cafrigo's Journal

This morning (April 5th, 2017), I visited Burlington's "Urban Reserve" along the waterfront at about 10:45am. It was about 45 degrees and overcast, but the birds didn't seem to mind! There was lots of activity near the skate park, especially from some singing Northern Cardinals and Song Sparrows. Some of the more exciting species that I saw today were a Pileated Woodpecker and four Common Mergansers.
I called over about 5 Black-capped Chickadees with some pishing, and was able to spend some time watching them forage and call to one another. These birds are nomigratory residents who are well-equipped to deal with the Vermont winter. They nest in cavities, which keep them dry and protected from the wind. They're also able to feed on a wide variety of different resources, and in the winter they can rely heavily on seeds and plant matter to subsist. The advantages to staying up north through the cold season include better access to nesting sites, a potential earlier start to the breeding season, and avoidance of the physical toll of migration.
There's a possibility that the Song Sparrows I encountered were migrants; we are located at the northern edge of their winter range (according to AllAboutBirds). Despite the high cost, migration has its benefits; these birds could potentially have avoided some of the harsher cold weather and may have had access to better forage further south. Longer photoperiod and warmer weather may have contributed to their arrival (if they were, in fact, migrants).
As the weather continues to warm, I look forward to encountering more species!

Today, April 16th, I explored the area near Shelburne Bay Park. What was supposed to be a stormy, gloomy day turned out to be sunny and beautiful! It was about 75 degrees while I was out. The areas I explored included marshy habitat, mixed tree stands, and open water.

Around 8am today (April 23, 2017), I ventured out to Forest Park. It is located in Springfield, MA, and has a diverse variety of habitats including ponds and marshy areas, patches of forest, and fields. It was sunny and clear, about 65 degrees with a light breeze. In other words, a beautiful morning!
It was very clear the moment I got out of my car that the Red-winged Blackbirds were in full mate-competition mode. I could hear no less than 10 males singing, and witnessed multiple intraspecific territorial disputes. Two males would posture at each other, flashing their shoulder patches, and one would ultimately chase the other off into the brush. The marshy areas near the entrance of the park were lush and fragmented; it seemed as though the males were each defending individual "patches" of territory. There was one male in particular that I watched defend the largest patch in the area, and there was a female foraging on the edge of that marsh. This indicates to me that he was one of the more dominant males in the area.
I also saw a Mute Swan sitting on her nest, and her mate displayed aggressive territoriality. He chased off any Canada Geese that landed in the pond they were nesting in, and I watched him posture and call at them - he would follow them around, arching his wings and would occasionally half-take off, standing up and beating his wings, splashing water as he extended his neck and let out loud, deep squawks.
I had the opportunity to see another really special breeding-season moment; because of a tip from some people out walking their dogs, I learned about a Great Horned Owl and and her two babies living in an eastern white pine stand nearby. This was the first time I've ever seen a wild owl up close and personal - the mother was infinitely patient, and there were at least 10 other people around staring at her, photographing her, and talking to one another. She mostly eyed their small dogs, which certainly benefited those of us who wanted a good look at her face!
The diverse habitats (from cattail marshes to pine stands) and breeding season drama made this a particularly exciting excursion!

Today (April 30th, from about 11:15-1pm), I went to the Nature Conservancy's LaPlatte River Marsh Natural Area. The habitat includes a marsh and floodplain forests. It was a bit chilly and dreary out - a little less than 50 degrees and sprinkling for most of the trip.