emma_jean's Journal

Date - March 7, 2021
Start time - 11:55
End time - 1: 35
Location - North Ferrisburgh, VT
Weather - 19° F, 5 mph wind out of the North West, sunny, 75% cloud cover
Habitat - Deciduous forest in addition to edges of hay and corn fields. Woods consist of shagbark hickory, bitternut hickory, red maple, green ash, white ash, American elm, Eastern cottonwood, and one solitary pear tree.

I have noticed that most of these birds will typically wait until midday to be very active in this area. This week I observed birds on the property where I live, so I have noticed a larger pattern with the area than just this one day of observation. During the cold mornings the birds tend to be less active - perhaps laying low to conserve heat or huddling together to keep warm. Once the sun comes out and things start to warm up, the birds become much more active and can be seen flitting between trees and branches. Specifically, the House Sparrows that I observed this time were using one another to stay warm by sticking close together when perched in the tree branches. The birds seem to be budgeting their time by using the warmest periods of the day to be out feeding and then resting and sleeping during the colder periods. I have noticed the American Robins already picking through the dirt in search of earth worms. I have often seen Black-capped Chickadees and House Sparrows on the ground below a tree or bush presumably in search of seeds and berries. At this point in the season, seeds and berries seem to be getting scarce, but the ground is still frozen so bugs and worms seem to be laying low as well. In other seasons, I think the birds’ diet would be filled with these things that are now growing scarce. I imagine these birds would be found spending the night in the branches of trees, perhaps a bit deeper into the forest.

Mini activity - I happened upon two snags throughout my observation. Though there were no birds within the snag, there seemed to be more birds gathered around the snags and they were more active than in other areas. These snags are very important within the ecosystem of the area. Snags/cavities provide a habitat for small creatures to continue to live long after a tree is dead. This also provides a good situation for insects to live and thrive which will provide food for birds eventually. I imagine that smaller species are more likely to utilize these snags and cavities. I believe that Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers tend to live in cavities. Although not a bird, I know that bats sometimes like to spend the daytime underneath the bark of shagbark hickory trees!

Date - March 20, 2021
Start time - 4:00
End time - 5:30
Location - North Ferrisburgh, VT
Weather - 52° F, 5 mph wind out of the North West, very sunny, no cloud cover
Habitat - Deciduous forest in addition to edges of hay and corn fields. Woods consist of shagbark hickory, bitternut hickory, red maple, green ash, white ash, American elm, Eastern cottonwood, and one solitary pear tree.

Different birds that I encountered on this week's excursion interacted in varying ways. The Canada geese that I saw, for example, were resting by the edge of a pond together. One of the birds was curled up sleeping while the other stayed standing and almost seemed to be standing watch for the other. The American Crows that I noticed interacted by by calling back and forth to each other and then flying off in a group.
While different species have many different sounds or calls that they use to communicate, most birds seem to use vocalizations for similar reasons. Males will use songs to attract mates or some birds will use vocalizations as a sign of distress. Additionally, body language is one major way that birds can communicate. Birds can use the plumage on their head to signal that they are nervous or threatened, interested, excited, etc. Some birds (like Turkeys) use their tail feathers to communicate as well.
This week I saw Killdeer for the first time this season! I find Killdeer plumage very distinct: they have a brown back, white belly, and black and white stripes on their chest and head. This plumage has the evolutionary advantage of helping these birds blend in with the ground where they nest as a way of avoiding predators. Another bird that I have been seeing a lot this week is the American Robin. This bird also has very distinctive plumage: dark head and back with a bright reddish-orange breast. I imagine the advantage of the American Robin's distinct plumage may have to do with breeding and/or territory disputes among males.
Looking at the behavior of the two Canada geese that I noticed in my observation this week, I believe that this may have been a display of early courtship behavior. As I mentioned earlier, one bird was curled up resting while another stayed alert and seemed to keep watch over the other. This would fit in with the circannual rhythm of the birds as they have just recently migrated back to their summer homes.

Mini-activity: I think that "spishing" may be particularly interesting to many birds because it is similar to a bird call but it is not the call of any species of bird. This particularly human noise sounds like it could be a bird, but it is not a bird that they have heard before and that makes it interesting to them.