fnovella's Journal

For my last birding trip I visited Centennial. I went on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from around 3pm to 5pm. On this day, the high was 58°, the low was 49°F, it was cloudy and started drizzling at the time I left.

Although the weather was not perfect, I heard more songs on this trip than I have on any of the others. I assume this is because more birds are here with mates and territories to protect at this time of the year.

I first saw a pair of Northern Cardinals in a patch of dense shrubs at the forest’s edge. Next I saw a Turkey Vulture soaring above the interior of the forest. I then noticed a pair of Black-capped Chickadees eating on and around a large snag. I also heard many American Robins and Northern Cardinals singing.

Black-capped Chickadees nest in tree cavities 5 to 20 feet off the ground. Their nests typically include moss or other plant matter and a lining of material like animal hair. However, they first have to excavate the tree cavity the female chose in order to make it deeper and wider inside.

Northern Cardinals nest in shrubs or short trees that are usually 3-10 feet off the ground. Their nests are usually made of twigs, weeds, grass, bark strips, and leaves and are lined with fine grass or hair. These materials can be found at forest edges, whereas the Black-capped Chickadees’ nest location and materials are more specific to deciduous and mixed forests.

This correlates to where I saw each pair of species. The Northern Cardinals were in a dense patch of shrubs on the forest’s edge and while the Black-capped Chickadees were about 15 feet up on a snag with many cavities deep in the forest.

Based on where they were when they were singing, I would assume that both are defending prime territory. From the forest’s edge to its interior, the overall health of the forest was good. Although I cannot tell from looking around how abundant these species’ resources are, I had no reason to believe the areas I studied were below average. Hearing a second male Black-capped Chickadee singing not too far from the male I observed also leads me to believe that the area was prime territory. If resource abundance was too low, they would’ve been much more spread out and I would not have been able to hear one and watch another at the same time. Their habitat suggests that both pairs of species I saw were very fit and effectively defending their territory.

Date: 4/7/18
Time: 4:15-6:46pm
Location: Salmon Hole
Weather: Partly cloudy, 40°F

The first birds I saw on the Winooski River were a pair of Mallards feeding on the main section of the river. I learned from All About Birds that Mallards are not residents of Burlington. However, their early arrival means they are the first to find nesting spots, food, and mates. Disadvantages to being the first to arrive include the risk of facing resources not being available yet and inhospitable weather.

The majority of the Mallards were probably coming from the south, and some possibly from the northwest, where they winter. I’m assuming the main factor prompting their migration to Burlington was the hours of light in a day where they came from. Since Mallards also migrate in flocks, social behavior was probably the second most influential factor.

I also saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers in the floodplains of the Winooski River. Hooded Mergansers are year-round residents in Burlington. Benefits of staying year-round include the ability to defend territory at all times and save energy that would’ve been used traveling. Hooded Mergansers also begin mating in March, which would not be possible if they were migrants.

Adaptations like the Hooded Merganser’s widely varied diet, compared to closely related species like the Common Merganser who migrate, can help to ensure the Hooded Merganser has sufficient food throughout northern winters. Hooded Mergansers also take advantage of tree cavities to nest in so they are protected from harsh weather.

Other than the Mallards and the Hooded Merganser, I saw an American Robin eating wild grapes alone on an abandoned brick wall and a pair of Canada Geese. This means that the Mallards were the only migrants I saw during my time of observation. If the pair of Mallards migrated to Burlington from the south, they have flown at least 95 miles. Together, that’s >190 between just a couple of ducks.

Date:3/26/2018
Location: Winooski River
Weather: Sunny, 44°F
Time: 12:45pm-2:30pm

I chose to go to the Winooski River, close to Chace Mill, where I often see waterfowl. It was sunny and relatively warm when I got there around noon.

There were three pairs of birds. One pair was a male and female Mallard. The other two pairs were Canada Geese. One pair of Canada Geese were eating at the top of an incline on the river bank. Seemingly out of nowhere, one of the geese from the other pair began swimming quickly towards the bank. The goose then charged up the incline towards the second pair of geese. It extended its neck, opened its beak, raised its tongue, and let out a long hiss as the other geese quickly ran a few yards away. The aggressive goose did not want the other pair of geese in the same area, and the other geese got the message.
The three bird couples were in relatively close proximity to each other above the waterfall. I assume this is because there was ample food available in that area. This would also explain why the geese were being territorial. If each pair of birds were preparing to nest, because it’s spring, they must also be eating as much as possible. It would make sense that the one Canada Goose became territorial because the other pair of geese were competing in the same place for the same food sources. It would be unusual if the goose harassed the Mallards because they are not competing directly for food. It would also be unusual for Canada Geese to act so territorial during late summer and early fall because they would not be nesting at that time.
Neither the Mallards nor the Canada Geese responded to the “psssh” noises I repeatedly made at them other than quickly glancing in my direction the first few times. This is probably because both Mallards and Canada Geese are very used to human activity. In fact, I walked towards the geese to get better pictures and they seemed unbothered. I was only two or three feet away when the aggressive goose hissed at the couple I was next to.

Canada Geese have white chin straps which can create the illusion of a large eye to confuse predators. Other than this distinct marking, Canada Goose have general camouflage coloring that helps them elude predators.
Mallards have speculum feathers, the iridescent purple and blue feathers, which Canada Geese don’t have. Mallards probably have these feathers to help in the identification of potential mates and others of their species. Female Mallards don’t have the iridescent green head that the Males do and that is probably because the females need better camouflage so they can safely nest.

Date: March 16, 2018
Time: 11:15am-12:45am
Weather: 35°F, partly cloudy skies
Location: Sympaug Pond Bethel, Connecticut

During my time of observation, I did not see or hear many birds. There were significantly less birds active than I have observed in the same area of forest during all other seasons. I assume this is because the weather in Connecticut is still too cold for anything other than resting to be worth the energy. They conserve their energy and heat by resting in tree cavities and fluffing their feathers.

One of the only birds I saw was a Red-tailed Hawk. Species like the Red-tailed Hawk remain active throughout the cold weather because their food source, small mammals, reptiles and more, does not disappear in the winter like a lot of herbivorous and insectivorous food sources do. However, Red-tailed Hawks do have a more varied diet during warmer months when other seasonal prey are available. Though this Red-tailed Hawk was active during the warm hours of the day, he will eventually retreat to its nest high in the trees. Other species overnight in cavities in trees, stands of protective conifers, and more.

Snag Watch:

Snags are important because species, such as the Hairy Woodpecker I observed, find food in the rotting or dead wood. Woodpeckers and nuthatches rely heavily on the insects in the wood of snags. The holes made by insectivorous birds can then serve as shelter for other species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Bird species such as Pileated Woodpeckers and Wood Ducks commonly roost in cavities in snags.

On my walk, I noticed that larger holes, like those made by the Pileated Woodpecker, tended to be on bigger, more mature trees. Smaller woodpecker holes were in trees with smaller DBHs.

First, I visited a mature mixed forest beside the Winooski River on February 2, 2018. It was lightly snowing and early afternoon when I spotted a Barred Owl.

The Barred Owl I observed was perched on a tree facing a small grassy opening in the forest. It was scanning the opening, possibly for prey. It also fluffed his feathers two times within the 15 minutes he spent perched. When it silently took off, I noticed his wide, rounded wings. The owl seemed to fly more effortlessly; slowly gliding and flapping relatively infrequently. This flying pattern is very unique to owls and is unlike any other flying pattern I am familiar with.

I did not see any other species during my observation period that day. I think this may be because not many birds are active during such weather. I did not hear any songbirds either, probably because of their inactivity and the sound absorption of the snowfall.

Then, on February 11, I observed a Tufted Titmouse on the forest's edge behind Trinity Campus at noon. This bird's flying pattern was drastically different from the Barred Owl's. The titmouse flapped his wings rapidly, then would pull its wings in for a couple seconds, and repeat. Its wings were slimmer and more pointed, and its wing-to-body ratio was much smaller than the owl's.

I could also hear Black-capped Chickadees, American Crows, and American Robins at the forest edge on Trinity Campus.