Field Observation 4: Migration

Tuesday, April 3rd. It was balmy, above 40 degrees.

As soon as I set foot outside I heard an American Robin calling in the bank of trees to my left, a Northern Cardinal singing ahead of me, and two Black-capped Chickadees singing and calling from the other side of my neighbor’s fence. When I reached the road I could hear two more Northern Cardinals singing from either side of me. Two House finches (one of each sex) flew from my right in to some bushes on my left, with much fluttering and movement. Another Black-capped Chickadee called, and then another American Robin. I caught sight of the latter, hunched on a low, bare branch. At the end of the block, yet another American Robin called harshly, then flew across the road inches from the ground, landed in a brown yard and called again. Just after, an American Crow called from the wing, flying silhouetted against the only cloud in the sky. A Black-capped Chickadee sang from a tree to my right, two Northern Cardinals chorused from either side of the road, and a Mourning Dove’s doleful tone sounded in the distance. It was a noisy morning.

Further along, there came a whistled and unpleasant song I did not recognize. A Blue Jay hopped to a better vantage in the low branches of a naked tree. I tried to photograph it, but it flew away as soon as I had my camera out. With Northern Cardinals still singing their repetitive songs, a European Starling flew high overhead, recognizable by its stubby tail and pointed wings. I reached the main road and song was drowned by traffic noise. After a little while, I saw six European Starlings perched together in a scraggly tree, and another whistled sharply from across the road. Two American Robins ran across a side street with their funny, self-conscious movements.

The Black-capped Chickadees live in the area year-round. This is probably facilitated by feeders filled with seed and suet, by good memories for food resources, by their ability to drink from icicles, and by nightly hypothermia. With these tools, taking advantage of the absence of other birds and avoiding the gruelling trip South make being a resident worth their while.

In contrast, American Robins do migrate across parts of the species’ range. I did not see an American Robin here until February 21st, and now I cannot go anywhere without seeing one (or several). Robins may be appearing here as we thaw, and as the ground softens and earthworms become an available food resource. Sadly, it looks as if they were a little early after all.

Posted on April 7, 2018 02:54 PM by tesshall