Journal archives for April 2021

April 5, 2021

Field Journal #5

Date – April 5, 2021
Start time – 11:00 am
End time – 12:30 pm
Location – Niquette Bay State Park
Weather – 51 degrees, windy (cold wind coming off the water), clear skies, sunny
Habitat(s) – Old growth pine stand & waterfront/wetland

For this excursion I went to Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester, VT. It was much colder than I had initially thought it would be; however, there was a very strong breeze in the forest and near the wetlands/waterfront. The old-growth pine stand I observed did not have many birds besides a few: Cooper’s Hawks, Black-capped Chickadees, and American Crows. This portion of the woods was very quiet as well and I only really could hear the breeze blowing through the trees. The waterfront/wetlands portion of the park had even less birds that I was able to see. However, this section had more bird vocalizations occurring, it was just much harder for me to pinpoint the birds and have time to identify the species before they flew off.

Black-capped Chickadees are one of the year-round species in Vermont and I happened to see a lot of them on this birding excursion. These birds are usually puffed up on the branches when I have seen them, or scavenging for seeds. I am assuming that fluffing their plumage and being able to switch to a stable food source in the winter is advantageous for them surviving the winter in Vermont. I also noticed that whenever I see a Black-capped Chickadee I tend to see several, I think that remaining in a small group is also beneficial to surviving the winters. I also observed American Crows. These birds seem to be year-round residents as well with occasional partial migration. I have always seen Crows in larger groups in the colder weather, creating a warmer environment for them to retreat to. These birds also tend to hover in tree canopies which makes it possible to scavenge for food/find food more easily.

I did not get the chance to see an obligate migrant this time around—however, I did notice some changes to the environment/landscape that are likely to facilitate migrant arrivals. The trees have started to bud which means that there will be a larger food source—primarily fruits which is a large draw for some species. The ice on the lake and the ground in the forest has also begun to thaw which makes access to water/the lake easier for certain species. It would be advantageous to come back in early April to build a nest and find a ‘home’ that is near a rich food source. Early April is early enough where there are still not too many species back, but things have begun to thaw. Establishing a nest before the forests become more crowded (in warmer months) and finding a stable food source can reduce future stress/competition for some species.

Posted on April 5, 2021 07:37 PM by erbryson74 erbryson74 | 4 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

April 24, 2021

Field Journal #6

April 23, 2021
Start time: 12:30 pm
End time: 2:00 pm
Location: Cutler Park, Needham MA
Weather: Sunny, Very windy, 48 degrees
Habitat: Near the water but slightly into the forest, mixed forest with low density (lots of space on the forest floor), small woody plants and young trees—marsh-like habitat

Posted on April 24, 2021 12:09 AM by erbryson74 erbryson74 | 8 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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