hannahleddy's Journal

Date – April 5, 2021
Start time – 12:30 pm
End time – 3:00 pm
Location – Leddy Beach
Weather – 50 degrees, windy, clear skies, sunny
Habitat(s) – Beach, lake front

This week I was able to get to Leddy Beach for some birding. I have really enjoyed birding around campus but it was a nice change to go near a body of water. This week I observed many Ring-billed Gulls, and I was able to sit and watch for a while. I spotted about 30 separate individual Ring-billed Gulls, all flying and wandering the beach. They were most likely in search of food, or possibly just wandering around their home.

Some of the most common year round residents I have been able to observe are Northern Cardinals. I have seen these birds mostly alone, and often seeming to be defending their habitats. These birds are able to stay warm with their dry insulated feathers. Another bird I have spotted that is a year round resident is the pileated woodpecker. These birds have warm feathers as well as cavity nests, which allows them to stay out of the wind and snowy conditions of a Vermont winter.

A migrant that may be arriving in Vermont is the tree swallow. These birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico and are among the first birds to come back north after winter. Tree swallows begin migrating south in July and August. The populations seen in Vermont most likely migrate along the Atlantic coast to winter in Florida and Central America. This migration is triggered by warming temperatures.

A disadvantage of an obligate migrant is that their migration is “hardwired” which does not allow for the birds to adjust to climate changes. A disadvantage to arriving in Vermont in early April is the unpredictable weather; today it is 50º but this weekend it was snowing.

I also spotted several European Starlings (5) American Robin (5) and a handful of American Crows (2 or 3)!

Mini Activity
Ring-billed Gull~2000mi
Northern Cardinal ~0mi
European Starling~0mi
American Robin~0mi
American Crow ~0mi

Date: April 19, 2021
Start time/ End time: 1:00-3:00
Location: Colchester Bog, Colchester VT
Weather: 55º, Clear sunny skies
Habitat: Forest/Marsh
Number of individuals: 28
Species: Black-capped Chickadee (6), Northern Cardinal (8), American Robin (2), Canada Goose (2),Song Sparrow (3), Downy Woodpecker (3), Tufted Titmouse (4)

Black-capped Chickadees were in 2 groups of 3, All of the Northern Cardinals were individual, American Robins were individuals, Canada goose were spotted in a pair, Song Sparrows were spotted as a group of 3, Downy Woodpecker were spotted as a pair and later one individual, all Tufted Titmice were spotted alone.

Date: April 26, 2021
Start time/ End time: 1:00-2:30
Location: Colchester Bog, Colchester VT
Weather: 40º, windy with cloudy skies
Habitat: Forest/Marsh
Number of individuals: 34
Species: Black-capped Chickadee (11), Northern Cardinal (8), American Robin (5),Song Sparrow (6), Downy Woodpecker (2), Tufted Titmouse (2), Canada Goose (2).
Black-capped Chickadees were spotted in small groups of 2-3 or as individuals, All of the Northern Cardinals were individual, American Robins were individuals, Song Sparrows were spotted as a group of 3 and the others as individuals, Downy Woodpecker was spotted as a two individuals, Tufted Titmouse were spotted as a nesting pair. The nest I observed was right along the edge of some deeper wooded areas, so I think I would see some more nesting deeper in the wooded area because it is more covered.

Throughout my observation at Colchester bog, I was able to observe nesting behaviors of Tufted Titmice. The pair seemed to be taking their time to carefully secure their nest in a high up branch in a pine tree, they were packing leaves into the bottom of the nest one by one. The Tufted Titmice were using fallen oak leaves and twigs along with forest debris to build their nest, these materials were found right under the tree they nested in.
Along with nesting behavior, I also noticed territorial behavior. There were several Northern Cardinals (11) throughout the day. All Northern Cardinals that were spotted were males and very very vocal. Every few minutes along my walk I could hear Cardinals singing as I was passing through new territory. The cardinals that had a more open area are considered more fit, because their sound is carried over a greater distance. This would allow a Cardinal to defend their territory better and be further away from neighbor Cardinals.

Mini Activity
As I sat in the center of a circle, I heard Cardinals in every direction, Black-caopped Chickadees to the left and right of my location in some shorter trees. I also heard Canada Geese flying overhead near the top-left portion of the circle.