toukokuu 28, 2021

WFB 195 Day 5 @ Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, 5/28/2021

Date --- 5/28/2021
Start Time --- 7:15 AM
End Time --- 12:00 PM
Location --- Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding trails, Swanton, VT 05488
Weather --- (Temperature) = 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 7 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 4mph N/NE ... (Precipitation) = none; the weather called for rain at some point, but it never happened. Sky was subject to complete cloud cover all morning.
Habitats --- Along Tabor Road, the refuge center itself lies in front of the habitats we explored. Some grassland bordered the deciduous forests, which eventually transitioned into a bog; a boardwalk allowed us to walk over the mudlands. The bog consisted of many neat plants, specifically a few beautiful varieties of fern which we couldn't identify, but not much shrubbery was observed. Upon exiting the bog, open grasslands stretched for anywhere between 1 to 2 miles. It was here I made my first bobolink ID (by sound!!!) which I then confirmed with a view through the binoculars. The bobolink recording wasn't too great because other birds were drowning it out the entire time, but I'm extremely happy with this find :)

The trail we were taking looped back around to the refuge center, but we then crossed the street to view the trails over by the Stephen A. Young Marsh. This area was relatively hidden by shrubbery and trees, but docks that extended onto the wetlands allowed us to view the area. Apparently the vicinity is a great place to spot American Woodcock, but I unfortunately did not hear their awesome noises or see their silly little bodies. Next time! The trail to the side of the marsh was awfully dense with trees, but did not hinder our ability to walk along it. This path led deeper into the marsh, but we were focused on the deep forest; this was where we heard my first Least Flycatcher and Eastern Wood-Pewee IDs, as well as a Gray Catbird hopping around.

I did not realize how extensive the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge was, and I hope to go birding in the different bays that surround the area. I also hope to spend more time in the bog; there were quite a few birds in this area I couldn't identify, and I know my warbler ID skills would improve with time and experience. There are lots more birds to discover and see for the first time (American Woodcock ... I'll be back), and as I bird throughout Vermont this summer, I'll be sure to add my observations to both iNaturalist and UVM Ornithology. Thank you for a terrific WFB 130 and 195!

Julkaistu toukokuu 28, 2021 11:24 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 21 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

WFB 195 Day 4 @ Ausable Marsh, Cumberland Bay State Park and Cumberland Head Road, 5/27/2021

Date --- 5/25/2021
Start Time --- 7:00 AM
End Time --- 12:45 PM
Location --- A) Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Peru, VT 12972 ... B) Cumberland Bay State Park, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 ... C) Cumberland Head Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Weather --- (Temperature) = 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 16 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 15mph S/SW ... (Precipitation) = none. Transitioned from a deep grey sky and what looked like thunderstorms to a clear and sunny late morning and early afternoon.
Habitats --- The first habitat was the Ausable Marsh, which I visited on Monday 5/24. I was hoping to see new waterbird species, but unfortunately today wasn't the day. Initially, the park is just a road that splits two sections of trees and crosses over the Little Ausable River, but the trees thin out over distance and eventually open up into beaches. Every quarter mile along the road, a trail or dock can be used to reach mudland or dense shrubland along the water body. Marshy areas line the right side of the road, but the deciduous forests that lie just past this microhabitat was a new discovery today. On Monday, I stayed relatively put in this portion of the park, but ventured far along the other side, near Dead Creek and the Ausable River. Upon inspection, the forests were just inland of open rocky beaches (serving as campgrounds) and occasionally contained mudflats. It was here where I thought I heard an American Redstart, but I am not 100% confident.

Cumberland Bay State Park borders (you guessed it) Cumberland Bay, and I was glad I made the trip. In the southern section of the park, varying densities of trees span across the park's land. The beaches separated the water body from the light arboreal areas, and when walking along the beach, I noticed that different species were found within different densities. Perhaps this was just a coincidence, but I noticed the more forest-y species in the denser areas, whereas the generalists hung out among the more interspersed trees. My first ever Pine Warbler and Warbling Vireo sightings were observed in the more densely arboreal areas.

My third and final location happened to be right on the front porch of the location I'm staying at, along Cumberland Head Road. To the one side of the road lies a mix of sandy and rocky beaches, with few trees lining the shore. The other side of the road possesses houses, most with gardens, where I saw the typical generalist species. Our view of the water allowed us to see three Ring-billed Gull sunbathing with a lone Double-crested Cormorant. Untouched woods can be found behind the houses along this road, and I faintly heard some species that couldn't be ID'ed due to the noise of vehicles and nature (water/wind).

Tomorrow, I hope to hit a range of habitats, as I will be visiting Thursday's recommended site (Mud Creek Pond in Alburg, VT), along with Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Swanton. I'm excited to scope out Missisquoi; I hope to visit it frequently this summer, as I will be working in Swanton most days.

Julkaistu toukokuu 28, 2021 12:35 AP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 37 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

toukokuu 26, 2021

WFB 195 Day 3 @ Redd Road and Macomb Reservation State Park, 5/26/2021

Date --- 5/26/2021
Start Time --- 7:00 AM
End Time --- 12:30 PM
Location --- Redd Road in Peru, NY 12972 and Macomb Reservation State Park in Morrisonville, NY 12962
Weather --- (Temperature) = 78 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 25.5 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 8mph N/NE ... (Precipitation) = none. Almost entirely sunny throughout the morning.

Habitats --- Redd Road was a very uneven dirt and gravel road that extended into the deciduous forests of Clinton County for miles; I drove in about 2 miles before turning back, parking near the road's entrance and beginning from there. The road split the forest right in half, and there was little walkable area between the tree lines and the dirt/gravel. Unfortunately, the masses of trees were pretty dense and there were no trails, so it was tough to see any birds here. The very first thing I heard was a Black-throated Blue Warbler, followed by Ovenbird and Eastern Kingbird, which I've come to recognize almost right away. My ID'ing by ear is definitely improving ... can't wait to keep working on it this summer.

Unfortunately, because it was strictly forest split by a dirt road, there were about 10,000 mosquitos hungry for me; my mistake was not bringing it in the first place, but the gas station nearby did not have any when I stopped by before my excursion. Within 5 minutes, I had bites on both arms and legs (despite my limbs being entirely covered) and even the corner of my eye, which kind of stunk. I had to leave after about 15 minutes because it was simply too much, but I relocated to Macomb Reservation State Park, which included a few forest habitats. The road into the site had a few sections of tree, but the land opened up when Davis Lake was reached. A waterfall section under a bridge separated the two elevations of water; to the right of the road was the lake, lined with emergent trees around the entire lake. To the left of the road was the waterfall, but before the drop there was a section of cat tails. The Red-winged Blackbirds were hanging out here, and I was genuinely surprised to find about twice as many females as there were males; whenever I bird, it's usually the other way around. A pleasant surprise for a change. Foraging among the shoreline vegetation was fun, even though it only resulted in one ID, a Song Sparrow.

The more wooded sections of this area did not come from within the park itself, but just outside of it, along Davis Pond Road. Some trails went deep into the woods and were wound all about the deciduous area, but others only jutted into the forest for about a tenth of a mile before fading into nature. It was within the very non-linear, shaded trails I found the House Wren and the Wood Thrush (ID'ed by sound but of course it stopped making noise as soon as I pressed record). The yellowthroat was also observed here, along with a surprisingly dark colored Blue Jay; the dull blue colors threw me off at first, especially because they can be extremely bright in some individuals.

I was hoping to hear more forest species, but I will probably go back to a different forest habitat tomorrow to try and catch some of the songs or the plumages of the other birds we learned for this group. My goal is to become more proficient in warblers and birds of prey this summer, and the forest areas around Burlington will be good spots to practice.

On the other hand, I might go to a general area tomorrow, such as the Ausable Marsh where I went on Monday. I will see if there are any forest areas around there and plan accordingly!

Julkaistu toukokuu 26, 2021 07:34 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 20 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

WFB 195 Day 2 @ Point Au Roche State Park, 5/25/2021

Date --- 5/25/2021
Start Time --- 7:15 AM
End Time --- 12:30 PM
Location --- Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh, VT 12901
Weather --- (Temperature) = 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 21 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 20mph N/NE ... (Precipitation) = none. Almost entirely sunny in the early morning, but gradually transitioned to complete cloud cover.
Habitats --- The road into the park was surrounded by tall trees, until a greeting booth was reached and the trees opened up into grasslands. The very first thing I saw was a deer, who stared at me for about 10 minutes as I observed the tree line and open grasses. The turbulent winds made beautiful waves across the tall grasses (which came up to about my waist). I found it hard to navigate the park; there were many mini habitats within one large area, but after driving around, I was able to find trails that extended through the forests that lined the grasslands. All the while, the park was located right on Lake Champlain, and some trails even took me along the cliffs, dipping down to small rocky beaches where the wind was at its peak and nearly knocked me on my behind.

The many trails all varied greatly; it was a meshwork of interconnecting habitats. Some trails went from open air along either the beach, or forests, or grasslands, to deep within shrubland, or deep within the tallest of trees, and back out into open air. Some paths were simply patches of grass cleared for individuals to walk along, where I found a very discrete. Common Yellowthroat

I was having troubles finding the birds we reviewed for today's excursions. I believe this was due to a few factors. For one, the wind was extremely prominent, and not only would that deter birds from revealing themselves, but it also makes listening for calls and songs more difficult. Also, I have never really explored a grassland/shrubland area, so I was initially unsure of where exactly I should be looking for each species; this summer I will be looking to gain more experience birding in these habitats. Where around Burlington would be the best spots for these birds? I return at the beginning of June.

One thing I wanted to point out was the Turkey Vulture I saw, which I spotted on the ground near cat tails, in more of a shrubland area. I couldn't get good media, but my question was ... what the heck was it doing in there? Perhaps tracking down a deceased animal? I'm not sure how they nest and raise baby birds.

Seeing an Eastern Kingbird for the first time was great as well, I was happy to get such a clear shot through my binoculars.

Feeling good about this week! My improvement surrounding call/song knowledge is something I'm proud of, and even though it might not be reflected in the field right away, I know that experience and even more tips and tricks will come to me with time and more birding memories. I hope tomorrow is better in terms of seeing new species and not being subject to the winds of the Champlain Valley; I will make sure not to get locked out of my car tomorrow!

Julkaistu toukokuu 26, 2021 12:58 AP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 17 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

toukokuu 25, 2021

WFB 195 Day 1 @ Ausable Marsh, 5/24/2021

Date --- 5/24/2021
Start Time --- 7:15 AM
End Time --- 12:30 PM
Location --- Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Peru, VT 12972
Weather --- (Temperature) = 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 21 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 2mph N/NE ... (Precipitation) = none. Almost entirely sunny.
Habitats --- Along Ausable Beach Road ... the pavement and outlining large rocks separate the two portions of the water body. Open water for the most part along this portion of the marsh, but emerging vegetation begins to arise about a half mile out. Some mud flats line the parts of the road where open water is not seen, the marshy. A beach can be accessed farther into the area, and docks extending out onto the emergent vegetation can be used to view open water. After seeing the Great Blue Heron, I decided to drive to the back side of the marsh, only accessible by deeply wooded trail that ducks under the train tracks. Upon walking further along the Ausable River, a watershed is reached. A grassy trail extends for miles across the water body, eventually into a forest with some mud flats. One odd thing I noticed about the edge of this habitat were a series of dead trees that looked peculiar in their stance and stature.

Great day for birding and I can't wait for Day 2!

Julkaistu toukokuu 25, 2021 12:58 AP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 24 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

toukokuu 8, 2021

Extra Credit Opportunity @ Ethan Allen Park

Date --- 5/8/2021
Start Time --- 8:45 AM
End Time --- 11:00 AM
Location --- Ethan Allen Park off of North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05408
Weather --- (Temperature) = 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 10 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 9mph W/SW ... (Precipitation) = an occasional tiny raindrop would be felt on the cheek or the forehead, but nothing else. Mostly cloudy.
Habitats --- Wooded area near the Winooski River with many different trails ... lots of changes in elevation, including steep inclines to a pinnacle overlooking Burlington and Lake Champlain and an old stone tower that was inaccessible due to COVID-19. Area included trails behind houses along Ira Lane and Moore Drive, most of which had birdfeeders, though no birds were spotted at these food sources.

x3 American Crow
x4 American Robin
x1 Scarlet Tanager
x2 White-breasted Nuthatch
x1 Tufted Titmouse
x1 Common Raven
x1 Great Crested Flycatcher
x1 Turkey Vulture
x2 Black-capped Chickadee
x3 European Starling
x1 Ring-billed Gull

Unfortunately, no individuals appeared for our tours on this 2021 World Migratory Bird Day, but we did have a nice time venturing into Ethan Allen Park and catching some new species. We even saw a turkey vulture up close near Ethan Allen Tower!

Julkaistu toukokuu 8, 2021 04:56 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 11 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

toukokuu 1, 2021

Field Journal #8 ... My First Time at Macrae Farm Park

Date --- 5/1/2021
Start Time --- 11:15 AM
End Time --- 12:45 PM
Location --- Macrae Farm Park, Colchester, VT 05446
Weather --- (Temperature) = 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 7 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = ~ 10mph NW ... (Precipitation) = none. Sunny with minimal cloud cover.
Habitats --- Dirt road along the Winooski River, with steep banks and lots of dead trees. Eventually transitioned into more of a wetland area, as persistent rain over the past week caused flooding and stopped us from wandering the various trails along the river. Farms and grassland could be seen on the other side of the road.

x1 Muskrat
x2 Eastern Mole
x1 Eastern Painted Turtle (very small, could not have been more than a week old ... picture attached)
x1 Northern Cardinal
x2 Mallard
x2 Tufted Titmouse
x2 Black-capped Chickadee
x1 Downy Woodpecker
x3 American Robin
x1 White-breasted Nuthatch
x2 Song Sparrow
x1 Northern Flicker
x2 Canada Goose
x2 American Crow
x4 European Starling
x1 Ring-billed Gull

The Northern Flicker was my first confirmed sighting of the species; I thought I had seen one during the spring 2020 semester (during my time at home in upstate New York), but it was too far away for me to confirm it. I had also never seen a muskrat before, and it took my partner and I a few minutes to get a glimpse of the organism's size and tail, which indicated it was not a beaver.

I have an Eastern Painted Turtle at home (about 8 years old named Shoelace), but seeing a baby one stranded in a puddle nearly made me cry ... I felt honored to have held it, and afterwards we transported it over to the river bank where it dipped its head into water, swam off, and began its childhood.

We also went to investigate a rock that was being heavily sniffed by the dog we were dogsitting; I lifted up the rock to observe, and out scurried two moles as quick as they could due to the danger they sensed.

My last field journal trip was a terrific one, but I'll keep on exploring new natural areas around Burlington and neighboring towns. Excited for summer birding, as well as Field Ornithology in late May :)

Julkaistu toukokuu 1, 2021 06:44 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 16 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 26, 2021

Field Journal #7 ... Causeway Park Once Again

Date --- 4/25/2021
Start Time --- 12:15 AM
End Time --- 1:45 PM
Location --- Causeway Park, Colchester, VT 05446
Weather --- (Temperature) = 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 13 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = ~ 8mph S ... (Precipitation) = very light, intermittent drizzles w/ 100% cloud cover.
Habitats --- Smooth mud/dirt trail for 0.5 miles, w/ slow moving, lentic brooks on both sides of walkway. Wooded areas extend out on land to W. Eventually transitioned to wetland and then open water, with walkway (or Causeway) extending out for miles across Lake Champlain w/ rocks and solid material serving as the barrier between land and lake.

After a very balancing Causeway Park excursion on Easter Sunday about three weeks ago, I decided to head there once again, this time bringing along my partner to show her my new favorite birdwatching spot. We enjoyed an easy going stroll along the water, every once in a while being refreshed by the gentlest of rains. Unfortunately, my Herring Gull pal Bugs from my last Causeway trip was nowhere to be found, but we still saw plenty of other birds, including a pair of Great Egret wading by the water's edge, a gaggle of Bufflehead having a very important meeting farther out on the lake, a romantic pair of Mallards searching for food together, and a Song Sparrow that came within 4 feet of us, among others.

I mention above that the Buffleheads were attending a crucial meeting because they are most likely preparing for breeding season! The group of about 8-10 individuals we witnessed on the lake were quite far out, but I was able to get a better look thanks to my binoculars. While they seemed to be relatively mellow from afar, an enhanced view uncovered some interesting behaviors, some of which we covered in previous classes. The male Bufflehead were seen slowly floating around the open water, until they weren't ... their calm demeanor was immediately followed by an increase in speed across the water (towards a potential mate) accompanied by rapid protrusion and retraction of the head and neck. This was done at about a 50-60 degree angle with the water's surface, and every once in a while two males would engage in aggressive behaviors directed at one another. Other times, they would somewhat shake their bodies out of the water. I assume the interactions taking place on Lake Champlain were related to mate selection, since these birds tend to nest in tree cavities close to the shore according to my field guide. However, upon searching Google, some sources suggest that these birds are monogamous; if this were the case, perhaps these Bufflehead haven't experienced their first birthday yet and therefore, haven't experienced the process of selecting a mate. Or, perhaps this was a group of polygamous Bufflehead, who weren't fond of the mate they selected the prior year.

About three quarters of a mile into Lake Champlain, we spotted a Song Sparrow sitting atop a bush and chirping softly; the organism can be seen attached to my observations for this journal. If it were defending territory near this location, I can see why a bird would choose to reside here. First and foremost, there don't seem to be too many birds who venture near those parts; it's mostly Song Sparrow territory, and they are seen almost exclusively along the path out into the water. Last excursion, I did see Tree Swallow among the trees, but not this time out. Most birds are probably gearing up to nest in the wetlands and forests along the land, as this habitat provides protection from the elements, most notably wind and precipitation. Song Sparrows can shelter from harsh weather by fluttering into a small crevice among the many gigantic rocks lining the causeway. It is also worth noting that because of the lack of other species along the extending lake trail, these Song Sparrows are free to claim any materials they might find useful; this can include twigs and branches for nest building or food items for nourishment, along with other items. If they overheat from a warm sunny day, these birds (not just the Song Sparrows, but any other nearby birds as well) have an entire body of freshwater at their disposal to cool off, even if it just means dipping their feet in. It probably wouldn't be great for them to drink lake water, but in a pinch, it could get them by. And worse comes to worse, the wooded areas surrounding the land trail that many other local birds call home is only a minute's flight away; not much energy would be expended searching these areas for resources, but there might not be anything worth claiming (nutrition-wise) due to the nearby inhabitants getting first dibs. The vast number of trees can easily provide nesting material (bark, twigs, pine needles, etc.), however. If the Song Sparrow we encountered does in fact live permanently out on the Causeway Lake Champlain path, it can be assumed their fitness is very strong, a testament to how well this individual can survive, adapt and overcome.

Julkaistu huhtikuu 26, 2021 08:14 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 11 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 18, 2021

Field Journal #6 ... Ethan Allen Park

Date --- 4/18/2021
Start Time --- 1:30 AM
End Time --- 2:45 PM
Location --- Ethan Allen Park off of North Avenue, Burlington, VT 05408
Weather --- (Temperature) = 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 10 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = 7mph W/NW ... (Precipitation) = none. Mostly cloudy.
Habitats --- Wooded area near the Winooski River with many different trails ... lots of changes in elevation, including steep inclines to a pinnacle overlooking Burlington and Lake Champlain and an old stone tower that was inaccessible due to COVID-19. Area included trails behind houses along Ira Lane and Moore Drive, most of which had birdfeeders, though no birds were spotted at these food sources.

x2 American Robin
x2 Northern Cardinal
x1 Common Raven
x1 White-breasted Nuthatch
x1 Downy Woodpecker
x1 Ring-billed Gull
x3 Tufted Titmouse

Also observed were many other dogs, a couple remote controlling an RC Jeep and truck down the incline, and a nice gazebo area to look out into the sky and the tree line.

Julkaistu huhtikuu 18, 2021 11:34 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 7 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

huhtikuu 5, 2021

Field Journal #5 ... My First Causeway Park Experience

Date --- 4/4/2021
Start Time --- 1:15 AM
End Time --- 3:15 PM
Location --- Causeway Park, Colchester, VT 05446
Weather --- (Temperature) = 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or ~ 7 degrees Celsius ... (Wind) = ~ 5mph N ... (Precipitation) = none. Sunny with low level of cloud cover.
Habitats --- Smooth mud/dirt trail for 0.5 miles, w/ slow moving, lentic brooks on both sides of walkway. Wooded areas extend out on land to W. Eventually transitioned to wetland and then open water, with walkway (or Causeway) extending out for miles across Lake Champlain w/ rocks and solid material serving as the barrier between land and lake.

A few weeks ago, I was attending Professor Trish O'Kane's office hours and I had asked where I could have good "birding" sessions; as spring continues to establish itself, the general weather has continued to gradually warm up. She had suggested the Causeway, located in Colchester extending outward into Lake Champlain. Last week, I ended up making it out to the Green Mountain Audubon Center and the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington, VT; my partner and I didn't observe many birds, but the trails (including a tree overtop a brook that served as a bench, and another overturned tree whose root system showed a masterpiece of a mural that spanned about 20 feet wide ... we stared at its complexities for about 15 minutes before continuing) were very calming and splendid to spend time in. Today, I visited the Causeway for the very first time, an experience I'll never forget ... I witnessed multiple new bird species such as a group of Tree Swallow and a pair of Bufflehead. As soon as I encountered the open water, a Herring Gull (another species I had never seen or successfully ID'ed before) swam alongside me for approximately 15 minutes as I strolled along the path. I declared us buds, and shortly following this named him Bugs (videos of him can be found all the way at the bottom of this post, linked to Imgur). An unexpected inhabitant (in my mind), a tiny mink, was spotted on the bridge about three quarters of a mile into the lake before hiding. I had never seen one of these before, and a fisherman on the bridge said the individual and/or a family member(s) must have been the ones eating the fish in buckets on land, to be utilized for bait.

Spring has now fully established itself (last journal was one of the first warm spring-esque days of 2021), as temperatures continue to consistently warm up; this week is predicted to supply Burlington residents with highs of 50s and 60s, partially cloud covered sun and nights nearing and perhaps dipping below water's freezing point of 32 degrees. With sunny conditions and a northward wind like the one felt today, birds are bound to be migrating back north, following the wind and allowing it to guide them in order to conserve energy; I even saw a group of five geese flying back North above me, as well as a few other individuals. However, not all birds that spend time in our area leave for the tail end and very beginning of each year to catch the sun's rays down south. The birds that are commonly observed left behind in the harsh, cold northeast winters include the Black-capped Chickadees (a bird I spotted around a half dozen times), the Northern Cardinals (whose sounds I heard along the wooded area of the path), the Mallards, the woodpecker species (such as the downy, hairy and pileated), the American Crows, both white and red varieties of breasted nuthatch, and other species that aren't as well known to Vermont's native winter wildlife not listed here. Most purposefully stay and stand their ground due to various reasons, but all of these different reasons all fall under one overarching theme; it would simply take an excess of energy, that these wintering birds do not have, in order to relocate anywhere between hundreds to thousands of miles. Birds' metabolisms are sky high as it is, and in WFB 130 lecture about a month ago, these animals were described as living "life on the metabolic edge" due to their high body temperature and water demand, efficient respiration system and a powerful heart and circulatory system. Often, these migratory flights made by the "vacationers" aren't supported by land underneath in case of a weather emergency or turbulent winds; the paths sail above the oceans most times, with no vertical obstructions whatsoever to slow these vicious winds down. At the Causeway where I was, these species that remain behind would most likely shelter in wooded areas, like the dense wooded area around the 0.5 mile path to the water body, in order to shield their light bodies from the harsher weather.

Behavioral adaptations for facing the winter weathers could include being picky about tree cavity selection (in one of my past field journals (FJ#3), I discussed how one paper I read noted that wintering birds prefer southward-facing cavities because of their greater light exposure rate during these months) and food selection (berries and other "insulating" diet items like nuts, seeds, insects and fruits can help a wintering bird retain heat). These cavities are called "microhabitats" due to their rather miniature nature and vast difference that separates it from the external environment. Other behavioral factors include "floofing" to trap warmer air along the body, standing on one leg, facing the wind (in the case of certain gull species), huddling to conserve heat and adjusting posture (WFB 130 lecture, 3/8/2021).

Thinking physiologically about winter birds, my mind is drawn to the bird's legs, one of and in some cases the largest apteria. The arterial, oxygenated blood is run down through vessels in and around the feet, and travels back up in a venous, unoxygenated state. This transfers heat to the regions most susceptible to thermodynamic biological damage. Photoperiod detection and other cyclic rhythms can also induce drastic life stage changes in the bird, which can also alter physiology and thermoregulation mechanisms within these creatures.

The returning migrants could include species such as the Tree Swallows (perhaps coming from the Carolinas, Florida and the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico ... they will most likely breed across the southern portion of Canada, extending south into the N/NE/NW continental United States and Alaska), the Buffleheads (coming from the SE/S/SW/W United States, heading towards S/SW/W Canada and Alaska); and other birds not witnessed today, such as Vermont's state bird, the Hermit Thrush (winters in SE/S/SW United States, migrates to NE/NW United States respectively; also flies to S Canada and S Alaska to breed). Some birds' wintering ranges overlap a little or a lot with breeding ranges, and migration distance could depend on factors like foraging technique, behavioral aspects of the species and energy conservation. The birds listed within this paragraph have mostly separate breeding and wintering ranges, leading me to infer most of these birds are obligate migrants. Throughout my field journal and birding excursions (specifically this FJ when citing ranges), I have been referencing my field guide ... National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds -- Eastern Region, by Alfred A. Knopf (1994). Often times, the photoperiod increasing (as the Sun shines more and more on the Northern hemisphere as the seasons progressively warm up) prompts these birds to get ready for their journey back to their familiar summer family settings. Other factors could play a role, such as food availability, inability to handle excessive heat (thermoregulate) closer to the Equator and Tropic of Cancer during warmer summer months, the need to beat other birds to prime nesting sites, and winds as mentioned earlier.

Obligate migrants (mentioned in the paragraph above ... birds who migrate on a rather strict schedule and tend not to defer annual migration) are the birds most impacted by the photoperiod change effects described above; most of Vermont's avian population can be described as obligate migrants. There are some benefits that come with arriving at a set time window each and every year like early April (such as arriving before facultative or optional migrators, access to food and claims to nesting), but there are most definitely some detriments. With climate change altering Earth's naturally connected systems, these birds can't depend on the weather being consistently warm and the usual benefits they reap when they arrive to their northern destinations.

For the mini activity, I just calculated the potential approximate mileage for an individual bird based on species ranges, using my field guide and Google Maps "measure distance between points" feature. I am basing this data off of assumptions that A) birds in the SE United States will not migrate northwestward and rather towards NE United States, just like birds in the SW will not migrate northeastward; and B) relative latitude in wintering ranges will determine relative latitude in breeding ranges. This will not be the scenario for all bird individuals and species and I realize this, but it is a rough baseline for these calculations.


1) Black-capped Chickadee (x7 but assume 6 did not migrate ... ranges heavily overlap throughout N United States and S Canada ... therefore x1) ... distance from site (Causeway Park) to Charleston, SC is 550 miles ... 550 miles x 1 individual = 550 miles

2) Dark-eyed Junco (x1 but VT is right in the small-area sweet spot of overlapping ranges, therefore x0) ... 0 miles

3) Downy Woodpecker (x1 but almost entire range, which lies in most of US and some of Canada, overlaps ranges ... therefore x0) ... 0 miles

4) American Robin (x4, but breeding range overlaps heavily in NE United States ... assuming 2 individuals migrated from Lake Okeechobee, FL) ... 1,300 miles x 2 individuals = 2,600 miles

5) Canada Goose (x2, but northeast states like New York and Vermont are excluded from both ranges) ... n/a or incalculable based on source

6) American Crow (x1 and US serves as overlapping range) ... distance from site to Atlanta, GA is 950 miles ... 950 miles x 1 individual = 950 miles

7) Herring Gull (x1 but VT lies right in sweet spot of overlapping ranges, therefore x0) ... 0 miles

8) Bufflehead (x2 ... in Field Guide, says these birds breed in Alaska and S/SW Canada, winter in southern US ... Vermont not included in range whatsoever) ... n/a or incalculable based on source

9) Song Sparrow (x14 ... ranges partially overlap, especially in the NE and more specifically VT ... we'll assume 7 migrated from Charlotte, NC which is 750 miles away) ... 750 miles x 7 individuals = 5,250 miles

10) Tree Swallow (x8, assume 6 arrived from a Gulf Coast city as opposed to the East coast; New Orleans, LA is a 1,400 mile distance) ... 1,400 miles x 6 individuals = 8,400 miles

11) Ring-billed Gull (x3 but NY, VT, ME not included in either range ... assume one pair of these flew up from Washington, D.C. a distance equivalent to 530 miles) ... 530 miles x 2 individuals = 1,060 miles

12) Common Merganser (x2, but VT lies right in the sweet spot of overlapping ranges, therefore x0) ... 0 miles

13) Mallard (x2, VT lies just N of overlapping ranges. Say this romantic couple just arrived from Richmond, VA, 530 miles away) ... 530 miles x 2 = 1,060 miles

TOTAL MILEAGE CALCULATED, in miles ... 550 + 0 + 0 + 2,600 + (n/a) + 950 + 0 + (n/a) + 5,250 + 8,400 + 1,060 + 0 + 1,060 = 19,870 miles. Nearly 20,000 miles are estimated to be accumulated among the observed bird individuals on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Makes you wonder how many miles you've traveled on your feet (not in a vehicle) in your life ...

Once again these are all very rough estimates, with different confounding assumptions. We must also not forget that these distances are straight lines, and it is evident that in the natural world that not many things go directly from point A to point B on their own, whether that be biochemical reactions, migration paths, or other scenarios. As we saw with the Arctic Tern today in class (4/5/2021), the paths these birds take to vacation grounds can double in distance depending on weather events or priorities ... if a bird has time and doesn't want to get caught in an upcoming storm, it might flap on over to a nearby island (perhaps a little out of the way, adding mileage) in order to fuel back up and supply their relatively little bodies with the energy they need to complete their trip.


Bugs

A) https://imgur.com/a/BO0UIMD
B) https://imgur.com/a/KQRUAZS

Julkaistu huhtikuu 5, 2021 06:31 IP. käyttäjältä pyramidlakejake pyramidlakejake | 13 havaintoa | 0 kommenttia | Jätä kommentti

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