2/18 Winooski River
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.
