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:  March 4-7, 2008
 

The first week of spring banding is completed in just the way I expected this early in the season, low count for the week.  Since winter was so slow I am not surprised that the early part of March would not be the same.
 
On Monday I spent the better part of the day moving all the nets to the spring banding area on Helicopter Island.  Tuesday I took off to help my friend from NC find a Snail Kite for her life list (with success).  Wednesday I caught exactly one bird about 9:00 AM, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (BGGN), a pretty little second year (SY) female.  Thursday I had no better success in that I caught one SY male Northern Cardinal (NOCA).  Hard to imagine any cardinals not having bands but apparently I don't have them all yet!  What I NEARLY did catch was a Cooper's Hawk who flew into net #16 on the powerline road.  Just as I approached it, it managed to free itself from the net and fly off into the woods.  I was both disappointed and relieved.  I would like to have banded it but had concerns in handling it by myself.  I am positive there will be more opportunities so I have contacted a hawk bander friend in PA for some advice for the next time.
 
Another kind of neat thing is happening.  In a dead palm right behind net #4 is a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers (RBWO) carving out a nesting hole.  They have been very active going in and out.  The male is doing the digging.  The female comes over to inspect the work every so often.  I did get a good look at the leg of the male to see that he is sporting the banding jewelry.  I haven't been able to get a good look at the female's leg yet.
 
Friday was a bust with rain and wind so it is a good time to catch up on reports for the state and district. 
 
There are not a lot of migrants evident in the park just yet.  I did hear a Northern Parula (NOPA) sing for the first time.  The resident birds are all singing up a storm in the early AM and as the morning wears on I start to hear a few of the overwintering birds calling out such as the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (RCKI), Blue-headed Vireo (BHVI), Myrtle Warblers (MYWA).  So, I hold out great hope that this spring is going to be a very busy one!!!!

Follow this link to the spreadsheet showing weekly banding totals.  The page is displayed in pdf format.  If you don't have Adobe Reader on your computer, click on the icon to download a free and safe copy here.

 

 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  

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