FJ6 FIELD OBSERVATION
Date: April 8, 2021
Observation Period: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Saint Michael's College Natural Area, Essex/Colchester, VT
Weather: 68 degrees F, mostly cloudy, Wind: 8 mph, NW
Habitat: Walking Trail through wetlands, forest and fields encompassing Winooski riverfront, pond, and an open space compost area.
I chose Saint Michael's College Natural Area for an outing after learning from ebird of a possible nest site for a Pileated Woodpecker. After patiently observing the snag and area for a while, I saw evidence of a Pileated Woodpecker, but, unfortunately, I did not see a Pileated Woodpecker.
One interesting observation on this visit was three Turkey Vultures perched in a tree at the compost area. Generally, Turkey Vultures are most often seen aloft, foraging over open areas for carrion by sight and smell as far as one mile away. They return to Vermont in late March and early April after wintering in the Southeastern United States. I wondered where they nested in our area. I found a record for a documented nest site for a Black Vulture, but with a cursory check I was not able to find nesting observations for Turkey Vulture. Nest sites may be caves, ledges on cliffs, hollow logs or trees, dense shrubbery, abandoned hawk nests or deserted buildings. Vermont Atlas of Life documented Vermont's first recorded nest containing two eggs found in early June of 1983 in northwestern Franklin County. It is reported that nests are located mostly by accident.
Species List:
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 American Robin
2 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Canada Goose
2 Common Raven
1 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Song Sparrow
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Northern Cardinal
3 Turkey Vulture
4 crow, sp
http://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/turkey-vulture.pdf
https://bie.vtatlasoflife.org/species/2481930#overview
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