Memories of Birding and Banding 06, 10 Hoad-tography in Elora

Poem by Mr. Hoad-Reddick

I: The Mist Net

bisecting known aerial routes the mist net marks an ethereal and abrupt end to the flight path, inverting sky and ground; its captives tangled, dangling in netted pockets fitful frantic fluttering, arresting flight

II: The Bander’s Grip

immediately establish the sure but not stifling grip; extract the small song-strangled bird from its head-rush-inverted hold in the mist net secure enough to subdue, preserve its strength exhaust the possibility of a flitting escape

the hold like an ace’s split fingers on the fastball, white-breasted nuthatch (WBNU) held between distal knuckles of forefinger and middle finger, fingertips closed gently around its neck with just enough force; delicate miracle wings contained in the palm, thumb and remaining fingers cradling a frantic heartbeat.

Lift a thumb to measure the wing chord turn a palm upward, lift your thumb to free the belly the hold is reverential, preventing injury to the legs thumb and forefinger free to secure the leg for banding

Dip the bird into its rubber tube to be weighed, take its head back in the grip at the other end

Marvel at this flyer as you inspect for age and sex.

III: Field Marks

the eyering of a Rubycrowned Kinglet; the double breast band of a Killdeer black caps swept-back crests notched tail wingbar superciliary speculum color of the lore whisker mark

IV: Field Notes

1. Be careful of the song sparrow, lying passively, kicking suddenly free.

2. Flickers are apt to scream a lot.

3. Never use the bander’s hold on the raptors, but rather use the ice cream cone grip, which works great on kingfishers, crows, jays and grackles and which looks exactly like you think it should!

V: Release

place our weary interlocutor in your open palm the release low to the ground listen for the brief indignant song wonder at how quickly…

and when you had flight in the palm of your hand

Shared by Mr. Hannah

Reciting the Bander’s Grip, 2017

Click photo to HEAR the poem