Birding Journal #2- Sabrina Doyle

Sabrina Doyle
Birding Journal #2

Date - 2/19
Start time - 12:20pm
End time - 1:26 pm
Location - Red Rocks Park, South Burlington VT
Weather - 23 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny, no precipitation, light wind 8mph
Habitat(s) - heavily forested area next to Lake Champlain. Deciduous forest, birch, maple, ash trees present, a lot of snags and dead growth.

Birds observed:

• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Tufted Titmouse
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Brown Creeper
• Common Goldeneye
• Maybe a Pileated Woodpecker?? too far to identify

Many of the bird species observed utilize similar techniques to maintain warmth and fitness throughout the winter months. To retain body heat, they fluff up their feathers to create insulating layers and may also seek sheltered areas such as tree cavities or dense foliage. Time budgeting involves a balance between feeding, resting, and conserving energy. During winter, their diet typically shifts towards high-energy foods like seeds, berries, and insects that are readily available. In other seasons, their diet may include a wider variety of foods such as fruits and nectar. During the Night, birds may seek secure roosting spots within tree cavities, or dense vegetation to shelter from cold temperatures and predators. As for the potential Pileated Woodpecker sighting, if confirmed, it would exemplify similar survival strategies but may also rely on its larger size to maintain body heat and potentially excavate deeper cavities for roosting. Overall, these observations underscore the remarkable adaptations and behaviors that enable birds to thrive in winter's challenging conditions.

While walking through the trails of Red Rocks there were a large number of snags in the area with varying hole sizes, I spotted about 10 snags/dead trees throughout my 60-minute excursion. My birding experience took place mid-day and so when I was practicing this activity by whacking the snags with sticks, I had no luck and seeing anything within the cavities of the snags. This may be due to the time of day, and it is notable to mention that where there were snags, there was a lot of bird activity on the surrounding trees. In terms of the importance of snags, they are crucial specifically for bird species. They provide essential habitat for woodpeckers, owls, and songbirds, offering nesting sites, roosting spots, and perches. Woodpeckers excavate cavities in snags for nesting, which are later used by other birds. Owls rely on large tree cavities within snags for shelter and breeding sites. Songbirds, such as chickadees and nuthatches, utilize snags for nesting and perching, while feeding on insects and seeds found in decaying wood. Snags support a diversity of bird species and are integral to maintaining healthy bird populations in ecosystems.

Posted on February 19, 2024 08:28 PM by sabrinad34