3/21/2021 FJ4: UnderHill VT Birding
54F, sunny with clear sky, 5 mph wind
Start: 11:40am End: 1:47pm
Habitat: Explored along Cady Hill rd (at a few bird feeders) and further back onto a friends property about 2-3 miles. Mostly deciduous forest, minimal leaf cover, still some patches of snow cover, no rocky outcroppings, some small river beds and soggy ground at the low points, gentle slope upwards towards field within hearing distance of the road. We also came across about 8 deer!
I unfortunately didn't see as many birds as I thought I was going to see at this location. The most interesting interactions I noted took place at bird feeders. I did see a pair of American Crows seemingly having a dispute over something, maybe territory or a food source? They were very clearly agitated with each other. Their calls sounded very loud and harsh, more so than their call usually is, and happened in quick succession while in chase or closing in on one another. Maybe they were having a lovers quarrel, because they stayed int he same clearing area together, despite their angry calling, for the whole time I was there.
The Chickadees seemed much happier than the Crows as they feasted in front of bird feeders along the road. I stopped at one with about 5 or so individuals at it surrounded by a large ornamental lawn tree and some young crab apply trees. There was one really chunky one, or maybe it was just fluff, that seemed to push the other Chickadees around a bit more. This one seemed to take the prime spot at the feeder more frequently and the others commonly changed branches if he/she came too close. This same one is the one that was most curious when I made the light pishing sound. They flitted closest, to a tree just above me, and hung out there the longest. It seemed like this bird was investigating me, maybe to see if I was a threat or predator? And would return almost every time I made the sound. The other Chickadees didn't seem too alarmed or interested in the pishing sound, and a smaller Chickadee type bird flew away entirely, leaving me with the impression the phishing is more of an alarming sound to them. This smaller Chickadee type bird is not on my bird list simply because I couldn't get a good picture and I have no Idea what it was. It looked like a Chickadee but much smaller with a hint of orange on it's breast and a slightly downward curved bill that reminded me of a Brown Creeper. This little guy/girl was the most elusive and flew away as soon as I moved, but inevitably came back again and again, but keeping much greater a distance than the Chickadees. Furthermore, the Chickadees did not seem to like this little bird, and it almost seemed like they herded them to the out skirting trees and away from the feeder as a group. I noticed the Chickadee's call seemed to get longer (more dee notes) and slightly deeper when they chased this smaller bird away, paired with larger, more noticeable wing fanning? spreading? as the Chickadees approached this bird. They rarely gave chase but definitely guarded the feeder. I'm not sure why they seemed so threatened by this singular small bird, but It seemed like resource guarding behavior. What I believe was a Common Redpoll was entirely unbothered by the other birds, me and my pishing. I didn't even notice this bird approach the feeder, preferring to stay in the thicker bush/tree closer to the house. My guess would be that this bird was simply resting, as it covered it's feet and stayed fluffed up on the branch. Based on just my observations at this feeder, I would assume the Redpoll and Chickadees have converse circadian rhythms. Maybe the Redpoll is most active at dawn/dusk times to eat and be alert and uses mid day times to conserve energy and warm themselves. The Chickadees do the inverse remaining very active throughout the day and resting at night.
Comparing the plumage of the Chickadee to the Redpoll is interesting. They both clearly can inhabit similar areas yet have very different plums. The Chickadee's black caps and distinct muted tones with no speckling or spotted feathers give them almost a shadow type look, especially with their flitted, quick flying style. The Chickadees could blend in with the less dense branches of the crab apple trees, and basically disappeared in the thicker brush (or my eye sight is just really poor). The Redpoll of course has red hues and a distinct red cap. But more interesting was how the speckled brown breast helped them hide away in the thick brush, mimicking filtered sunlight through branches or leaves. The darker brown hues helped the Redpoll camouflage in with the darker brush, and would've stood out more on the more barren branches the Chickadees commonly braved. The red cap is a give away I would think on the Redpolls but oddly I didn't even realize it had red hues until I tried to get a closer look and the light caught it.
Other interesting group behavior I noticed was with the Red-winged Blackbirds. Unfortunately I noticed these guys (by their insanely loud calling) as I was driving away, I did stop and watch but only for a few minutes. They all were perched in this very thick and one of the only pine trees near this house set a couple hundred yards away from the road. They all seemed to make the same konk-a-reeee sound at the same time, emphasis on the REE note, creating a super loud group call. Then, they all got up out of the tree at the same time and flew towards the feeder and dispersed in the shorter shrubbery around it. I appreciated about 14 that flew from the tree, but I'm sure there was more still hanging out in the tree or the surrounding brush. All the ones I could see in flight seemed to be male, with the distinct dark body and bright red/orange wing shoulders. Maybe this is a common survival behavior, they migrate together? and then stay together post migration? maybe male groups help each other find females which is why they're all flocking together pre-breeding season? Which would also suggest the start of an important circannual cylce of breeding season and the end of the spring migration period.
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