Diario de lhughes1953

4/30/23, 3:30-5pm, Ethan Allen Homestead, cloudy 50 degrees and light precipitation, lightly wooded area and river/wetland

Today I went birding with my friend Mari at Ethan Allen Homestead. We began birding and heard several Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles. We saw three Red-winged Blackbirds flying around and four Common Grackles. As we were walking we came across an American Robin in a tree with very puffed-out feathers, most likely trying to keep warm. There was also an American Robin walking along the path. We also heard a House Wren during this time but couldn't see it.

We continued to walk and I spotted a Hair Woodpecker who began drumming on trees. We continued to hear Song Sparrows and saw two individuals, one darting around on the ground and one up in a tree. A few trees away from the sparrow, we saw a male Northern Cardinal singing. Further ahead of us on the path, we noticed a bird with a red head and white bottom darting around. We tried to get a closer look and got a quick blurry photo. I later identified this bird as a Northern Flicker.

We then walked further and heard a Tufted Titmouse. I did a Tufted Titmouse call and he ended up coming to a tree right in front of us. I continued to do a call-and-response with him as he darted around a tree in front of us singing and puffing out his wings.

As began walking back the way we came, we saw a male Mallard duck in the water beside the trail. We also heard chirping in a tree and saw a female Yellow Warbler.

4/19/23, 6pm-9pm, Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, cloudy 50 degrees and light rain, wetland, wooded areas, open field, and open water

On Wednesday I went birding with Allan Strong and a group of students at the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. We began our trip in a wetland part of the reserve where about 10 Red-winged Blackbirds were present. At the start of the trip, there was light participation and this was the main species we saw. We then began to move to an open water area. On the way there, we saw a Merlin attacking a European Starling. The Merlin flew away because of our presence and the European Starling was on the ground by a tree bleeding. We left to let the Merlin finish their meal.

In the open water area, we saw about 6 gulls flying overhead with red beaks that I did not recognize. Allan then identified them as Common Terns. In the same area, we saw two Common Snipes fly by. We also saw two Wood Ducks (a male and female) in the water and about 10 Ring-necked Ducks in the water. There were also two Savannah Sparrows darting around outside of the water.

We then headed back toward the wetlands area to a field in the same area. In this field, we heard Common Snipes and heard American Woodcocks doing displays. We were able to spot a male flying during his display and find the area he was coming down to. We were able to watch his display multiple times.

After watching the American Woodcock display it began to get dark and we went looking for owls. We went to a spot that often had Eastern Screech-Owls and played their calls but never heard or saw any. We then moved to a second spot where Barred Owls were common. Allan did several calls but no owls came. He then played Barred Owl noises on a speaker and one flew to a tree branch above us, perched for a moment, then flew away. We then continued to hear the Barred Owl’s who-cooks-for-you who-cooks-for-you-all from afar.

Prompt 1: The main behavior I saw related to mate selection was the display of the American Woodcock. I also think the male Red-winged Blackbirds' singing could be related to territory selection or mate selection. At the visitors center of the property, we saw the nests of Barn Swallows. The nests were like a cup of dirt and twigs against the side of a wall tucked under the rim of a roof. A building/wall is the prime nesting spot for this species. Other species of birds may prefer to build nests in trees or tall grass, requiring a different habitat than the Barn Swallows preferred habitat of human infrastructure. The Red-winged Blackbirds I saw singing were mostly on cattails and tall grasses in the wetland area. Red-winged Blackbirds prefer to nest in marsh growth so these males were defending prime territory, suggesting they have high fitness. Another species we saw was the Savannah Sparrow. They make nests out of dead grass and vegetation. These materials could be found in areas of the nature preserve of farmland that is nearby.

04/15/2023, 10:58 am- 12:15 am, causeway park, sunny and 70 degrees, water and wooded area

I began my trip leaving from the parking lot of the causeway where I saw a Turkey Vulture flying overhead. I then heard an American Goldfinch singing in a tree nearby. When I started walking on the trail I could hear many Black-capped Chickadees and I saw one perched in a tree. I could also hear an American Robin. I then heard a Carolina Wren and, after close inspection, saw it perched up high in a tree but flew away before I could take a photo.

I then went off the main path onto a little side path that was far less populated by people than the main path. There was a small amount of water in this area and when I started standing and looking for birds by the water a Wild Turkey flew away from a tree right next to me. I then saw 3 American Robins on a snag in the water and was able to photograph one of them. I then returned to the path and started hearing a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. After looking around in the trees, I saw it flying in between trees for a short moment. As I continued walking down the main path toward the water I heard several songs from Northern Cardinals.

When I was at the water, I saw three pairs of male and female Buffleheads and two female Buffleheads alone. I also saw two couples of Mallards and two Canada Geese. While I was sitting watching the waterbirds, a Song Sparrow flew and sang on a tree next to me. I then headed back down the path and heard a Tufted Titmouse nearby.

03/24/2023, 3:44 pm- 5:00 pm, Causeway Park, sunny and high 30's, water and wooded area

I went birding with my friend Mari, a fellow bird enthusiast. We began our trip walking around the wooded path to get to the start of the causeway. We first did not hear any birds but after a few moments heard a loud chorus of birds. I recognized the sound of the European Starling and also heard some other bird calls. As we continued walking, we realized that the sound was coming from a large tree in the distance filled with European Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds. The merlin bird app also picked up on a sound ID of Common Grackle but we did not see any with our binoculars/camera. We then continued walking and saw a Blue Jay in the brush by us and Mari was able to snap a great photo. At the very start of the causeway, we heard the very clear sound of a Northern Cardinal but were unable to see it.

At the start of the causeway, by the shore, we could immediately see waterfowl. A male and female Mallard were both present and also two Canada Geese. When walking further from the shore along the causeway two groups of ducks were visible. One group of 5 Buffleheads and one group of several Buffleheads and a few Common Goldeneyes. The second group was difficult to photograph but visible through binoculars. As we continued down the causeway there seemed to be no birds present so we turned around. On the way back toward the wooded path, we were able to photograph a bird flying, which we thought was a hawk. However, when looking through the photos later I was able to identify the bird as a juvenile Bald Eagle.

When returning to the wooded part of the path, I heard a Tufted Titmouse but could not see it. I then heard a White-breasted Nuthatch and was able to spot it on a tree nearby. Another White-breasted Nuthatch could also be heard in the distance. We also heard a Northern Cardinal close by and eventually were able to spot a male on a tree off the path. I then played a Northern Cardinal call and he flew closer, allowing us to photograph him.

On the way back to the car, on the wooded path, we once again saw the tree full of Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings. Merling bird-id also picked up on a Brown-headed Cowbird, which is uncommon in the area, but we did not see any.

Prompt: Some of the resident species I observed while birding include: Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch. These species may choose not to migrate because there are food sources available for them here during the winter. One physiological thing that these resident species may do to stay in the winter is go through facultative hypothermia at night. Some birds, such as Titmice, do this to save energy overnight. Behaviorally, resident species may change their diets to available food and find warmer places to roost at night in the winter. For example, Nuthatches often roost in unoccupied woodpecker holes overnight. One facultative migratory species that I saw while birding is the Red-winged Blackbird. They typically arrive in Vermont in early March. The Red-winged Blackbirds that migrate can migrate about 800 miles from their breeding areas. So the ones I saw were most likely arriving from Massachusets or Connecticut. This species eats insects and summer seeds, which are scarce in the winter. This is why they tend to migrate but return to breed in the spring. The males arrive first to find territory to attract females. Arriving early has disadvantages because there can be scarce food the males are able to find better territory to attract females by arriving early.

Mini-activity: Red-winged Blackbird: 800 miles
Mallard: 730 miles
Canada Goose: 2,000 miles
Bufflehead: 300 miles
Common Goldeneye: 300 miles

Total: 4,130 miles

12:05-1:45pm, 03/07/2023, Centennial Woods, 25 degrees and cloudy (snowing lightly), wooded area

I began my trip just outside the centennial woods nature area. I saw about 5 American Robins and 3 Black-capped Chickadees bouncing around trees. The robins were silent but the chickadees said a few chirps here and there. I watched them for a while and then they all flew away. When I made a pish sound it seemed to startle the robins.

I then went a little further into the woods and came across a Black-capped Chickadee darting around a bundle of sticks and branches at the bottom of a tree. I watched the chickadee for a long time and took some pictures and videos. The chickadee was silent but I could hear other Black-capped Chickadees singing around me. I then made the pish noises and after I would make the sound the chickadee began doing the chicka-dee-dee-dee call and moved around a lot faster. After a while of watching the chickadee, it flew away.

I then kept walking in the woods and continued to hear Black-capped Chickadees and also heard a Fish Crow. I originally thought that this crow might be an American Crow but the call did not sound quite right. After using Merlin bird ID, I was able to identify the crow as a Fish Crow.

I continued to walk in the woods and heard a very clear and loud sound of a Tufted Titmouse. While the Tufted Titmouse continued to sing a White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, and Northern Cardinal could also be heard. It seemed as if they were responding to the Tufted Titmouse because when it would stop for a moment another species of bird would sing and then Tufted Titmouse would sing again. The Northern Cardinal then sang on its own when the Tufted Titmouse could no longer be heard. As I completed my bird walk, I continued to hear chirps of Black-capped Chickadees here and there.

Prompt # 1: The first interactions I saw between birds were American Robins and Black-capped Chickadees They both were moving around the same group of trees but the robins were higher up in the trees than the chickadees. I think that both species were foraging for red berries that were around and in trees. The other interactions that I observed between species were the Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, and White-breasted Nuthatch responding to the loud song of the Tufted Titmouse. I think that they most likely communicate about the presence of predators or food. The two birds that I could see the plumages of were the Black-capped Chickadees and the American Robins. The chickadees are white with a black cap and the robins have an orange underbelly and are brown on top. One thing I noticed about both of these species, is that they are very difficult to photograph. Chickadees blend in with snow and branches and the tops of robins blend in with branches and trees. Therefore, being camouflaged from predators may be an evolutionary advantage of the plumages of these birds. The bird that I saw the most was the Black-capped Chickadee. They mostly seemed to be foraging when I saw them. This makes sense for their circadian rhythm because chickadees tend to forage all day in the winter and roost at night.

I think that pishing works because birds are curious about the sound. The sound resembles a predator or another bird rusting around. Birds come close to the sound to investigate. When I made a pish sound by a Black-capped Chickadee it came closer and also began doing the chicka-dee-dee-dee call. In this circumstance, the chickadee probably assumed the sound may be a predator and wanted to get a closer look and alert other chickadees to my presence.

1:30 - 3 pm, 2/27/22, Ethan Allen Homestead, partly cloudy and 25 degrees, wooded area.

Trip Narrative: Immediately when leaving the parking lot and starting to walk on the trail a Black-capped Chickadee flew in front of me moving between trees. It then flew away but I continued to hear a Black-capped Chickadee call for the next couple of minutes. While continuing on the path toward the water, I heard a bird singing for quite a few minutes but I was unfamiliar with the name of the bird. The bird sounded like a frog and upon further observation through a sound recording, I identified the bird as a Hooded Merganser. I then heard the cawing of American Crows and saw one fly across the sky.

I then walked by the water and stood there for a while and heard a few more American Crows and a repeated chirping call, which I later identified as a Brown Creeper. I walked from the water up by the homestead and then saw a Brown Creeper bouncing around on the trunk of a tree. It stayed for a while and was totally silent. It blended in very well with the tree but I was able to take a photo of it. In the same location, I hear a meh-meh-meh of White-breasted Nuthatch but never saw it.

I then walked more through the woods away from the water and heard both an American Crow and a Black-capped Chickadee. I stood in an area of the woods for a while and a flock of seven small birds flew in a V formation and landed high up on a tree in from of me. They stayed there for a long time and made trilling calls. I was unsure of the type of bird they were but I was able to look at them through binoculars, take pictures, and record their sounds. Through the binoculars, I was able to observe a reddish crest, a yellow/orangish tail, and an off-white underbelly. I was able to google these observations and found that the Bohemian Waxwing matched the birds I was seeing. I was then able to confirm this ID through the merlin bird sound id.

Prompt 1-winter: One thing birds do in the winter to keep warm is to preen using the uropygial gland to keep their feathers water resistant. Birds also roost together to stay warm. Large murders of crows will roost together in the winter to remain warm. Birds budget their time in the winter by roosting and foraging for food instead of breeding and raising young. Winter birds such as Black-capped Chickadees spend great amounts of time in the day foraging for food and hiding food before resting at night. Many birds who eat things like insects, buds, berries, and seeds may switch their diet to fruits and nuts, which are more available in the winter. The Bohemian Waxwings eat insects in fruit in the breeding season and summer months but eat almost entirely fruit in the winter months. They gather in flocks and search for fruit. In the winter, they usually start out in Canada but often fly to Vermont when food sources are scarce to find more fruit and berries. The Brown Creeper also often eats insects in the summer but will eat mostly seeds and nuts in the winter. In this specific area, birds most likely go into tree cavities overnight. For example, Black-capped Chickadees usually roost inside of tree hallows and nuthatches usually roost in unused woodpecker holes.

Mini-Activity: Snags are important because they provide roosting and denning places for animals. The most common animals to utilize these are birds, raccoons, and squirrels. The snags provide both warmth and protection from predation for these animals.

10:43 am-12:01pm, 02/19/2023, centennial woods, cloudy and 41 degrees with wind, wooded area

Birding Narrative:
The spot was a wooded area surrounded by trees and next to a slow-moving creek. A few minutes into the start of the observations, multiple Black-capped Chickadees came to the area. I saw 5 Black-capped Chickadees flying from tree to tree and doing the chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee call. At the same time the Black-capped Chickadees were moving around the trees, a Downy Woodpecker was high up on the trunk of a tree. The Black-capped Chickadees then all flew away.

It then became difficult to see birds, but both Tufted Titmice and House Finches were vocal. I spotted one Tufted Titmouse high up in a tree. Although difficult to spot, the Tufted Titmouse/mice continued to be vocal off and on for the duration of the time. They mostly were doing their peter-peter-peter song. Several Black-capped Chickadees were also vocal doing a mix of fee-bee songs and chicka-dee-dee-dee calls. It sounded as if some were closer and some were much further away. There was also one screeching sound heard from a bird that I was unable to identify but after further inspection, I believe it was an uncommon Tufted Titmouse call.

I then spotted an American Crow flying overhead and shortly after I heard the caw of the American crow 3 separate times. The vocalizations of the Black-capped Chickadees then continued and the sound of meh-meh-meh of a White-breasted Nuthatch was audible for a few minutes. As the session ended, more Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice were vocal.

prompt 1:
The species I spent time specifically watching was the Black-capped Chickadee. I would describe their flight pattern as very bouncy. They would fly tiny bits at a time darting between branches and trees and jumping around. They never flew for long amounts of time. Their wing movements were a couple of quick flaps when moving in between branches or trees. Another species that I saw fly was the American Crow. The American Crow flew a large distance high in the sky. The crow had much slower and more graceful wing flaps than the Black-capped Chickadee. Black-capped Chickadees have small crescent shape wings (specifically elliptical wings), fly quick distances with quick wing flaps, and prefer open wooded habitats. American Crows have larger slightly more rectangular wings (specifically elliptical wings), fly further with slow graceful flaps, and prefer open areas. I think a relationship here is that birds with more crowded habitat niches (wooded forests) will tend to have smaller wings and quick flapping flight styles. This allows them to dart between trees more easily. Birds who like open spaces tend to have larger wings and fly greater distances because they have room to do so. You could use a bird's flapping to identify it by being aware of its flight pattern. If you are unsure of what bird you are seeing but recognize the flight pattern you see as belonging to a specific bird you could then identify the bird.