samharesteig's Journal

Burlington Campus. From Aiken center to redstone campus to the golf course. Urban habitat with vegetation such as river birch, eastern white pine, and cattails.
4/03/2021
9-10:30am
30 degrees Fahrenheit, Sunny & Blue Sky, 5-15mph winds

Some of the year-round residents in Burlington include the Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, and Tufted Titmouse. For these birds, the energy costs and increased predation associated with migration outweigh the benefits in resource abundance that could be found in wintering grounds. These species find ways of staying warm in the winter through growing more down feathers and nesting in cavities. Since they stay in one place year round they get to know their area intimately. They are able to find food in urban areas or on plants that have seeds year round. They know what territory is available, who the predators are and where to nest.

One facultative migrant is the American Robin. Robins eat earthworms and insects. As these resources wane, the species may decide to migrate south to find more food. As predation and competition increases in the wintering grounds these species may decide to move back north as warmer weather makes earthworms and insects more available again. When arriving in the breeding or wintering grounds robins will fiercly defend a specific territory, betting on good resource abundance in the area they choose. The Robins in Vermont could have been coming anywhere along the east coast, as far down as Florida.

Some Robins change their diet in order to stay in one place year round. Instead of eating earthworms and insects the Robins will eat winter fruits and berries, including junipers, hollies, crabapples, and hawthorns. They will also become nomadic, moving around to find the habitat with most abundant resources. For instance if it snows in one area, the robins may move to another nearby area with less snow. Another winter adaption includes forming flocks. Larger groups mean more eyes and improved chances to spot and avoid predators. Flocks also increase the odds of discovering food.

All migrants observed: Eastern Phoebe, Turkey Vulture, Dark-eyed Junco, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Canada Goose, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrows, Mallard

Estimated total miles traveled (both directions) by all the facultative and obligate migrants: 21,000 miles

Centennial Woods. Forest habitat with pines, maples, oaks, birches and beech trees predominating throughout.
04/17
40 degrees Fahrenheit
9am to 11am
Cloudy. Winds Northwest at 10mph

04/23/2021 2-3:30pm
UVM Campus. Open areas of athletic fields and parking lots. Hedges, birch, pine, maple, oak and aspen trees. Storm-water retention pond with cattails.
53 degrees
20% cloud cover
Winds from the west

It is the time of year when birds start settling down to mate, nest, claim territory and generally come out of dormancy - it's spring! Unfortunately the birds were not very active this afternoon. This was potentially because of the snowfall on Wednesday or maybe they were just taking afternoon naps.

We did notice several mating pairs. A pair of mallards and a pair of Canadian Geese have taken up residence in the Redstone retention pond. Last time I was at this retention pond one of the goose was incubating eggs. This cattails in this area allow for these birds to nest in a hidden area. The open water gives them good protection from predators. This area also provides the food that mallards and geese rely on such as small fish, snails, moths, mollusks, grass, weeds, beetles, dragonflies, ect.

I also observed a male Northern Cardinal singing its two long notes then several short notes. Its chest was puffed out and crest was raised. It was on the tip of a branch, most likely putting itself on display attempting to attract a mate.

Along the redstone bike path there are several houses with birdfeeders. There are also hedges and brush. This is good territory for small songbirds like chickadees and Tufted Titmouse as it provides protection and food. There were several Black-capped chickadees making de-de-de vocalizations. This may have been to alert individuals from other species or of their own species that they had claimed this territory and were defending it. I saw physical conflict between a Black-capped Chickadee and a Tufted Titmouse as they both tried to get seed out of a birdfeeder. Since this territory provides food and shelter, and the individuals are expending lots of energy to defend it, it indicates that the individuals fitness is high relative to other individuals in the area.

Another species we saw was the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This bird is most likely building its nests right about now. The nests of Ruby-crowned Kinglets are high up in trees so that they are protected from sight by the canopy foliage. The nests are very small and consist of grasses, feathers, mosses, spiderwebs and cocoon silk for the outer structure which maintains the structure of the nest. The inner lining makes the nest comfortable and warm and consists of plant material and fur. The fluff from the catkins of female aspen tree flowers could also be used by Ruby-crowned Kinglets for the inner lining of their nests.