[va-richmond-general] prothonotary preparations

Expansion of the prothonotary housing at Dutch gap is now complete.  We have
100 boxes installed and waiting (up from 68 last year).  Early migrants may
reach the Gulf coast in a week, but it will probably be the better part of a
month before we have our first males at Dutch Gap.  Here's an email quote
from Bob Sargent, long time bander (and hummingbird specialist) at the Fort
Morgan banding station which is located on a pennisula that juts into the
gulf from the Alabama coast:

"The stopover masses of this breathtaking species (prothonotaries) probably
peak sometime in mid/late-March at Fort Morgan.  I have birded there many
times during mid to late March and seen days when the ground was awash with
flitting golden-feathered beauty!  The largest flocks that I have noted
occurred after cold/cool fronts with strong northerly winds."

That would be birds who, caught over the Gulf by a shift in wind direction,
had to fight for their lives against the head winds.  Those that made it
"fell out" on the beaches, exhausted from their struggle. I can only hope
that a good number of those who were banded at Dutch Gap in the last couple
of years will be among the fortunate.

Separately, I searched extensively (and prematurely) for an early
yellow-throated warbler at Dutch gap today, without success.  Pine warblers
were singing heartily despite the afternoon wind, and a kestral continues to
make good use of the net poles along the road adjacent to he banding station
site.

Bob Reilly



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