abreyo's Journal

I made these observations on Tuesday, April 28th, in Basel, Switzerland. The weather was partially cloudy and the temperature was 61° Fahrenheit. I made these observations from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM in Kannenfeld Park. The park is in the city, but it is surrounded by gates and cement walls to separate it from the traffic and the noise. There are lots of green open spaces in the park interspersed with various trees, bushes, small walkways and benches. There are also several playgrounds, fountains, and a few small flower gardens.

I made these field observations on Wednesday, April 22 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm in Basel, Switzerland. The temperature was approximately 68 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather was clear and sunny. These observations were made at a park called the Rheinpark which is next to the Rhein River, a wide river with a strong current that runs through the middle of the city. The park is upstream from the main city center and is right next to a very large dam. There are less buildings/roads near the river here and there are more green spaces for wildlife. For example there are many small grassy areas and trees/bushes running along side the banks of the river.

When I arrived at the park I could hear many different bird songs, although it was often difficult to pinpoint the exact location of these songs. For example, I heard an interesting chorus coming from a dense cluster of bushes. It sounded like 2 birds singing together so I thought that it was possible that it could be a duet being sung by breeding partners. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the birds that were singing. I think that it was likely that many of the House Sparrows, Common Chaffinches, and other small birds that I saw were nesting in some of the dense bushes lining the edge of the park. I could hear many chirps coming from the bushes, and they would be very well protected from the people walking by.

Further upstream, past the dam, I saw two Great Cormorants sitting on a floating dock in the water. I also saw two Eurasian Coots, a Gray Wagtail, and several ducks further in the distance that I could not identify. On my way back I came across a mother Mallard and 8 ducklings at the mouth of a small tributary river which flows into the larger river. Interestingly, there were 3 male ducks also in the same area and there wasn't any sign of aggression or territoriality between the ducks. This could be because there were ample resources available to the ducks (people often throw food to them), meaning that there was no reason to fight over resources. The mother duck did not have any nest that I could see, however I noticed that she kept her ducklings in the shallow water of the tributary river, rather than bringing them out into the rapid main river, which might be dangerous for them.

Lastly, later that afternoon, I walked through the park by my house (Schützenmatt Park) and noticed that there was one particular tree, that was tall and with wide, strong branches that had at least 10 Carrion Crow nests! The crows were loudly cawing back and forth to each other. I thought it was quite interesting that they all chose the same tree for their nests. I noticed another tree, of the same species, in the park that also had a similar number of crow's nests. It could be that this type of tree simply has the best branches for carrying nests, as they are wide, sturdy and up high. This would mean that the crows simply have to fight over who gets the bests nesting spots in the tree (which could be why they were making so much noise!). It is also possible that the there is an evolutionary advantage to nesting in groups, for example by increasing safety from predators.

I made these observations on Wednesday, April 15, from 3:00 pm to 4:00pm. It was 64°F, sunny and slightly breezy. I made these observations along the banks of the Rhein River, further upstream from one of my previous journal posts. In some places, the sides consist of manmade walkways and in other places there are small rocky beaches. The river is wide, deep and has a fast current.

I saw many clusters of Mute Swans and Mallards along the edges of the river. This was probably because there was a fair number of people sitting along the banks, and the swans/ducks were hoping to get fed. I saw an Egyptian Goose further upstream, where there were less people. I these are wild geese populations which were originally introduced to the area when they escaped captivity. On the way home I noticed a tree in a park full of many Carrion Crows and their nests. I also noticed a couple Eurasian Blue tits, House Sparrows and Rock Pigeons.

On Saturday, April 4th, I visited the Landschaftspark Wiese, a nature park in Basel, Switzerland. The weather was sunny and warm (60° Fahrenheit) with almost no clouds in the sky. I arrived at the park around 1:30 pm and left around 4:00 pm. The park consists of several different habitats. There are open fields around the edges of the park, with small plots for farming. The park also has many wooded areas, with small footpaths for visiters and several small streams, and ponds. The Wiese river runs one side of the park.

As I entered the park I immediately came across a large pond where there were several different species of duck. I saw 3 Mallards and 1 Eurasian Coot. I also saw a small duck with a red bill that I later identified to be a Eurasian Moorhen. At the other end of the pond, which was unfortunately blocked off to visitors, I could see a orange/brown duck with a white head and a black tail through my binoculars. The duck was making a loud call that sounded like "Whaa Whaa". I did some research when I got home and I believe that this was a Ruddy Shelduck, a non-native species of duck that was introduced to Switzerland from southeast Europe and Asia. They may even be considered invasive, as they compete with some of the local wildlife. All of these ducks are resident to short-distance migrants. This could be because, even during January, the coldest month of the year, the temperature here has an average low of about 0°C. Therefore the water most likely won't freeze over, allowing the ducks to remain in this habitat for most of the winter, or only travel a short distance south for a short period of time.

As I continued walking I spotted a Grey Heron along the edge of the park, between the pond and a field. According to my research, some Grey Herons remain in Switzerland for most of the winter, while others travel a short distance south. Similarly to the duck species, this may be because there are many small streams, rivers, and ponds here which don't freeze and which provide reliable access to food such as fish, insects, and other small animals to eat.

Next, I came across a small bird feeder near the edge of the path in the woods. Here I saw several species of birds including a Eurasian Nuthatch, going down a tree headfirst, a Eurasian Blue Tit, a Great Tit, and a Common Chaffinch. All of these birds except for the Common Chaffinch are year round residents. They can probably avoid most of the bad weather in the winter by staying in the sheltered low branches and brambles of the forest. There is rarely a significant amount of snowfall here and they can most likely find seeds and insects. The Common Chaffinch is a partial migrant. In Switzerland, the smaller females often travel further south/west than the males as they are smaller and less resilient to the cold. Therefore in is more common to see males in the winter here. They usually leave around September and return in April. This is because the days are consistently much warmer here now (in the 50s and 60s degrees Fahrenheit) and many plants and flowers are blooming, meaning there is more available food.

While walking along the edge of a field near the forest later, I spotted a woodpecker high in a tree. I believe it was a European Green Woodpecker as it was quite large with a long bill and looked to have light coloring when it flew across the field. These are also year-round residents. I think this may be because it is relatively easy for them to find small insects in the tree trunks throughout the winter. Because they nest in holes in the tree, they remain very well sheltered.

I returned to the park the next day in the afternoon and made a few more interesting observations which I wanted to add to this journal. I saw a Common Buzzard perched in a tree as well as two Great Spotted Woodpeckers which were quite a bit smaller than the Green Woodpecker I observed the day before.

Although I didn't observe many migratory birds during this field observation, there are several which have returned to Switzerland over the last few months. In my last journal, I wrote about a White Stork, which is apparently one of the first long distance migrants to return to Switzerland in as early as the beginning of March from as far away as Southern Europe and Africa. White Wagtails, which I observed last time, also migrate 100s of miles all the way to Southern Europe and Africa (sometimes as far as Kenya apparently!) and return in March and April.

This field observation took place on Tuesday, March 24th, in Basel, Switzerland. These observations were made between 3pm and 5pm. The temperature was approximately 50° Fahrenheit and the sky was clear and sunny. The majority of these birds were observed along the banks of the Rhine river which flows through the middle of the city. The river is quite wide, deep, cold and has a strong current. The banks of the river are man-made stone and have lots of walkways, parks, and benches for pedestrians, however there were less people than usual out today because of the quarantine.

While walking along the river I saw several groups of ducks and swans swimming along the edge. I believe that many of these birds prefer to swim near the banks of the river because there is more food, and the current is less strong where it is shallower. For example, I saw many Mute Swans near the banks of the river; often swimming in groups of two. I did some research on this and learned that this is because swans are monogamous birds which mate for life. One pair of swans were vocalizing to each other using a series of grunting and snorting sounds. This could have been a way of communicating the location of food or perhaps a way of alerting each other to my presence. Further down the river, I noticed another group of three swans feeding in the shallow water. In this group one of the swans had his feathers had his feathers fluffed up and his wings raised slightly in a defensive position. I think this could be because one of the swans was not a part of the other pair, which may mean that he was encroaching upon their territory. The puffed up feathers and wings were most likely an effort to make himself seem larger in order to make himself seem more intimidating and communicate to the other swans that he would be willing to fight to defend his territory. Luckily, the dispute quieted down quickly as the swans drifted apart.

As I walked along the river I saw two different species of ducks. I spotted a pair of Common Mergansers sleeping in the sunshine on a log. I was impressed by the striking difference in plumage between the male and the female. The male had a sleek, iridescent green head and stark black and white markings on his body. In contrast the female had more muted tones. She had a brown, crested head and a white/grey body. I think that the more striking male plumage most likely evolved as a way of attracting mates and showing fitness. Meanwhile the female plumage is more muted so that she can blend in to her surroundings better and avoid the attention of predators. After some research, I learned that juvenile males have plumage similar to the females, which supports the theory that this color pattern is better when avoiding predation. I also saw several pairs of Mallards, which have a similar difference in plumages between males and females. The males have iridescent green and blue markings while the females have brown feathers designed for camouflage.

While on my walk I saw several other birds hunting for food along the river. For example, I saw two White Wagtails flitting out over the surface of the water to catch small insects. I also saw a Great Cormorant out in the middle of the river where the current is strongest. It dove under the water and didn't come back up for quite awhile, until it appeared much further down the river. Because I saw so many birds looking for food, I wondered if the afternoon/early evening was a particularly good time to find food. It is no longer as hot and sunny as noon and there might be more insects out later in the day. However, I also wonder how city life might affect the circadian rhythms of these birds. For example, there are more people out in the evenings and I noticed a few people feeding the ducks and swans. Meanwhile, more reclusive birds might be inclined to hide during the busier hours of the day. In addition, there are many streetlights and noises in the city which may disrupt circadian rhythms. These factors might encourage birds to diverge from their natural rhythms.

Lastly, in addition to the birds mentioned above, I noticed two trees with large groups of Carrion Crows in them along with several nests. The crows were loudly cawing and flying around the trees. While walking through a more residential neighborhood I came across a bush full of loud House Sparrows as well as two small birds with yellow breasts and black caps, which I later identified to be either Great Tits or Eurasian Blue Tits.

I wanted to add to this journal that the day before I went on this excursion, I visited a public park near my house in the afternoon and found two White Storks walking around. They seemed very unbothered by all the people around them. Apparently, Storks are fairly common in this region and the nearby region of Alsace in France. In Alsace storks feature in a lot of old folklore. They often nest on top of chimneys and are a symbol of the region.

On Thursday, March 5th, I went on a walk to observe birds in Centennial Woods in Burlington, Vermont. I began my walk around 4 pm and ended my walk around 6 pm. It was approximately 41° Fahrenheit and mostly sunny with some clouds. By the time I left the sun was setting and it was getting darker. There was a layer of snow on the ground. The environment in the woods consisted of many tall trees, including pine trees, and there was little underbrush. The woods were surrounded by urban areas including residential houses and roads, from which car sounds could be heard.

On my way to Centennial Woods, I spotted one Ring-billed Gull flying over campus near the Harris-Millis Residence Halls. I saw two more Ring-billed Gulls flying around near Jeffords Hall on campus. When I got to Centennial Woods, I started by walking down the hill to an open clearing with several cattails and a small stream. Although I could hear several different bird calls, such as chickadees, I had trouble actually getting close enough to spot any birds due to the loud and crunchy snow. Eventually, I was able to spot a Black-capped chickadee, however, it was too far away for me to get a good picture.

As I walked along the path through the forest, I could hear many different bird songs. However, most of the birds spent their time high up in the tall trees, which made it hard to identify them. I could hear several American Crows calling in the distance and a few flew over my head. After a while, I came to a small clearing near the edge of the forest. In the clearing there was a short pine tree and several low brambles. In this clearing I saw 3 or 4 chickadees. They spent their time foraging for food amongst the brambles. In the summer it might be easier for the chickadees to feed on fruits or plants, but in the winter I assume that their diet must consist mostly of the small seeds and insects they might find in brambles such as the ones I saw. I also noticed that the clearing was lined with several tall, thick bushes which the chickadees kept flying back to. I thought that this might be an ideal place for them to spend the night, especially in the winter, as it is very sheltered from the wind, snow and any predators.

While I was in this clearing I also saw two American Robins briefly fly overhead and I could hear several of them chirping. I also clearly heard the distinctive "peter-peter-peter" sound of a Tufted Titmouse and I believe I saw it from a distance, although it was heard to be certain. As I was walking back through the forest I saw a large flock of at least 20 American Crows fly overhead cawing loudly. I checked the compass on my phone and believe that they were flying North West. However, it was hard to get a picture which showed the total number of crows as they were not flying very close together.

On Sunday, February 16th, I visited the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center near Albany, New York. I arrived at the park in the afternoon around 2:30 pm and left around 4:30 pm. The temperature was 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather was cloudy with little to no breeze. There was a layer of snow and ice on the ground. The park terrain was made up of both forest and wetland.

I began by walking along a trail that looped around a pond. I observed several large footprints, most likely from a duck or goose, on the ice covering the water. However, I had a lot of difficulty observing any birds on this trail. There are a number of possible explanations for this. For example, I noticed that the path was heavily frequented by other park goers talking loudly, as well as several dogs, which may have scared away the birds. Another possibility is that there was not enough food for the birds on this trail, or that it was too exposed for this time of day.

Next, I walked around on the paths near the main lodge. Here, I had more luck finding several different species of birds. First I found a bush full of House Sparrows making loud cheep noises. I counted at least 8 sparrows, including 2 males. The Sparrow's flight involved a lot of quick flapping and short fast flights from one spot (i.e. a branch) to another. For example, I observed a sparrow chase another sparrow from one tree to a different tree. I also noticed that the sparrows had an elliptical wing. It was difficult to get a good photo as they blended in very well with the brown brush. I also observed 2 Black-capped Chickadees, as well as a few more House Sparrows near a bird feeder outside the main lodge.

On a nearby path, I observed a red Northern Cardinal near the top of a tall bush. I also spotted a flock of approximately 10 European Starlings fly up from a tree in the distance. The flock moved up and down in a synchronized wave like pattern before disappearing behind the foliage. They flapped their wings less often than the sparrows and remained in the air for longer periods of time. Lastly, I came to a small grove of trees where I observed a large number of American Robins. They had orange coloring on their breasts, grey wings, and yellow bills. They were eating the small red berries on the branches of the trees and on the ground. Their flight pattern was similar to that of the house sparrow, involving many quick trips from one branch to another or from the ground to a tree. It was difficult to get close to the robins as the loud and crunchy snow kept scaring them away,