acshiers's Journal

Field Journal 5: Migration
April 4, 2021
Start time: 9:07
End time: 10:28
Location: UVM Redstone Campus and Burlington Country Club, Burlington, VT
Weather: 34 degrees F, 90% cloud cover, SSE wind at 1 mph
Habitats: small body of water surrounded by cattails/fragmites and small shrubbery, open grassland with small fragments of forested areas and lone trees

A number of year rounds species of birds have been observed in Burlington over the past few weeks. Some of the most prominent ones, species that were seen during this observation, were the Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, and American Crow. These resident species may not undergo migration as they have adapted to take advantage of different food sources present throughout the year, and choose not to expend vast amounts of energy on migration. For example, looking at a Black-capped Chickadee, they have a small conical shape beak that is well adapted to accessing seeds from conifer species, such as the cones of the Norway Spruce. This allows them to become successful herbivores during harsh weather. White-breasted Nuthatches are also well adapted to the harsh winters of Vermont, as their long, thin beak allows them to access hibernating insects beneath the barks of trees. Residential species are well equipped to access all the resources they may need, allowing them to forgo the energy expense of migration.

Varying facultative migrants were observed as well, with a primary species being the Red-winged Blackbird. At this time in Vermont, males have begun to arrive prior to females to establish breeding territories. A majority of these species travel from the southern and western US (such as NY, MA, CT, RI PA, and NJ) where they may be seen year round, but around 10% of the birds that fill this western VT habitat will forgo migration. During migration, the birds travel northwards to a more ideal breeding habitat with more ample resources. Changes in this breeding habitat may include a warmer temperature, resulting in the regrowth of foliage, awakening of insects, and melting of water bodies where they are often found. Habitat and food supply for these species may occasionally be unpredictable, and drive or prohibit migratory behavior to or from the Burlington area.

An obligate migrant that was observed was the Turkey Vulture. As this species travels northwards to find appropriate breeding habitat, it may come across some advantageous resources in the Burlington area. During this spring time, many manuals and other organisms are becoming more common, and are coming out of winter hibernation. As a result, more carnage may occur, and there will be more food sources for these birds. Additionally, the weather in this area is becoming more warm, but not too warm, providing adequate weather for breeding. On the negative side, foliage and plants are just beginning to grow, limiting potential protection for nesting from predators or environmental factors.

Mini Activity
Total km travelled: 8261 km

Year Round
White-breasted Nuthatch 0 km
American Robin 0 km
American Crow 0 km
Downy Woodpecker 0 km
Blue Jay 0 km
Common Raven 0 km
Black-capped Chickadee 0 km
European Starling 0 km
House Sparrow 0 km
TOTAL: 0 km

Facultative
Dark-eyed Junco 0 - 330 km
Canada goose 0 - 160 km
Mallard 0 - 1538 km
Song Sparrow 0 - 1215 km
American Goldfinch 0 - 1300 km
Red-winged Blackbird 0 - 1135 km
TOTAL: 5678 km

Obligate
Common Grackle 186 km
Turkey Vulture 241 km
Ring-billed Gull 418 km
Cooper’s Hawk 1738 km
TOTAL: 2583 km

Field journal 6: Field Observation
April 11, 2021
Start time: 1:02
End time: 2:35
Location: Morse Farm, Montpelier, VT
Weather: 72 degrees F, 40% cloud cover, SSE wind at 0 mph
Habitats: Old growth forest, sparse small areas of water and muddy ground.

Field journal 7: Reproductive Ecology and Evolution
April 26, 2021
Start time: 7:48
End time: 9:23
Location: Red Rocks Park, Burlington, VT
Weather: 36 degrees F, 95% cloud cover, NW wind at 16 mph
Habitats: Manages old and young growth forests, neighboring Lake Champlain

Numerous behaviors are being exhibited by birds in regards to breeding season at this time. In terms of visual behaviors, male/female pairs are seen interacting, individuals are sitting still on nesting sites, and aggressive/selective behaviors are exhibited in regards to mate selection and territory defense. For example, male Mallards were observed shaking their heads and flinging them up and down in the presence of a female. This behavior may be related to mate selection by the female. In terms of auditory cues, species have become either aggressive towards other individuals for defense of resources, or exhibit specific vocalizations for attracting a mate. For example, Black-capped Chickadees may be defending their territory with vocalizations that consist of high pitched chirps followed by lower “dees.”

Ideal nesting habitat often varies from species to species. In the location I visited, ideal locations include tree cavities, branches, and shoreline. For some species of passerines and small songbirds, building a nest on top of a tree branch or similar elevated structure is most ideal for them. An example of this would be the American Robin, who creates a very distinct and rather obvious nest filed with bright blue eggs. Their nests could be observed in hemlock or cedar trees in this area that are able to provide year-long foliage as nest protection. Mallards, who are very well camouflaged within vegetation, prefer to nest on the ground near bodies of water. A Mallard nest was observed on land within some reeds near a shallow part of the lake. This allows them to use camouflage to protect themselves and their nest from predators, while being close to food resources and water where chicks will eventually develop. Common Goldeneyes are an example of a species who utilizes snag tree cavities for nesting. This nest site allows them to save energy by using holes remade by piloted woodpeckers, and it provides their nest with great protection from predators and weather conditions until their chicks hatch and are ready to fend for themselves.

I was able to observe a variety of behaviors from some Black-capped Chickadees, as mentioned above, that appeared to be an individual defending a territory through vocalizations. This area of land seemed to be a good territory, a location with lots of cover in bushes and evergreens, pinecones and vegetation for food sources, and water nearby. This spot seemed a bit more ideal than other locations nearby. Because this territory seemed ideal, and the individual was defending it, this may indicate higher fitness for this bird. This is due to its ability to find and properly defend a prime territory against other, less fit, members of its species.

During my observations, I was fortunate enough to observe a male and female pair of Blue Jays building a nest. They chose a spot on a hemlock branch close to the base trunk of the tree for stability and protection. When building this nest, both adults took turns bringing back different materials, primarily small thin sticks. Each bird would fly no more than a dozen yards away in search of materials, where they often scavenged on the ground or picked dead twigs off of nearby cedar trees. This material may be helpful in building a strong structure, but leaves, down, moss, and grasses may be used as good insulation in the nest.

Mini Activity:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15PKl1XHDq8SpuDtvEXee31p5EeFQKW7W/view?usp=sharing