Field Observation 2: Physiology

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

Posted on March 8, 2019 10:13 PM by mwolpert