mwolpert's Journal

Date: April 21, 2019
Location: Salmon Hole (44.4870° N, 73.1881° W)
Weather: about 70 degrees F, sunny, only a few clouds, slight wind
Habitat: mixed hardwood trees (some maple, birch, cottonwood)
Other: the whole pathway I usually walk down was flooded, the river had a strong current, most of the trees seemed to be budding
Arrived: 11:54 am
Departed: 1:36 pm

Birds Observed:
• American Crow – saw one flying over the Winooski River
• Black-capped Chickadee – heard a few in the trees nearby Riverside Ave
• Blue Jay – I think I heard one because the call sounded like “Cheer” to me, but I haven’t seen or heard any Blue Jays at this site before, so I could be wrong
• Tufted Titmouse – heard one calling for about a minute straight
• White-breasted Nuthatch – heard a few calling
• Northern Cardinal – heard one calling when I first walked by
• Eastern Phoebe – heard one calling nearby the Black-capped Chickadees
• Heard one unidentified bird that had a high-pitched call with 4 of what sounded like the same notes in a row repeated quickly

This past week there had been a lot of rainfall, so when I arrived the pathway that I usually walk down was flooded. The majority of the areas that were accessible by foot were submerged with water. In addition, the river has a strong current so I didn’t see any waterfowl where I was. They might have been further downstream, away from the Winooski Dam.

I mostly just aurally observed behaviors related to mate selection and defense. This included a mix of songs and calls made from individuals of the same species vocalizing back and forth. There were a few times where the Black-capped Chickadees would call loudly at another, which could have been related to territory defense. I didn’t notice any major signs of nest selection and I didn’t really see any nests that appeared to be for a bird. I saw a few places where there were clumps of leaves but thought those were more likely from the squirrels. It was also challenging to visually see behaviors since many of the species that I was hearing today were at the tops of the trees and hard to locate.

Many of the species seemed to be nesting in the more interior parts of the woods. There is a section between the Winooski River and Riverside Ave with a lot of bird activity and trees with clumps of leaves. Along the pathway to the Intervale, there are a lot of snags and trees that have old holes left from woodpeckers that could serve as nest. Many of the smaller Passerine birds that I observed prefer cavities to nest in, and some of the other species prefer built nests in trees or buildings.

One species that prefers cavities includes the Black-capped Chickadee. For example, they can nest in the cavities left by Downy Woodpeckers. Typically, their nests are about 1.5 – 7 m off the ground and they prefer dead or dying trees. Tree species such as birch, aspen, or sugar maple are often chosen for their nest site. One species that nests in along buildings is the Eastern Phoebe. Usually they will set up their nest close the roof, to provide shelter from the elements, about 1 – 5 m from the ground. They avoid damp sites because it increases the chance that the nest will fall and try to pick a site with suitable foraging habitat. A species that likes nesting in shrubs with dense foliage includes the Northern Cardinal. They prefer species such as elm, sugar maple, box elder, honeysuckle, spruce, and pines. The nest is usually constructed within the crook of smaller branches about 1 – 15 feet above the ground. Suitable building materials include leafy material, bark, grass for lining, and small twigs. In some cases, in areas with a lot of human products, paper or plastic is used in nest construction as well.

Sources
• Allaboutbirds.org
• Birds of North America website

Date: April 6, 2019
Location: Salmon Hole (44.4870° N, 73.1881° W)
Weather: about 47 degrees F, mostly cloudy, windy
Habitat: mixed hardwood trees (some maple, birch, cottonwood)
Other: one small tree had fallen since the last time I was there, almost all the snow and ice has melted, the pathways were very muddy
Arrived: 12:00 pm
Departed: 1:53 pm

Birds Observed:
• American Crow – saw one in a tree, and heard others calling
• American Robin – saw a group in a tree, and saw a different one foraging on the ground
• Canada Goose – saw two pairs at different sections along the Winooski River
• Common Merganser – saw a group near one pair of geese and by the gulls
• Double-created Cormorant – saw one foraging alone and then drying out its wings
• Eastern Phoebe – saw one hopping between the branches
• Hooded Merganser – saw a male and female floating in the Winooski
• Ring-billed Gull – saw a few by the pair of geese, much fewer than last time, might have been some Herring Gulls as well, some gulls were flying overhead
• Northern Cardinal – saw one female and heard another singing
• Song Sparrow – saw one on a fallen tree near a dead animal carcass (I think it was a deer), heard the sparrow calling

Birds Heard:
• Tufted Titmouse
• Black-capped Chickadee

Out of the birds I observed this time, there are five that are commonly year-round residents including American Crow, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, and Tufted Titmouse. Crows and robins are short-distance migrators, but can reside in Vermont for the whole year. Both these species tend to roost in large flocks, which can help conserve heat and increase foraging capacity during winter when resources are scarcer. Northern Cardinals are able to survive very low temperatures, down to about -40oF by increasing their metabolic rates, decreasing water loss, and fluffing its feathers. In winter, Black-capped Chickadees eat a variety of foods including plant matter and sometimes fat or meat from frozen carcasses. Tufted Titmice prepare for winter by storing seeds in bark crevices and access them when other resources are harder to find.

One facultative migrant observed includes the Double-crested Cormorant. This species can be resident or a medium-distant migrant. Populations from the Gulf of Mexico often migrate to the great lakes area, arriving in early-April, and sometimes continue north to parts of Canada. They arrive right around when the ice cover has begun to melt, and there is open water exposed again. This is especially important because they mainly feed on aquatic vertebrates. Aside from water temperatures, in lecture, we also discussed the importance of the photoperiod and the sensitivity migrating bird have to this time. Migratory birds are sensitive to extended during of daylight, and in response, can tell when they should begin their migration.

Based on the ranges of the species I observed, none were obligative as they all had year-round ranges, which suggests they can be resident species in those areas. For an obligate migrant, I would expect to only see a wintering range or non-breeding ground, breeding range, and migratory range. Migrating and being one of the first migratory arrivals to a site means the individual can access those resources before later migrants. As more species arrive, resources start to run out again over time. However, arriving too early could be a challenge too if foods such as fruits or insects accessible or active at that time due to variations in that year’s season.

Sources
• Used both All About Birds website and Cornell’s Birds of North America website for more information about migration, physiology, and behavior of the species

Date: March 17, 2019
Location: Salmon Hole (44.4870° N, 73.1881° W)
Weather: about 27 degrees F, mostly cloudy, fresh layer of about half an inch of snow
Habitat: mixed hardwood trees (some maple, birch, cottonwood)
Other: some of the trees have started budding, lots of snow/ice melt occurring, ice that was covering certain sections of the river is breaking up
Arrived: 9:47 am
Departed: 11:38 am

This birding outing was the most successful one I’ve gone on so far this semester. I went earlier in the day than my prior visits and the birds seemed much more active. In addition, since the weather has been getting warmer the past few days, there were more species around. Some migrants might also be back or returning within the next couple of weeks and will be exciting to see! This time I recorded a total of seven different species including the following:
• American Crow - Observed dozens at the far bank of the Winooski River by the dam and heard them calling
• Mallard - Observed at least a dozen floating down the river and heard them calling
• Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls - Observed a large group, probably over 50, gathered in one section along the river and heard them calling
• Common Goldeneye - Saw one male foraging in the middle of the river
• Hooded Merganser - Saw one male and one female foraging in the middle of the river
• White-breasted Nuthatch - Heard one calling
• Tufted Titmouse - Heard one calling

There were many species gather within a fairly small area, mostly within a few hundred feet of one another or closer. This means they were all interacting with one another by sharing the same space. The Mallards, Mergansers, and Goldeneye were all foraging in the same area and didn’t seem to be expressing any antagonistic behavior. They all remained spaced out from one another. The Mallards were calling back and forth to one another, but I didn’t hear the other calling. The Herring and Ring-billed Gulls were all gathered in the same area with very little space between one another and were all calling loudly to one another. Maybe they were trying to adjust their spacing or communicate about the foraging. A few individuals at a time would fly out from the group and soar over the river and then return to the group. There was a large group of American Crows past the group of gulls and they were cawing loudly to one another as well. Occasionally some would fly from the river bank to the opposite site of woods, then return. None of the calls sounded particularly alarmed so the communication was probably mostly social or informational for other members of its species.

The American Crow is a very darkly colored species in comparison to Herring Gulls or Ring-billed Gulls. This allows them to absorb more light and generate heat. Against a light sky, the black coloration stands out, but in the evening or with the cover of trees, it can work as camouflage by resembling a dark shadow in the canopy. The Gulls are much lighter overall in coloration. The adults of both species are typically light gray on the back and wings, with the tips of the wings being black. The underside and head are white, which can be beneficial when foraging because the prey below looking up at a light sky and white underside are less likely to see them.

The single bird I focused on for about ten minutes was the Common Goldeneye. This species often forages in groups, but this male was by itself. He was floating in the middle of the Winooski River and every so often would dive forward and resurface a few seconds later. I didn’t see him come up with anything in his beak after any of the dives, but he could have already eaten the prey as he was resurfacing or was just not having success in hunting. This species is diurnal and therefore is most active during the day. It was around ten in the morning when I saw this one foraging.

Date: March 5, 2019
Location: Salmon Hole (44.4870° N, 73.1881° W)

Weather: about 23 degrees F, slight breeze, mostly cloudy, fresh layer of about an inch of snow

Habitat: mixed hardwood trees (some maple, birch, cottonwood)
Arrived: 3:05 pm
Departed: 4:47 pm

I went to Salmon Hole again for this week’s field observation. I went later in the day than the last time, and there seemed to be more bird activity. I heard and saw a total of three species that I could identify, including a few American Crows, one Tufted Titmouse, and at least two Black-capped Chickadees. The chickadees were calling back and forth, often overlapping one another so that it was hard to distinguish how many there were. Since it is still winter, there was minimal bird activity again, but as the warms up I hope that migrants will return, and other species will be more active.

Even with the below-freezing day and night temperatures, many birds can cope with the weather. Unlike humans, birds are less sensitive to large drops in body temperature, and some are able to bring themselves into hypothermia and back overnight. For example, Black-capped chickadees can make use of facultative hypothermia to burn fewer calories. Other birds make use of insulating feathers such as down feathers. In order to conserve energy, less time is dedicated to foraging as resources become scarcer and the energy effort it takes for some food items is not worth the extra time spent hunting or gathering. In addition, some birds store food such as seeds in small cavities or crevices for later.

Tufted Titmice mainly feed on insects in the summer or different seeds in winter. They sometimes store seeds in bark crevices during fall and winter. For nesting overnight, titmice usually prefer tree cavities, such as those made from woodpeckers. Salmon Hole has many living trees as well as snags that could provide potential habitat. Black-capped Chickadees also prefer to nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. Their diet consists mostly of seeds, berries, and some insects. American Crows are the least picky eaters compared to titmice or chickadees and feed on seeds, insects, aquatic organisms, and sometimes garbage. They prefer to nest in the crook of evergreen trees.

Sources:
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/lifehistory#
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/lifehistory
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/lifehistory

Date: February 17, 2019
Location: Salmon Hole (44.4870° N, 73.1881° W)

Weather: sunny, about 18 degrees F, mostly blue skies, not windy

Habitat: mixed hardwood trees (some maple, birch, cottonwood)
Arrived: 11:13 am
Departed: 12:47 pm

For my field observations I chose to go to Salmon Hole, by the Winooski River. I had been there before in fall and saw Great Blue Herons and many other species. So, I thought it would be interesting to come back during winter and see what had changed. I would like to make this my main birding spot for the year because I want to see which birds come back as it becomes spring.

This time I only saw one White-breasted Nuthatch and about seven different American Crows. There were a few other bird calls that sounded like short chirps, but I couldn’t identify them and didn’t see them. I head the nuthatch calling but didn’t hear it sing. It was making its way up a tree and would pause every few seconds and look around. I head the crows calling as well but couldn’t really distinguish one individual’s call from another. So, I may have heard different crows than the ones I saw. I saw them flying around the bridge that goes over the Winooski River, which was pretty far from where I was sitting.

The flight pattern of the crows involved fairly consistent flapping followed by periods of about five to ten seconds or soaring. Their wings are elliptical shaped, which allows for better thrust and enables them to move quickly. The primaries are fairly splayed out in flight and help with lift. The nuthatch moved with many rapid wing flaps with very short periods (a few seconds at most) when the wings were folded by their side. The wing shape is a large factor in how a bird moves in the air. How a bird flies in turn influences what kind of habitat they would do best in. For example, birds that are better at soaring would probably do better in open areas rather than trying to maneuver through dense forests. Birds flight and flapping pattern help identify the species by determining the wing type.

There didn’t seem to be much bird activity at this time or location when I went. This is likely because it is still winter, and many species have migrated or are not as active during the day. In addition, there was a lot of road noise across the bridge and I head sirens twice, which might have stressed the birds out. As the weather gets warmer, there will probably be more human traffic through the site that could affect where birds chose to be or whether they call and sing.