Field Journal 5: Migration
On April 2nd, I observed nine species of birds. It was a bit sunny with 75% cloud cover and light wind coming off Lake Champlain at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I began observing at 1:36 PM and ended at 2:58 PM. All the observations occurred within a mile of the Lake Champlain waterfront in Burlington. I was expecting to see more birds as we get further into spring, but I am curious to know if it was more "quiet" due to the sudden change in weather since Burlington's weather went from 60 degrees to snow. This time of year is also important for migrants since many birds are beginning to arrive in Vermont. Cardinals, however, are not migrants and can be spotted in Burlington all year round. Cardinals and other non-migratory birds save a lot of energy by staying in one place all year. More energy allows the cardinals to have more energy to find food, which they must insure there is enough in Burlington all year round since they will not be migrating. Some species, like Cardinals, have become used to the abundant nesting sites and bird feeders in the area, giving them a reason to stay put.
A Cedar Waxwing was spotted, and this species is known to migrate. Cedar Waxwings have a wide range and can travel all the way down to places in Central America, however, most usually winter in the southern states. Cedar Waxwings feed on berries, so migrating south allows them to still have access to abundant food sources. They are back in Vermont now as more fruit is becoming available, and these birds usually nest in the summer, which could be why these birds also come back. As stated earlier, I wonder if birds like Cedar Waxwings are confused by the weather in Vermont and if this could impact their migration patterns in following years.
Mini Activity:
I did not encounter many migratory birds, but the total miles traveled by my species is about 621.
Havainnot
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