Wed, Mar. 8 - First raven on nest

Clear and calm. 5F at 7am.

Derek and I went to pick up the big box trap at Spring Gulch - Y2 that the cows had destroyed a while ago. Before we went in, we glassed the few birds that were around (~15) and got one band read - orange K. The bird had been banded there with the first big capture a month ago. It looked as if the cows had been fed earlier that morning, but there were fewer birds on the feeders than I would have expected.

On our way back, we saw a raven IN a nest (the Spring Gulch nest). The bird hadn't laid yet, but was most likely building. A little earlier than I would have expected, but it has been warm during the days.

We got a band read from a bird that is likely part of a breding pair by the golf course. The banded female (W/7) had been banded in Dec. of '04 at the cabins in the letter trap. It was perched on a branch with her mate and they had a green apple that had a few bites taken out of it.

Derek and I went into town to drop off Grullo for repairs and checked on a few nests in town. It appeared that the Mead nest had been built upon, and we both thought for a minute that a raven was on it. When we went around the other side for a better look, we saw no bird. I later checked the Art Center nest and it was in similar shape; built up but no bird. It was hard to see, but the Karns nest looked similar.