bluter1's Journal

Date - 4/5/21
Start time - 2pm
End time - 3:30pm
Location - Centennial woods
Weather - Party cloudy, some winds, no precipitation
Habitat(s) - forest, banks of stream

While I didn't see any migrating species at centennial woods, I did observe some year-round resident species such as the Herring Gull, American Crow, and Black-capped Chickadee. These species forgo migration because it is energetically expensive and they have a reliable food source in their native habitats that is sufficient in aiding them throughout the seasons. This can lead to adaptations in foraging methods, sexual selection, and nesting behaviors due to the changing conditions throughout the year for such species.

Date : 4/26/21
Start time: 2pm
End time:3:30pm
Location : Colchester Pond, Colchester, VT
Weather: Cloudy and overcast with temperature of 46 degrees Fahrenheit
Habitat(s): Pond, bank of pond, field, woodlands

While I did not see many birds while on my outing, I did hear quite a few songs and calls that may have been mating calls. Different calls communicate different messages to other birds of the same species, and they are used for alarms, begging for food, flock talk, and of course interactions between males and females. The songs of male birds communicate territory boundaries and defense of said territory.

I saw several nests higher up in medium sized trees which may belong to a House Sparrow or American Robin. There were lots of calls coming from these nests, indicating the possibility of fledglings being fed by their parents. Additionally a pair of Mallards were spotted on the water, but their nest and nesting behavior were not observed. Mallards construct their nests on the ground near the water surrounded by weeds, grasses, and bushes which are used to build the nest. These materials are commonly found near the banks of bodies of water, making it an easily accessible material for Mallards to use and reduces foraging time and energy wasted on nest building.