird calls and sit back. According the gentleman, they were defending their territory. For research purpose, he recorded each bird’s weight, length, took samples of the claws and banded them. He allowed Lithicum and myself to take pictures of each bird, which was a treat.. This is probably the closest I will ever get to these birds. Also note the size of these birds; imagine photographing these birds from far distances…cropping would be necessary - if you got the shot. I thought I’d share this with all of you. Lithicum please add to the thread as I probably left out some information.
The first photo is the gentleman removing the Prairie Warbler from the net followed by pictures of each bird…close up. Although these are close up shots, I still had to crop them.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:38 AM Post #6775492
| Following are shots of the Prairie Warbler 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:38 AM Post #6775493
| 2nd shot 
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:39 AM Post #6775495
| 3rd shot 
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:39 AM Post #6775498
| last shot 
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:40 AM Post #6775500
| Shots of the Black & White Warbler 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:42 AM Post #6775501
| Here's the 2nd shot 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:44 AM Post #6775504
| Here's the last shot of Black & White Warbler 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Burd_Fotos
Sandusky, OH
July 04, 2009
01:50 AM Post #6775513
| Wow! thanks for sharing that! up close and personal with Warbler's. Photo's are perfect! |
pelletory
Marlton, NJ
July 04, 2009
05:38 AM Post #6775728
| Great shots Met!! They are such beautiful and tiny birds! Glad you met up with Linth. |
dellrose
Conway, MO
(Zone 5b)
July 04, 2009
07:25 AM Post #6775900
| Beautiful shots Met...how great you got to see them and Linth up close! Lucky you to have this opportunity. |
nanny_56
Putnam County, IN
(Zone 5b)
July 04, 2009
09:45 AM Post #6776307
| Though I have seen a number of warblers fairly close up...it is hat to believe how small some of them are. That Prairie Warbler is tiny!!
Great pics and thanks for sharing! |
linthicum
Linthicum Heights, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
10:39 AM Post #6776499
| Nice presentation, Met. And, you covered the event quite well.
It was a pleasant occasion to meet Met and to spend some quality time with him at one of my favorite birding spots. I found it particularly exhilarating to observe the research workers "doing their thing", up-close.
The Black and White Warbler, in particular, has eluded me for a few years. After they were finished with the Prairie Warbler, I mentioned to the young man that I haven't seen any B&W Warblers for sometime. He said that he has heard them across the road from where we were standing and he will see if he can call one in. Within a short period of time, one appeared on the scene and was subsequently caught in the net. Actually, I couldn't believe it. So, that made my day. I took a lot of photos, also, but they are basically the same poses as Met's.
I can't recall the reason for cutting and retaining a portion of the toenail but it apparently provides some environmentally beneficial information. The other issue of importance was their concern to not put the bird under any undue stress for too long, especially in hot weather, so they did what they wanted to do and quickly released them. It was a great experience and I was glad that Met was there to enjoy it with me.
They are tiny birds that can easily get lost within their habitat as witnessed in this photo.
Thanks, Met for starting the thread.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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gardenpom
Melbourne, FL
(Zone 9b)
July 04, 2009
11:03 AM Post #6776597
| Great opportunity to see these birds up close. Next thing you know we will all be playing birds sounds out in the yard! |
ducbucln
Kelseyville, CA
(Zone 8b)
July 04, 2009
12:03 PM Post #6776808
| Now that's awesome!! You got to meet Lith and see this amazing session of banding. Your photos are absolutely perfect.
I am a volunteer bander for hummingbirds and I know how exciting it is to actually be so close to these beauties. I'd be interested in knowing why these banders were taking a sample of a toenail. We just take a few feathers for the DNA testing at the lab later on.
Lith, happy to hear you got to see the B&W Warbler and I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures. |
Mrs_Ed
Whiteside County, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 04, 2009
12:09 PM Post #6776827
| that's so amazing that the guy said "Let me see if I can call one" and POOF!
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linthicum
Linthicum Heights, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
12:55 PM Post #6777001
| duc, I've just sent an e-mail to someone working at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who had posted a recent article on another website and did the same thing. I'll let you know what he says if he responds to my e-mail.
In the meantime, I have read that they can determine the levels of arsenic from clipped toenails. Here is an excerpt from another article that I read:
"Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment and people can be exposed to it in several ways, for example through contaminated water, food, dust or soil. The risk of exposure is greater in certain areas where the natural geology and historic mining activities have led to widespread contamination of the environment with arsenic. Long term exposure to arsenic is associated with increases in lung, liver, bladder and kidney cancers and skin growths".
So, I'm not sure if that is the reason they clipped the Warbler toenails. If so, he could have clipped my toenail, also ??
Anyway, here's the Black & White Warbler with a slightly different pose.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 04, 2009
01:24 PM Post #6777115
| Thanks for the input Linthicum. Again it was a pleasure meeting Linthicum. Actually I got my best shots while I was with him that day. He must have some sort of magic with the birds |
Resin
Northumberland
United Kingdom
(Zone 9a)
July 04, 2009
02:24 PM Post #6777320
| Toenail samples can probably also provide a DNA specimen, certainly less invasively than a blood sample and probably also less stressfull than removing a feather. They can also be tested by isotope analysis, which will give details of geographical location of the bird when that part of the toenail was grown (e.g. could help find out the region the bird wintered last winter, very important and often poorly known for long-distance migrants) and much more.
Resin
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OPbirder
Orchard Park, NY
July 05, 2009
09:22 PM Post #6782423
| Wow. What an amazing experience, and some amazing birds Met and Linth. What say we pick a place, and all meet there to do some bird watching, and meet each other?
Where should we go? Any ideas? |
Methodical
Clinton, MD
(Zone 7a)
July 05, 2009
11:39 PM Post #6783002
| I'm game. I just want to go somewhere different than my home state |
OPbirder
Orchard Park, NY
July 06, 2009
03:34 PM Post #6785570
| I was thinking the same thing! |
ducbucln
Kelseyville, CA
(Zone 8b)
July 06, 2009
04:08 PM Post #6785673
| Thank you Linth and Resin for your answers. I'm going to pass that information on to the biologists and veterinarian that I work with.
Linth, your photo is outstanding. That Warbler is beautiful! |
bltefft
Columbus (Ga)
United States
July 06, 2009
10:21 PM Post #6787130
| Absolutely stunning. The photos are beyond description.
Thanks for sharing.
Hack |
teresa05
Joshua, TX
July 07, 2009
05:48 PM Post #6790176
| Wow! Those photos are breath taking. Love the black and white warbler. Those pictures truely are stunning. And I loved to hear about your excitements and experiences both.
Definitely, Thanks for sharing. |
Rose1656
Oquawka, IL
(Zone 5a)
July 11, 2009
11:28 AM Post #6806331
| Been busy for a while with my summertime obsession (yardwork). I am WAY behind on the daily photos! But, I still scan often, and this one caught my eye...screamed "OPEN ME!!!"
Beautiful pictures, and so nice when two can get together and share in a common passion!
Thanks for posting.
Rose |
Ma_McGee
Brainerd, MN
July 11, 2009
03:30 PM Post #6807199
| Wow! |
kniphofia
Ashington
United Kingdom
(Zone 8a)
July 12, 2009
10:21 AM Post #6809752
| Fantastic shots! |
