Illinois Raptor Center Bird Banding Station

We had an extremely strange occurrence today.

In the first round of net checks, we found an American Toad in a net.

Now, the bottom of the nets sometimes touch the ground, so you could imagine a toad getting caught there.

This toad was 5 feet off the ground in the net.

Toads can’t jump.

So…..how?

We suspect that a raptor, such as a Barred Owl or Red-shouldered Hawk, grabbed the toad and, in an attempt to avoid the net, or upon bouncing out of the net, dropped the toad and it landed there.

Today’s banding report

We had forgotten what a really slow day felt like. We remember now.

We operated 18 nets from 600-1030

We captured 29 birds from 11 species

9 Red-winged Blackbird
5 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Indigo Bunting
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Downy Woodpecker
2 Tufted Titmouse
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Song Sparrow
1 Gray Catbird
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Swainson’s Thrush

The two nuthatches were our first hatch-year birds of 2026.

***CANCELLATION***

Due to forecasted thunderstorms and certain strong wind during our normal banding hours, banding is cancelled for Monday, May 18.