The 2015 Presque Isle Festival of the Birds was a Huge Success!

This past weekend, May 9th & 10th, saw hundreds of visitors descend upon the park to see what Presque Isle is all about in the spring- the birds! And wow, the birds did not disappoint! Throughout the park visitors were treated to some really special birds that we don't often see here like a White Pelican, a Swallow-tailed Kite, a Summer Tanager, and an American Bittern to name a few. Of course, at Fry's Landing we also had our share of birds. We caught 218 birds over the course of the weekend, of which 210 were 'new' birds. We had 32 species including 17 warblers! The highlight, for me at least, was
                                               coming around the corner to find a male Cape May Warbler in the net with two females as well as about 10 male Bay-breasted Warblers along with them. What a great weekend!!

Male Blackburnian Warbler

Male Bay-breasted Warbler.

Male Black-throated Green Warbler.

Northern Parula

Male Cape May Warbler. A real treat!

Male Wilson's Warbler

We were fortunate to have Bob Mulvihill
from The National Aviary stop by with his
own tour groups both days. Here he is talking
about a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Laura-Marie showing off a bird that she
just processed to Bob's tour group.
Photo by Bob Mulvihill.

Sarah proudly displaying a Lincoln's Sparrow
that she just removed from the net.

Laura-Marie looking for moult
limits in a Magnolia Warbler

Sarah expertly extracting a Gray Catbird
from the net. It requires great skill and patience
to do this although she makes it look easy!

One of Bob's tour group members holding a common species,
but one we don't very often catch-
a male American Goldfinch.
Photo by Bob Mulvihill.