Late season netting

As we're nearing the end of the season, the birds are not maintaining their breeding territories, so we've been moving from target netting specific birds to a more general netting strategy. Consequently, we're more likely to catch more than just Golden-cheeked Warblers.



The Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) is the other federally endangered bird species that breeds on Fort Hood. I've gotten to see a few of them, but it was a real treat when I caught one this week. This is a 2nd year male.



This is a White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus). They're one of the most common birds on the fort, and they have a lot of personality. They don't usually poof up their head feathers this way, but this one's patience with me was waning, and he gave me a good bite on the knuckle right after I took his picture. If you zoom in on this photo, you can see the "hooked" bill that is typical of vireos.