Bird Banding Workshop at Walker's Farm
led by Steve Reinert and Deirdre Robinson
6 participants
5 birds banded
10 birds seen but not banded
15 species altogether

• 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• 1 Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
• chased (but missed) a newly banded and released Common Yellowthroat
• 8 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
• 1 Merlin Falco columbarius seen initially by Don Heitzman; later seen by most workshop participants
• 3 Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
• 5 American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
• 3 Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
• 1 Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
• 7 Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
• 170 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
• 5 Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
• 1 Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
• 11 Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
• 15 House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
• 19 American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
• ​5 Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

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All images below were taken by Deirdre Robinson

Attending: 3 people plus Ray.
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We visited the Clark Farm on Rehoboth where Ray answered many questions about placement of new nesting boxes, issues with houses sparrows, predators, and management.   He lowered one set of 18 gourd style nesting boxes and opened three of them, one with five 8 day old nestlings plus three Unhatched eggs, one with 4 eggs, and one with four 3-4 day old chicks.   He removed one of the. 8 day old chicks for us to look at up close which still had closed eyes and with pin feathers visible under the skin.   Pictures of nestlings gourds were taken by one attendee and will hopefully be shared.  It was a gorgeous day, and a beautiful private property.  Ray once again conveyed his passion for and wealth of knowledge about purple martins.  He's been at it for 20 + years!

The following report was filed by Ginny and Jerry Gonville:
I thought the event yesterday at PIC-WIL with Ray went over very -very well ...There were 15 of us  plus Ray---- two members of the Warren Conservation group  were present plus a member of the Barrington Land Trust (wife of a steward), some OSBC members (names unknown to me except Nick C. ),and others from the Warwick area . Ray was very enthused and spent the first 15 -20 minutes or so giving us all a general history of the Purple Martin.....and noted that there are currently 110 nesting pairs in Barrington alone---He also displayed the nesting box which brought about a slew of questions----Seems the Warren reps and a person from Warwick are interested in establishing nests in their areas .....to which Ray will advise off line----We spent the next hour or so out on the water's edge observing the nest sites --as Ray dropped them so we all could get a good look inside and observe the eggs --2 day old chicks ---the nests themselves --and the parental behavior above...All were enthused and the weather cooperated -great at 80 degrees---dry --beautiful coast line with Osprey and sail boats about--low tide ----Awesome ---We hike'd  back to the nests site that we saw last year where Ray discussed the Habitat---Impact of Cooper's Hawk----tree swallows etc -- Of this group 7 of us went over to RISD to observe there --and we got to see 4 day old chicks ----what a difference a day makes ----of note a family came over with their two children and Ray took the time to show the new chicks--eggs-etc to all ---On leaving later the Mom came over to Ray to Thank Him and to comment that she thinks two new birders were just fledged  (her children).....so Ray also had a good day----Happy Birding   -----Ginny and Jerry​

On a gorgeous sunny breezy morning, 20 birders enjoyed a walk along the trails through fields, woods and along pond and riverfront, listening and looking, especially for any evidence of breeding birds. We also examined varieties of vegetation along the way.  Highlights included Osprey flying low overhead, a female yellow warbler carrying a winged insect to a hidden nest,a young downy woodpecker, and a pair of Eastern Kingbirds and Redwing Blackbirds chasing several crows.

Walk led by Lauren Parmalee and Jana Hesser for Barrington Public Library and Ocean State Bird Club.
31 species total

• Mute Swan  1
• Double-crested Cormorant  1
• Great Blue Heron  2
• Great Egret  3
• Snowy Egret  1
• Turkey Vulture  1
• Osprey  1
• Red-tailed Hawk  1
• Great Black-backed Gull  1
• Mourning Dove  4
• Chimney Swift  2
• Downy Woodpecker  3
• Eastern Kingbird  2
• Warbling Vireo  1
• Blue Jay  3
• American Crow  6
• Barn Swallow  3
• Black-capped Chickadee  3
• Tufted Titmouse  2
• House Wren  4
• American Robin  2
• Gray Catbird  7
• Common Yellowthroat  3
• Yellow Warbler  8
• Song Sparrow  5
• Northern Cardinal  2
• Red-winged Blackbird  10
• Common Grackle  5
• Brown-headed Cowbird  1
• American Goldfinch