nigelwaring's Journal

Date: 4/7/19
Time: 6 – 7:30
Location: Centennial Woods
Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy, light/no wind
Habitat: edges of urban and woods, marsh land, old growth softwood

While on my bird walk, I saw Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Cardinal. Of the species that I identified only the Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Cardinal are non-migratory. Both species actively feed on seeds to survive. I think that this is the main reason that they can stay during winter. Both species also live in wooded and suburban areas that also allows them to adapt and find food during different weather. The way that these species can stay warm during the severe cold is by fluffing up their feathers. This allows the birds to keep warm air next to their body and cold air away from it.

Of my species I feel that Northern Cardinals are the only species that would be a potential facultative species. The reason I feel this is because during winter they may migrate short distances to find better resources in warmer climates, which would explain why I do not see as many during the winter. It is hard to tell where this species may migrate too as there is no information about Northern Cardinal migration. If this species did migrate, I would think that it would only migrate to areas such as southern Vermont where there may be less snow, warmer temperatures, and more food available. The main reason species migrate is because of a lack of resources. The Northern Cardinals will remain in this area for the rest of the year or until they felt the pressure of resources dwindling. With the warmer temperatures and the lack of snow, there are more available resources like seeds that will provide the species food. This species also eats bugs which have started to return to our area with the increase in temperature.

I believe that most of the migrant species that I saw were obligate migrants as they all feed on insects, bugs, and worms. They also eat some seeds and fruit, but this is only a supplement. Just like with the Northern Cardinal, the increase in temperature has allowed for insects, bugs, and worms to start to become present in the environment. With no snow these species are also able to forage more effectively. The increased temperature also allows the birds to survive as they do not have the ability to lower their body temperature and survive in a state of torpor like species such as the Black-capped Chickadee. The disadvantages of arriving this early is that the weather is very sporadic and fluctuates with temperature and the type of precipitation as seen late last week.

Mini Activity: total of about 1000 miles traveled if max migration took place.
- American Robin traveled short distances if any and the Red-winged Blackbird traveled about 800 miles from the furthest wintering area.

Date: 4/21/19
Time: 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: Kirby, Vermont

Weather: 65 degrees, sunny, a few clouds, no wind
Habitat: open fields, open timber, think stands of timber (many different spots were explored)
While on my exploration, I saw a lot of mating behaviors. The main one that I was interested in was the wild turkeys. The toms could be seen strutting around with hens, despite the lack of interest from the hens which were more worried about feeding and finding a place to roost. I also saw small flocks of American crows, American robins, mallard, American woodcock, white-breasted nuthatch, and black-capped chickadee. The very cool thing that I heard for mating behavior besides the turkeys, was the courtship call of the woodcock. For years I have heard this but not know what it was, and I loved sitting there listening to the individual as the sun set.
Since the eastern part of the state is a little behind the western, mating is still in courtship and the nesting and breeding is just starting. All these species pick spots to build nests that are either tucked away in thick spots under trees/bushes, or up in trees. There is a mating pair of mallards that routinely use our pond at my house this time of year, but I have yet to see them build a nest. They love to hide in the tall grass though and I think that there is just too much activity for them to nest here. The turkeys and woodcock also love to get tucked into thick pockets that are easily missed by predators but also easily escaped. The other species prefer to nest in the trees, using the branches and leaves to hide them.
The woodcock I heard, if he is lucky enough to find a mate, will likely nest in the little finger of woods behind my pond as there is soft ground and the field close by for them to feed. They also can find thick spots to hide under the boughs of softwoods to make a nest and hide from predators. American robins are very different in where they would build a nest. I often find them building nests in our sugarhouse which has rafters to build a nest, and the roof to keep aerial predators away and the elements off them. Turkeys are also very different, they like to find high, dry ground. Yet, like the woodcock, they use brush to hide from predators while incubating the eggs. I have found many of them on field edges where there is a think edge with lots of visibility for the hens while they sit but still lots of cover to blend in with while they sit motionless.
Mini Activity: while doing the activity I saw/heard, black-capped chickadee, American woodcock, wild turkey, American robins, and American crow. I saw 9 turkeys and 4 crows, but I heard 6 robins, 1 woodcock and 7 chickadees. None of the species I encountered were unidentified. It was very cool to think about the songs and calls and then try to draw them as I really had to focus on the tone and pitch which really helps you realize the uniqueness and helps to provide hints identify them.

I was only able to get photos of the turkeys as all other species did not stick around for a long enough period to get photos on my phone using binoculars.