toukokuu 10, 2021

Field Journal 8

5/9/21
4:00-6:00PM
Retention pond on California Rd Orchard Park, NY
45° F
Rainy with 3 mph southeast winds
Habitat: Retention pond with reeds, cattails and a large green area. Wooded area with various species of shrubs and deciduous trees.

3 female Red-winged Blackbirds seen building nests in cattails with 2 male Red-winged Blackbirds in nearby trees. 2 Ring-billed Gulls picking around green area.

Julkaistu toukokuu 10, 2021 04:18 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 2 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 26, 2021

Field Journal 7: Reproductive Ecology and Evolution

4/24/21
4:00-5:30 PM
Behind Redstone Campus and around the Burlington Country Club Golf Course
66° F
Overcast with North west 4 mph winds
Habitat: Retention pond with reeds, cattails and phragmites around it. Small wooded section with various trees and shrubs. Large open green area.

Reproductive Ecology and Evolution

For this week’s field observation I walked around behind Redstone campus and the Burlington Country Club Golf Course. I sat and observed near the retention pond behind the Redstone campus. From previous observations, I have found that a Canada Goose pair has built a nest on a small peninsula type piece of land in the retention pond. When I walked over to the retention pond area, one of the two Canada Geese came towards me. There was a fence between us, so I was able to observe his defense tactics without being attacked. He lowered and pointed his head towards me while sticking out his tongue. The Canada Goose also made hissing noises and fanned his wings out to appear large. This was definitely an effective way of defending his territory because I was admittedly a little scared. His unpleasant hissing noise and large fanned out wings were enough to get me to step back. Although the retention pond is quite small, I’d say this is a prime territory because it is well protected. The pond is fenced in and is located in an area that does not have a lot of predators (other than humans). The nest is located on a peninsula in water that is easily defended and hidden by reeds. I couldn’t get a good view of the nest, but it is most likely built with sticks, mud, reeds and feathers. The second species that I found was the Red-winged Blackbird. I found two males, who were both singing their notorious “konk-a-ree” song. They were both in the same general area, but were fairly far apart. The first one was sitting on a cattail on the edge of the water, and the other was sitting high in a tree on the far side of the pond. Both of their songs were loud and clear from where I was standing. Eventually the one in the tree flew off to an area where I couldn’t see, but the one on the cattail stayed for as long as I was there. Once again, I’d say this is prime territory because there are a lot of resources available. This may indicate that the observed Red-winged Blackbird is relatively fit compared to others. The nest may be built with twigs from the nearby wooded area and can be hidden in the dense vegetation of reeds and cattails. The light brown vegetation also pairs very well with the female Red-winged Blackbirds plumage and may provide great camouflage. As I walked into the wooded area near the golf course, I heard the song of two different Eastern Phoebes. I was not able to see either of them, but their songs were clear. One song was far into the golf course area and the other was closer to Redstone campus. Eastern Phoebes like to nest in niches or overhangs that are protected from the elements. It could be a possibility that one or both of the Eastern Phoebes have nests in overhangs on one of the surrounding buildings. These nests may be built with mud, moss, leaves and twigs. As I walked towards the golf course, I heard a Pileated Woodpecker’s call. This is a very loud and distinct chatter noise that can be heard from far away. I continuously listened for the call and walked closer until it was very loud and clear. Eventually I found the Pileated Woodpecker sitting high up in a tree. I observed him for a while and was lucky enough to see him drum. He pecks the wood fast and hard to make a loud and deeply toned “drumming” noise. This is another sign of marking territory. Unlike the other observed species, Pileated Woodpeckers are cavity nesters and nest in tree cavities. The males excavate a hole in dead trees and don’t usually line the nest with anything other than wood chips. I found another Pileated Woodpecker in Centennial woods the other week. Comparing the two territories, I’d say the one in Centennial woods is better than the one near the golf course. There are a lot more resources such as snags in Centennial woods compared to the golf course area. This could indicate that the Pileated Woodpecker in Centennial woods is more fit than the one observed near the golf course. Ultimately, all four species observed today have shown signs of defending territory or attracting a mate. Spring is certainly here. Link to Mini Activity Sound Map Included Below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14QPePlDRMkm5N6qw6qkq6N4K6_b-z4zAqaLl-ISQSN4/edit

Julkaistu huhtikuu 26, 2021 04:03 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 4 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 19, 2021

Field Journal 6

4/17/21
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Centennial Woods in Burlington, Vermont
45° F
Overcast with4 mph southern wind
Habitat: Wooded area with a lot of snags and old forest growth. Several types of pines, maples, ashes and birches.

I was able to find a Pileated Woodpecker by listening for its call and drumming sound. A Brown Creeper and three Red-breasted Nuthatch were also seen.

Julkaistu huhtikuu 19, 2021 03:23 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 3 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 5, 2021

Field Observation 4: Migration

4/2/21
2:00PM-3:30PM
Davis Center to Redstone Campus and around the Burlington Country Club Golf Course
30° F
Overcast with Northern 13 mph winds
Habitat: Disturbed area with high human traffic, retention pond and very open green with various species of trees and small ponds.

Migration

For this week’s field journal I joined the field trip group that met at the Davis Center on Friday. We walked from the Davis Center to Redstone campus and then around the Burlington Country Club Golf Course. We identified several species with various migration behaviors. To start, we found two species that are likely to stay during the winter rather than migrate. Both the Golden-crowned Kinglet and Red-breasted Nuthatch may stay in Vermont all year. They forgo migration because they are able to find a sufficient amount of food to survive the winter. During the warm summer months, both species feed on insects, however, during the cold winter months they rely on seeds and winter berries. They may even cache food sources and save them for the winter months when food is scarce. Migration would be a waste of energy for these birds because there is likely a sufficient amount of food to fuel them during the cold months. Some species of birds only migrate when the winter weather becomes severe. These species are known as facultative migrants. When there is a mild winter, they may forgo migration similar to the Golden-crowned Kinglet and Red-breasted Nuthatch. The facultative migrants that we found on our walk were American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard and Great Egret. Most of these facultative migrants are birds that feed out of water. If there is a mild winter and the water sources do not completely freeze over, these birds may choose to stay because they still have access to food. If the winter is harsh and there’s not enough food to maintain heat, the facultative migrants may decide to head south where the temperature is warming and food is more abundant. Although the survival rate of birds who choose not to migrate is lower, there are several reasons why migration may put the bird at a disadvantage. Migration costs a lot of time and energy. When the weather starts to warm up and Spring begins, there is a rush to get back to the breeding grounds to claim territory. Birds who migrate all the way down to Florida may be the last to arrive in Burlington for breeding season. This puts their chances of reproduction at a disadvantage. For some birds, migration is mandatory for survival. These birds are known as obligate migrants. On our walk we found one obligate migrant, which was the Eastern Phoebe. Eastern Phoebes are known as fly catchers because their primary food source is flying insects. During the winter in cold latitudes, the amount of flying insects available dissipates and Eastern Phoebes are left without food unless they migrate. They migrate south into warmer latitudes where flying insects are still available to be consumed. Eastern Phoebes are often the first to migrate back to Vermont in March and Early April. They arrive early to find quality territory for the Spring. Arriving early is sometimes costly for Eastern Phoebes because there may be a late winter storm. This year there was a late winter storm during the first two days of April that may have been fatal for many of the early migrant Eastern Phoebes. Some species such as the Red-winged Blackbird may migrate again if there is a late winter storm, however, Eastern Phoebes stay in Vermont once they arrive. After observing several migratory species, I researched and measured how far they may have traveled to get back to Burlington. I looked at migratory range maps and measured the distances with Google Earth. The species that could have traveled the furthest was the Great Egret. In total, the species that I observed could have traveled a sum of 3,710 miles to get back to Burlington from their migration sites.

Julkaistu huhtikuu 5, 2021 05:22 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 7 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

maaliskuu 22, 2021

Field Observation 3: Social Behavior and Phenology

3/21/21
3:30PM-5:30PM
Retention Pond on Catamount Dr.
57° F
Sunny with 4 mph East wind
Habitat: Retention pond with cattails, sumac and phragmites around it. Wooded area across the street with various types of trees and shrubs

For this week’s observation, I took a walk around campus to see if I could find a nice place to sit down and observe. As I walked down Catamount Drive, I heard a “konk-a-ree” sound. This sound indicated two things; a Red-winged Blackbird was near and Spring is finally here! I heard the song again and looked up to see a male Red-winged Blackbird perched high up in a tree. I watched him for a while and observed how he would stick his shoulders out every time he would sing almost as if he was flexing his stature to impress someone. I took note of how confident the Red-winged Blackbird seemed. Singing loudly from the top of a tall tree, it was almost as if he wanted everyone nearby to know that he was there. This behavior fits into its circannual rhythm. Red-winged Blackbirds fly into Vermont for breeding season, which is during the Springtime. This Red-winged Blackbird most likely perched high up in the tree and started singing to either mark his territory or attract mates.
Before finding the Red-winged Blackbird, I found three Black-capped Chickadees in the wooded area across the street from the retention pond. While walking down the sidewalk I heard the notorious “hey sweetie” song of the Black-capped Chickadee and found three of them flying back and forth between some trees. I observed the three little birds pick around the trees looking for spiders, insects or seeds. This behavior is fitting for their circadian rhythm because it was around 4:00 PM and the sun was shining bright. They forage during the sunlight hours so they can lower their metabolism and body temperature at night to conserve energy. After observing silently, I decided to give “spishing” a try. I tried several volumes and tones. Most of the time the three Black-capped Chickadees would stop foraging and look at me for only a second before carrying on. None of my “spishing” attempts were able to bring any of the birds closer, however, as long as I got their attention I’ll call it a success. The “spishing” may attract the Black-capped Chickadees attention for a couple of reasons. The noise might sound like another bird or may even sound like an insect. Black-capped Chickadees are known as naturally curious birds, so maybe the unknown noise may intrigue them. While I was “spishing” the Black-capped Chickadees would sometimes give their “chicka-dee-dee-dee” call, but never sang their “hey sweetie” song. This may be because the song “hey sweetie” is more for courtship, whereas the call “chicka-dee-dee” is to alarm others about potential danger.
I made note of the comparisons between the plumage of both the male Red-winged Blackbird and Black-capped Chickadee. The Red-winged Blackbird was almost completely black, but had red and orange coloration on top of his shoulders. I thought about how it might be a possibility that male Red-winged Blackbirds have black plumage to absorb more light and heat to keep warm. I remembered how the female Red-winged Blackbird’s plumage is different from the male’s and is streaked with earthy browns rather than black. I thought maybe the black with bright red and orange shoulders might have been more attractive to females, thus causing the males plumage to change through evolution. Contrary to the Red-winged Blackbirds, both genders of the Black-capped Chickadees have the same plumage appearance. The Black-capped Chickadees plumage consists of black, grey, white and an earthy tan color. While in the tree, the Black-capped Chickadees almost blend in with the branches and become fairly hard to see. This may help them camouflage and hide from predators while in trees. The female Red-winged Blackbird may have also evolved to blend in with its habitat with streaky brown colors. Ultimately, the plumage of both birds have evolved to attract mates and blend in to escape predators.

Julkaistu maaliskuu 22, 2021 04:18 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 2 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

maaliskuu 8, 2021

Field Observation 2: Ecological Physiology

3/7/21
3:00PM-5:00PM
Centennial Woods
27° F
Sunny with 8 mph North wind
Habitat: Wooded area with various hardwoods, eastern white pines, Scots pines and several snags

For this week’s field observation I took a walk through Centennial woods because I knew that there are many snags in that area. As I walked down the trail I tried my best to count all the snags that I walked past, however, there were just too many to keep track of. I found an area to sit down and observe and I counted approximately 11 snags around me. Generally, the thicker snags had the largest holes and most cavities. I noticed that several snags around me had large oval shaped holes drilled into them. I remembered learning in class that oval shaped holes are usually from feeding Pileated Woodpeckers. I had also noticed that there was a living tree in the middle of several snags with only one round hole drilled way up. I questioned why this particular tree only had one hole that’s rounder than the oval shaped holes in the snags. I used my ornithology detective skills to determine that the single round hole could be a woodpecker nest. I took a stick and tapped it on the base of the tree to mimic woodpecker drumming and sure enough a Pileated Woodpecker’s head peaked out of the hole! Luckily, I had my camera nearby to take a quick picture of the Pileated Woodpecker’s head just before it went right back into its hole quickly. This was definitely my most exciting ornithology moment of the semester so far!
Prior to the Pileated Woodpecker observation, I was walking down the trail and I heard tapping. I stopped and looked around to see if I could find the source of the noise and noticed a male Downy Woodpecker pecking at a maple tree. I knew he was a male because of his red patch on the back of his head. At first it was hard to determine whether he was a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker because I couldn’t get a good look at his beak. I then noticed his outer white wing feather had black dots and I knew this signified a Downy. I sat and observed his behavior for a while. He would fly from branch to branch and peck around the bark. I took note how the Downy Woodpecker almost always had his head towards the sky and worked upwards. While watching the Downy Woodpecker, two Red-breasted Nuthatches came flying in. They both started picking at the flaky bark on a Scot’s Pine. Contrary to the Downy Woodpecker, I noticed that the Red-breasted Nuthatch feeds with its head facing towards the ground and works downwards. The two Red-breasted Nuthatches eventually flew further away and I moved along the trail.
All three of the birds I identified are present in Vermont year-round. This means that they have to find a way to conserve energy and stay warm. Despite being 27° F, the Downy Woodpecker and the Red-breasted Nuthatches were taking advantage of the sunshine and were foraging for food. Both species may peck around the bark for insects during the summer, but usually rely on seeds during the winter. I noticed that the staghorn sumac on the trail was picked clean of all its berries. Wild berries are a very valuable resource for birds during the winter months when energy sources are scarce. Staghorn sumac in particular has berries during the winter months, so it is very important for wildlife survival. While the Downy Woodpecker and Red-breasted Nuthatches were fueling themselves with energy by eating, the Pileated Woodpecker was conserving its energy by resting. When I tapped the tree, the Pileated Woodpecker just barely peaked its head out and kept its body in the warmth of its cavity nest. At night, all three species may stay in their own cavity nests inside warm trees to survive. Ultimately, the three species that I observed today eat, sleep and stay warm to survive the winter. Now that I think about it, my winter survival strategy isn’t much different than theirs.

Julkaistu maaliskuu 8, 2021 05:49 AP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 3 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

helmikuu 22, 2021

Field Observation: ID and Flight Physiology

2/21/21
3:15 PM-5:00 PM
UVM Redstone Campus
28° F
Clear sky and Sunny with 3 mph SE wind
Open green space with high amounts of pedestrian traffic / man-made retention pond

For my first field journal observation I decided to take a walk around Redstone Campus at UVM. I noticed that there was a melted spot in the snow where grass was showing. There were many American Robins continually flying between the trees and picking around the grass patch. It was hard to count how many there were because they were constantly moving around, but I counted 22 of them. While observing the American Robins, I noticed two sleeker and faster birds fly by. They looped around just enough for me to see their black and iridescent feathers, long yellow beak and orange legs. With these characteristics, I was able to identify them as European Starling. After observing the Redstone green for a while, I took a walk behind the Wing, Davis and Wilks Halls to the retention pond. There I was surprised to find 19 Mallards wading around in the water. There were 10 females and 9 males.
As I watched the American Robins fly around between the trees and green I took note of their flight pattern. I noticed that many of them had big bodies and chests with elliptical wings with lower aspect ratio. They were able to maneuver around in the air fairly quick and brake right before landing on the grass. I was impressed by the way that they were able to land so smoothly with such a big chest. The American Robins also were able to fly into the trees and land on branches with impressive maneuverability. Before landing, their wing feathers would spread out and catch air underneath them. The American Robin’s elliptical wing shape and ability to maneuver around trees and quickly land can be associated with their habitat. My observations suggest that they may tend to live in wooded areas with open greenspace such as parks. They are definitely not afraid of human traffic as they were undisturbed by many walkers. Similar to the American Robin, the European Starling was able to maneuver around the air quickly. They were able to turn around in the air with ease and dove down with high velocity. Just like the American Robin, it may be reasonable to assume that the European Starling’s habitat may involve open green spaces with room to pick in grass and catch insects.
The third species that I found was the Mallards on the retention pond. I was not able to see any of them in full flight, however, I did see one of the Mallards fly across the water to the other side. While taking off from the water the Mallards wing feathers spread out and caught air underneath them. The Mallard’s body was at about a 60° angle to the water as his wings flapped in almost an “X” pattern. His wings moved up and back then forward and down repeatedly until his body moved across the pond. This quick flight was just enough to lift him out of the water and move to the other side. Despite not seeing a full flight, I still felt lucky to catch this little excursion. Mallard's ability to lift his large body out of the water quickly and efficiently proved to me why ducks thrive in aquatic environments.

Mini Activity - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vRZ6GnKcmqZMl_LRWQ5YHbTXL3qGhB_k35iDEeAb6wc/edit

Julkaistu helmikuu 22, 2021 04:10 IP. käyttäjältä owenmcnichol owenmcnichol | 3 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

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