JE #5 - Migration, M.Joyall

Location: LaPlatte Nature Park
Date: 4/4/21
Time: 1500-1740
Temperature: 53 degrees F
Wind: NNW 15mph

On Sunday, I headed to LaPlatte Nature Park for a birding excursion. When we started the sky was mostly sunny and clear with 5% cloud cover and a 15mph wind out of the NNW. The habitat varied between 1. open grassy field edged with mixed shrubby species including sumac, honeysuckle, and buckthorn, 2. Wetland forest consisting of Silver Maples, hackberry, ash, and basswood, 3. Mixed deciduous/coniferous forest with pines, cedar, and maples, beech, and ash, as well as several other deciduous species.

My walk followed the LaPlatte Nature Trail, which is the blanket trail name for all of the trails in LaPlatte Nature Park. We did a loop on a particular section of trail that snaked along the LaPlatte River. The trail starts out winding along an open field, and just as we got out of the car, a Turkey Vulture soared overhead. After a brief stretch on the field, the trail cuts into a more heavily wooded habitat. As we cut into the woods, we saw a Song Sparrow nestled in the underbrush. Further down the trail, we snaked along the LaPlatte River. A male and female Mallard swam upriver towards us as walked downstream along the riverbank. They clearly became comfortable with us - they started mating after we had been observing them for a few minutes! Further down the trail, set further back from the river, we observed two Hairy Woodpeckers tapping away. On the far side of the river, 4 Black-capped Chickadees hopped from branch to branch in the underbrush.

I saw first ever (new birder here, so probably really just my first time noticing one) White-breasted Nuthatch climbing up a nearby ash tree! He had a friend, making this my first two White-breasted Nuthatches. While basking in this glory, we heard loud drilling noises in the distance. Upon closer examination, we found a Pileated Woodpecker looking for dinner. On our way back to the car, we noted two American Robins perched near the trail and we were ushered out of the woods by four more Black-capped Chickadees.

I noted that a lot of my observed species were year-round residents who are well-adapted for our harsh winters. An extremely important factor in allowing winter residency is access to food year round. The American Robin's ability to forage food from many different sources (berries, worms) allows it to find food year round, even when sources are limited in the winter. The Black-capped Chickadee is capable of remembering thousands of hiding places for its food - making year-round residency much more attainable. We know that birds have high body temperatures, and physical adaptations such as a late fall molt and oil from the uropygial gland provide extra insulation for the winter moths. Behavioral adaptations, such as fluffing feathers to create air pockets for insulation or tucking a leg into the body to shield bare skin from the cold aid in retaining as much body heat as possible when temperatures dip.

Some of the facultative migrants I observed, such as the Mallard, are ushered south by more clear cut reasons, such as lack of access to open water when lakes and rivers are frozen. It was awesome to see the two Mallards on the open water - definitely a great sign of spring!

Species List with approximate distances traveled:

• Turkey Vulture (659 miles, NC -> VT)
• Song Sparrow (539 miles, WV -> VT)
• Mallard (949 miles, GA -> VT)
• Hairy Woodpecker (resident)
• Black-capped Chickadee (resident)
• White-breasted Nuthatch (he's a local)
• Pileated Woodpecker (Shelburne born + raised)

• American Robin (resident)
  Cumulative distance traveled = ~2,147 miles

Posted on April 5, 2021 04:39 PM by youngtormund