2012 Sparrow Drives, Part 1

Guess I had better catch up on the sparrow drives we did out at Weekie Wachee with our good friend Marianne Korosy. Marianne learned to band with us at our Wekiva banding site years ago and has gone on to other bird studies throughout Florida. This is the 5th year of her studies on sparrows at this site. Maria joined me for her first drives.

Once the 20-plus nets were set, covering a couple hundred yards of the preserve, volunteers were instructed on techniques that would be used to flush birds hiding in the thigh-high grasses and palmetto. The group lines up and walks through an area, clapping and shouting as they walk to move the birds toward the waiting mist nets.



Once the group reaches the nets, any captured birds are removed from the net by trained banders, placed in soft cloth bags, and taken to Marianne for data processing.



Then, the volunteers move to the end of where they began before and repeat the process again until they cover the entire net array, first in one direction and then the other.



The most commonly captured bird today were LeConte's Sparrows. I believe it was a record number for any day of these drives. I place this bird in the bag for transport and reset for the next round.



Midway through our first run (we did both sides of the array twice), we captured a very surprising bird. Bill Pranty (a bird biologist and author whom I am proud to know as a friend and I even have a photo in one of his books, A Birder's Guide to Florida) holds up the first ever captured Wilson's Snipe at this site!



Snipe are very elusive and bolt away from you once flushed or startled by close approach so I had to take a break and get some shots up close. Marianne was just as surprised as the rest of us and examines the bird once it arrives at the table.



Unfortunately for banding data purposes, Snipe are considered game birds so they cannot be banded without special permits.



However, we could spend some time admiring the bird's plumage and marvel at its other features.



A beautiful bird above and below.



Ready for the final close up just before being released back into the preserve.



We finish the first round and take a rest, tighten the shoelaces and prepare for round 2.



Our latest capture, a Sedge Wren, is removed from the net as photographers snap away.



Back at the table, one of the many LeConte's Sparrows is fitted with a new band.



Truly, amazing little birds. Colors are so rich up close.



To close out the day, we captured a Swamp Sparrow, a couple of Grasshopper Sparrows, and a Savannah Sparrow, shown here.



All in all a pretty good day, though winds were a challenge as it pushed nets over from time to time. The next drive would be in 2 weeks and that will be featured in Part 2!