Field Ornithology Journal #3

Camilla Sucre
Field Ornithology
26 May 2021
Field Journal 2 – Forest Birds
Start Time: 7:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Cherry Lawn Park (Darien CT), Tilley Pond Park (Darien CT), Woodland Park (Darien CT), and Selleck’s Woods (Darien CT).
Weather: Sunny, 75 deg F, ssw 10 mph wind
Habitat: Forest, trails, trees (species: oaks, maples, various conifers, ashes, etc, various ferns, shrub trees)
Total Number Observed: 219
Species Observed: Blue Jay, American Robin, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Great Egret, Baltimore Oriole, House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Canada Goose, European Starling, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, American Crow, Hermit Thrush, American Goldfinch, Mute Swan

Reflection on bird behavior:
Cherry Lawn – A Great Egret flew at an oddly slow pace up to a tall tree above me, where it sat and stared ahead. A Red-winged Blackbird and Baltimore Oriole sat in the same tree, where the Egret did not really interact with them. The Blackbird and Oriole made their usual calls and songs, and the Egret had no reaction. A few minutes later, the Egret flew down on a log that was placed in a small pond, and the Blackbird followed, still making its noises (Egret remained unbothered and was “grooming” itself). The Common Grackles, Song Sparrows, and House Sparrows sat in a grassy area, picking at the floor. The Blue Jays remained high up in the trees, making their presence known with their loud calls and songs.

Tilley Pond – One of the biggest flocks of Canadian Geese I have ever seen; majority of them floated around in the pond, while the others picked at the grass eating and chasing after people that walked by. Grackles and Starlings ate far away from the geese, and the Robins stayed in one area with one another, also on the grass. The Blue Jays here also stayed high up, calling.

Woodland Park – Blue Jays called high up in the canopy, while Northern Cardinals called, but moved around frequently. The Red-eyed Vireo sat on a branch singing, still in its place. Red-bellied Woodpeckers made their calling noises that were spaced very far apart from each other (30 second intervals).

Selleck’s Woods – Mute Swan was very territorial. I admired from afar, and when I attempted to get closer, it swam at a rapid pace toward me, and I ran away. American Goldfinch was sat on a tree branch, hidden in the leaves.

Posted on May 27, 2021 12:07 AM by camillamsucre