Field Journal 5: Migration

Date: April 3, 2021
Start: 3:00 pm
End: 4:30 pm

Location: Mad River Path in Waitsfield, VT
Weather: A bit chilly, clear skies, no breeze
Habitat: Riverside, fields, clumps of trees, around house

Species List
White-breasted Nuthatch: 3
Black-capped Chickadee: 8
American Robin: 33
Turkey Vulture: 12
Mallard: 2
Common Grackle: 1
Hairy Woodpecker: 4
Song Sparrow: 10
Red-winged Blackbird: 3
Tufted Titmouse: 1
Dark-eyed Junco: 2

I went home this Easter weekend so my birding journey took place along the Mad River Path in Waitsfield and ended in my yard. It was interesting to see how the biodiversity shifted when I walked from the fields beside the river back to my house which holds two busy birdfeeders. The most common siting in the fields were the American Robins, which gathered in flocks of about a dozen of individuals to forage on the ground. Near the river, it was much quieter (possibly because the water made it hard for songs to be heard) but I spotted a pair of Mallards (male and female) riding the current. I also noticed a large group of Turkey Vultures circling overhead together when I walked closer to the road.
Near the house, and especially the feeders, there a variety of smaller birds such as Chickadees and Song Sparrows, but a few larger birds as well, including Hairy Woodpeckers, a few Red-winged Blackbirds, and one noisy Grackle. The sparrows seemed to prefer hopping along the leaves on the ground and collect fallen seeds. Meanwhile, the chickadees were competing with the woodpeckers to keep a spot on the feeder, occasionally allowing a Dark-eyed Junco or Tufted Titmouse to have a turn.
A few examples of year-round residents of Vermont that I saw are the Black-capped Chickadee and the White-breasted Nuthatch. Both of these birds are generalists which allows them to depend on a variety of foods to make it through the Vermont winter (as opposed to herbivorous migratory birds that need to follow their food source). These species also interestingly have similar color pallets (black, gray, white, and tan) and display disruptive coloration with the black marks on their heads. This makes it so their outline is more difficult to detect, especially in the snow where their white bellies would be camouflaged. Chickadees and nuthatches also have elliptical wings to maneuver through brush, making flying long distances more energy-consuming.
Some facultative migrants I saw were the American Robin and Song Sparrow. These birds are likely coming from the southern United States/Mexico towards Canada to breed. They are mainly ground foragers, so a winter with lots of snow would make finding food more difficult. Due to the recent snowmelt and the beginnings of insect activity, robins and Song Sparrows are able to thrive in Vermont spring.

Mini Activity: Migrants’ Distances

American Robin: (FL to VT) 1,386 miles
Turkey Vulture: (NC to VT) 774 miles
Mallard: (GA to VT) 1,142 miles
Common Grackle: (MA to VT) 175 miles
Song Sparrow (TN to VT) 1,114 miles
Red-winged Blackbird: (CT to VT) 208 miles
Dark-eyed Junco: (MD to VT) 476 miles

Total: 5,275 miles!

Posted on April 5, 2021 05:42 PM by