Field Journal 7

Today is April 22, Earth Day! I am still currently in my hometown of North Andover, MA and in my backyard. It is sunny and about 45 degrees and stayed observing from 2:00 PM to about 3:30 PM. I saw two Black-capped Chickadees look like they were chasing each other which could be related to mate selection. I also saw one American Robin carrying material and bringing it back to the nest, which could have been for the nest or just food. Two Northern Cardinals were resting on some shrubby branches. The male appeared to be giving the female some food and was also singing a lot, marking his territory. There is one American Robin that has made her nest on the side of my house on top of a light with protection from my roof. The Blue Jays might prefer making nests in oak trees while Black-capped Chickadees prefer birch trees. Different species prefer different habitats. Black-capped Chickadees nest usually in snags of alder or birch trees. Blue Jays enjoy oaks and can nest several feet in the air, up to 30. House Sparrows usually nest near or in human-made things like buildings or holes in walls. Northern Cardinals set up their nests in dense shrubs or low trees usually only about 3-10 ft off the ground. I found a Northern Cardinal previously mentioned that may have been defending his territory by singing. The territory seemed prime as it was where Northern Cardinals usually nest which can suggest he has better fitness than others of his species. I don't think its a bad idea for birds to be nesting under the eaves outside my back door because it can provide protection from weather and even predators. The American Robin I saw was using dead grass, twigs, and some feathers. To find these materials American Robins forage on the ground. Sound Map - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u74vbVcWxZKf3nnwzRD25V2Hchyj-E6aaIBXl3soafw/edit

Posted on April 22, 2020 09:10 PM by juliannamason