Tomoka Bird Banding Station

 Tomoka Bird Banding Station, located on a spoil island within Tomoka State Park, has been in operation since October 2004.  Tomoka State Park is located on North Beach Street between the Halifax and Tomoka Rivers in Ormond Beach, Florida.  The days and hours vary but are much more frequent during Fall and Spring migrations.  VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME 

Please Contact Meret Wilson at mileybug@aol.com for days and hours of operation.  Meret is a Federal, State and locally licensed bander.  She is holding a recently banded Northern Cardinal at the right.

See map for directions to Tomoka Bird Banding Station.


Activities:  April 20 through May 10, 2010
 

June 2010:  Because it has gotten to be so long after the season has closed, I am finding it hard to try to recapture all the events of the 3 weeks when banding was so incredible.  So I decided I will just mention a few highlights and get the photos out to you.
 
The weeks of April 20-30 turned out to be just phenomenal after such a long time waiting for anything to happen.  The biggest days came on April 28 and 29 with 12 birds each day.  Seems incredible to have so few as the largest day when in the fall one day we had 25.  The 28th had 9 species, the largest number all spring.  There were good birds, especially the Connecticut Warbler (CONW), only one of 2 seen all spring in the whole state and I have photos and held it in my hand!!!  The number of new birds banded was down from previous years but the number of species for the spring was up to 26 from 20 last year.  No new species for the park were caught.  A ruby-throated Hummingbird got herself caught in the net so I have a cool photo of her.
 
One bit of bad news is it appears some Brown-headed Cowbirds (BHCO) have taken up residence in the park.  A very large flock came through in April and I was really hoping they would move along as a migrating flock.  I have seen one pair on several occasions since banding stopped for the spring, including today (6/13).  This does not bode well at all for the park and the few nesting species we do have.
 
On one of my very slow days I watched a baby manatee be born right next to the picnic table where I sit to band.  Though they aren't bird pictures I know everyone would like to see them.  Of course, they aren't movie shots so you had to be there to know what was going on.  I have one photo with the tiny nostrils of the baby!
 
As I tried to show in a more recent photo, we did find some nesting Eastern Screech Owls (EASO).  Owls were quite active and vocal during daylight hours this spring.  On May 8, on a survey Saturday, I witnessed a HUGE fallout of American Redstarts (AMRE) and Blackpoll Warblers (BLPW).  I am lucky to see a handful of BLPW each fall and spring and on this day I saw over 70.  By Monday the 10th, when I returned to band hopefully to include some Blackpolls, they were ALL gone.
 
So, enjoy the photos until fall.  I will contact you when I know what the startup date will be. It will be posted on the Halifax River Audubon website as well.
 
Have a great summer and good birding to all of you wherever you are.
 

Click the link to see banding statistics for Spring 2010

 
Male Downy Woodpecker whose 3 nestlings had been eaten by a rat snake the previous day Results of an angry male Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Tufted Titmouse Brood patch of a titmouse
Male American Redstart Female American Redstart
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler Male Black-throated Blue Warbler
Female Common Yellowthroat Female Summer Tanager
Red-bellied Woodpecker The red belly of a Red-bellied Woodpecker
Male Cape May Warbler Female Cape May Warbler - many CMWA in park this spring
Female Painted Bunting Second year Palm Warbler
Male Northern Parula Ruby-throated Hummingbird caught in net, not banded - special permit and training required
Male Connecticut Warbler Male Connecticut Warbler
Great Crested Flycatcher Worm-eating Warbler
Toe damage of a Gray Catbird, possibly frostbite? Northern Waterthrush
Male Black and White Warbler Second Year male Indigo Bunting
Ovenbird Baby Gopher Tortoise
"Baby Girl" remained in her hole the entire winter and finally emerged in late March Female manatee during contractions
 
Tiny baby emerges next to mother.  Like I say, "you just had to be there!"  

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