Field Journal #5

Start time: 12:50 pm
End time: 2:58 pm
Location: Burlington Country Club golf course
Weather: 52 deg Fahrenheit, sunny, 7 mph wind north
Habitats: deciduous tree stand, eastern white pine stand, open air above country club/redstone campus, small pond

I saw a large variety of songbirds today, although many of them I saw few of or only heard their calls. Some of these songbirds (Black-capped Chickadees, American Robins, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, and White-breasted Nuthatches) stay in Burlington year-round which suggests to me that they have no reason to migrate. This is likely due to a variety of factors including food availability and being physiologically well-adapted to the harsh Vermont winters. They must have sufficient metabolisms and insulation, as well as overnight locations which protect them from the elements.

American Goldfinches are facultative migrants who either spend their year throughout the U.S. or over-winter on the southern U.S. or Mexico and breed in Canada. The American Goldfinches I saw may have migrated from the southern U.S. and may be on their way to Canada for the breeding season, but it is also likely that they spent their winter in Vermont. If they migrated, however, they probably made this decision based on how much food they were able to acquire before the winter as well as weather patterns leading up to winter. If they weren't finding enough food or weather patterns indicated a strong winter, they probably migrated.

The Ring-billed Gulls I saw are obligate migrants who migrate from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, through Vermont, and north to Canada. Following these migration patterns, Ring-billed Gulls are likely able to find more food throughout the year than if they stayed roughly in one area. Additionally, their wings seem well adapted for soaring and long distance travel. Being an obligate migrant, however, means that they likely have a much higher metabolic cost to travel such long distances.

Mini Activity - The total straight-line distance my facultative and obligate migrates traveled (roughly) is 6501 miles.

Posted on April 5, 2021 12:10 AM by