Ecological Physiology

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.

Posted on March 19, 2018 01:51 AM by fnovella