rebeccashayross's Journal

Date: April 5th, 2021
Start time/ End time: 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Salmon Hole
Weather: ~50 degrees F, clear sky
Habitat: Flowing fresh water in heart of urban city
Number of Individuals: ~70
Species: Ring-billed Gull (~60), Common Merganser (3), American Robin (3), Song Sparrow (audio), Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch (2)

American Robins are one species resident in the state year round. These birds have adapted to the colder climates by waterproofing their feathers, lowering the temperature of their feet and accumulating thick down feathers close to their body for insulation. Foregoing a migration for these birds means a severe lack of food availability and drastically lower temperatures than usual.
A facultative migrant such as the Ring-billed Gull has arrived from areas in the southern United States, where the weather has been warmer so the species could more easily survive. Facilitating its arrival in Burlington means there have been warmer overall temperatures here as well as an increased density of vegetation in the area.
Obligate migrants such as the Red-winged Blackbird will soon return to the Burlington area. These birds migrate on a regular schedule each year. The down side to this behavior is that unexpected weather patterns may severely disadvantage the bird if it returns too early.
Winter migrations total about 5,600 miles across the migratory birds identified.

Date: April 19th, 2021
Start time/ End time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Colchester Bog, Colchester, VT
Weather: ~50 degrees F, clear sky
Habitat: Forested, marshy area
Number of Individuals: 40
Species: Black-capped Chickadee (8), Northern Cardinal (8), Canada Goose (2), American Crow (1), Song Sparrow (10), House Sparrow (3), Downy Woodpecker (3), Tufted Titmouse (3), American Robin (2).

Black-capped Chickadees were found in groups of 4, 2 and 2.

Downy Woodpeckers were identified in one pair of 2.

Date: April 26th, 2021
Start time/ End time: 1:00-2:30pm
Location: Colchester Bog, Colchester, VT
Weather: 40 degrees F, cloudy and windy
Habitat: Marshy, swampy wetland forest. High-bush Blueberry and Tamarack plant species are common in the area. Common Garter Snakes were identified as well.
Number of Individuals: 37
Species: Black-capped Chickadee (22), American Robin (5), Song Sparrow (7), Downy Woodpecker (1), House Sparrow (1), Tufted Titmouse (2), Northern Cardinal (8).

Black-capped Chickadees were spotted most often in pairs of two. These Chickadees were notably trying to gain attention from their partners as is apparent when noting that one bird, standing alone on a branch, would watch closely as its partner flew circles around the other bird. Tufted Titmouse were identified circling a nest, high in the tree canopy. These birds were calling to one another and seemed to be building the nest simultaneously. The Tufted Titmice were spotted in the forested section of the property, high in the branches of the trees. On the other hand, Black-capped Chickadees are cavity nesters who depend on Downy and other Woodpecker species for their homes.
Northern Cardinals defend their territory by singing from high tree branches. Some other Northern Cardinals will sing from more dense vegetation and therefore are not as desirable to females. Northern Cardinals who are able to project their songs farther and from a more open space are considered more fit by other Northern Cardinals. American Robins build their nests from string and stripped wood they find on the ground and pick up around the forested area.
Mini Activity: After sitting in one location for a period of time and hearing bird audio, Northern Cardinals seemed to surround the perimeter of my area, Black-capped Chickadees would chirp up to the right and left on occasion. Song Sparrows sing from all branches and project their sounds a long distance.