epbrophy's Journal
Emma Brophy
Date: 4/29/24
Start time: 4:30pm
End time: 5:30pm
Location: S Williams St, Burlington VT
Weather: 53° F, 6mph with 13 gusts NNW, partially cloudy, no precipitation.
Habitat: Residential area, backyard, shrubs, and old tall trees.
Species:
3 Common Grackle
1 Mourning Dove
2 American Robins
3 Red-breasted Nuthatches
4 House Sparrows
1 House Finch
1 European Starling
2 Black-capped Chickadees
Emma Brophy
Date: 4/22/24
Start time: 12:40pm
End Time: 1:40pm
Location: Redstone Campus/Prospect St.
Weather: 45 ° F, 8mph wind with 19mph gusts NNW, sunny, no precipitation.
Habitat: green space with large trees, shrubs, residential area.
Species:
1 Northern Cardinal (male)
1 song sparrow
5 Dark-eyed Juncos
3 Black-capped Chickadees
6 American Robins
1-2 American Crows
1-2 Ring-billed Gulls
3 European Starlings
3 Northern Flickers
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (male)
1 Tufted Titmouse
4 Common Grackles
On April 22nd at 12:40pm, I took a walk-through Redstone Campus towards Prospect Street. As I got closer to residential areas that had backyards with bird feeders, I notice a greater number birds and variety of species. I specific behavior I noticed was a display of courtship between three Northern Flickers. While I am not familiar with these species, the three of them were bobbing their heads and making a specific wicka-wicka call. After some research I found that this motion is called a “fencing duel” and it is often paired with the specific wicka-wicka call. During this “fencing duel”, the two rivals face each other creating a figure-eight the air with their heads. This type of behavior is seen in early spring and summer. Northern Flickers are woodpeckers, and like most woodpeckers, they nest in tree cavities. Northern Flickers require an opening with 3 inches in diameter and 13 to 16 inches deep and 6 to 15 feet high. The specific tree that I observed them in was an old wide deciduous tree. Based on the size of the tree it is possible that the Northern Flickers were nesting there. I also observed some Northern Flickers in a more heavily wooded area on Redstone Campus with tall old coniferous tree where they could nest in.
Another behavior I noticed was a male Northern Cardinal singing alone on a tall deciduous tree. This is a behavior I have noted before as the temperature has started to warm. This type of behavior is related to nest, mate, and territory selection. Northern Cardinals will choose dense foliage that offer high perches for singing. Male Northern Cardinals will sit atop trees and sing to claim their nesting territory. The Female Northern Cardinals will select their mate based on the male’s territory and their brightness of red. The song Northern Cardinals sing is sung by both males and females and can be heard singing back and forth to grow their paired bond in the early spring and summer. As the days get longer the song gets louder and clearer. For nesting, Northern Cardinals will build their nests in the fork of small branches, using twigs, leaves, bark, grasses, stems, rootlets, and pine needles. The specific Northern Cardinal I saw was quite difficult to find as it was in a dense tree with red berries. This specific Northern Cardinal seemed to be relatively fit, as it chose a territory fulfill its habitat requirements, was a bright red color, and a strong singer.
Another species I observed was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This bird was smaller than a Black-capped Chickadee. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are migratory birds that inhabit Vermont during their breeding season. Although their common habitat spruce-fir forests, I spotted one in a more residential area feeding on a coniferous tree. Since Ruby-crowned Kinglets like to nest in tall old trees, it is likely that this bird was nesting in the small patch of woods on Redstone Campus that has these tall old trees. For the out part of their nests, Ruby-crowned Kinglets use grasses, feathers, mosses, spiderwebs and cocoon silk. For their inner nest they use fur and fine plant material. All these materials are quite accessible in the location this specific Ruby-crowned Kinglet is nesting it and would not have to travel far.
Emma Brophy
Date: April 8, 2024
Location: Main St, Burlington, VT
Time: 9:55am- 11:00am
Weather: 49°F, clear and sunny, 9mph wind SSW, no precipitation.
Habitat: Urban street with large trees next to side walks.
Emma Brophy
Date: March 25, 2024
Location: Main St, Burlington, VT
Time: 10:40am- 11:40am
Weather: 33°F, clear and sunny, 6mph wind S, no precipitation.
Habitat: Residential area, large trees next to road, residential yards
Species:
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 female, 1 male House Sparrow
10 American Robin
1 American Crow
On March 25th, at 10:40am I took a walk down Main Street and South Williams Street in Burlington, VT. During my excursion I saw a Black-capped Chickadee, a common species that I have seen throughout the winter. Black-capped chickadees and other year-round species can eat seeds in the winter, giving them the ability to forgo migration. Black-capped Chickadees have specific behavioral and physiological adaptations that help them survive in the winter. Some behavior adaptations are sleeping in cavities in trees and shivering themselves awake. One physiological adaptation they have is facultative hypothermia, which decreases their internal temperature, slowing down their reflexes and saving energy while they sleep.
As the weather starts to warm, I have started to see large groups of American Robins. American Robins can be year-round birds and facultative migrants. Facultative migrants migrate based on weather and temperature changes. Over the past few weeks, the weather has started to warm reaching to the 60 degrees, even though there was a large snowstorm on Saturday. During the winter American Robins, they can be found in the southern part of North America. They can also spend the entire year in their breeding range, Northern North America, but they are mainly roosting in trees during this time. The American Robins I observed were very active, eating berries on trees.
Migrating in April to Burlington, Vermont can be difficult for birds do the extreme unpredictable weather patterns as we have witnessed over these past few weeks. Temperatures will increase and then decrease followed by snowstorms, poorly effecting birds that are not adapted for snow and cold temperatures.
Mini Activity: 1,745,706.76 miles from Florida to Burlington Vermont. American Robins are facultative migrants that can winter in Florida. American Robins were the only migrant birds I observed.
Emma Brophy
Date: March 8, 2024
Location: Woods near Virtue Field in Burlington, VT
Time: 2:40pm - 3:40pm
Weather: 35°F, clear and sunny, 5mph wind NW, no precipitation.
Habitat: Patch habitat, new growth trees and old growth tress with cleared out areas. Next to golf course.
Species
3 Downy Woodpeckers >2 male
~10 Black-capped Chickadees
1 American Robin
1 Brown Creeper
1 Northern Cardinal
On Friday March 8th, I went to a small patch of woods in-between Virtue Field and the Burlington Country Club golf course. In comparison to Centennial Woods this section of woods was much smaller and less active with birds. There were not as many Black-capped Chickadees, and I was surprised to see three Downy Woodpeckers. The most audible birds in this section were an American Robin and Black-capped Chickadees. As I walked back to my car, I was also able to hear and record a Northern Cardinal in a more residential area. Black-capped Chickadees are very talkative, and I mostly heard their “chickadee chickadee dee call”, which is used when as an alarm, to identify a predator or another flock of chickadees, or a clear call. The amount of “dees” added to the end of the call determines the threat of a predator. “Gargle” calls are also commonly heard and used by dominant chickadee males. They use this when another chickadee is close to them or their food. In one of my observations I identified an American Robin, I was unable to get a recording, but they were doing their “alarm call” this call is to warn predators and claim their territory. I also recorded Northern Cardinal call. This call is also used to warn predators.
One of the birds I observed was a male Downy Woodpecker. Downy Woodpeckers have black wings checkered with white and black and white striped head. They also have a white belly and back. Male woodpeckers have a red patch on the top of their head. Downy Woodpeckers are year-round northern birds and inhabit forest. At a distance Downy Woodpeckers camouflage well with the forest, their pattern of black and white matching the pattern of bark. Up close their plumage can help them seem intimidating towards predators. I watched the woodpecker go up the tree pecking at the bark and moving to the next when it was done. This behavior matched well with what I have previously observed and taken note of from other woodpeckers. They are often found consistently foraging throughout the day.
The second species I observed was a male Northern Cardinal, which has a bright red plumage. The red plumage has a specific advantage to male cardinals, helping them maintain territory and find mates. The redder a cardinal’s plumage is the more advantage they have during breeding season. The bird I was observing was sitting along at the top of a high tree using an alarm like call. As it gets closer to spring the cardinal was likely calling for a mate. While watching he did not seem to be very active indicating that Northern Cardinals may not need to be constantly foraging like species such as Black-capped Chickadees or Downy Woodpeckers.
Mini Activity: While watching a group of Black-capped Chickadees, I attempted to “spishing”, I am not sure if it had an affect or not and I am unsure if I was doing it correctly. I also may have not been close enough for it to affect them. The “spishing” method works because it reflects a small bird noise and similar to an alarming one or call for help.
Emma Brophy
Date: 2/23/24
Time: 10:47 – 11:52
Location: Centennial Woods
Weather: 40 °F, partially cloudy/sunny, 9mph N, no precipitation.
Habitats: New growth forest with young trees and shrubs, Old growth forest with older trees.
Species:
20 Black-capped Chickadees
2 Tufted Titmouse
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 male Hairy Woodpecker
1 female Hairy Woodpecker
3 American Crows
On February 23rd at 10:47am I took a walk in Centennial Woods, making sure to take a different root than I did my last field journal. Immediately as I enter the woods I hear and spot about 5 Black-capped Chickadees flying around. Black-capped Chickadees are the most common species I encounter during my period of observation as I can hear and see them consistently throughout different habitats in Centennial. Black-capped Chickadees appear to be well insulated and fluffy as they gain more feathers in the winter after molting in the fall. Black-capped Chickadees are very active birds that are constantly moving throughout the day. This active behavior they have benefits them well keeping their body temperature high. As I watch them, I notice that they are often in groups, constantly communicating. Staying in groups helps them find food faster. Black-capped chickadees are also omnivorous giving them a wider range of food in the winter in comparison to other bird species. At night the Chickadees go into torpor, lowering their body temperature from 108 degrees to about 78 degrees. When overnighting, Black-capped chickadees look for tight tree cavities. I observed Black-capped Chickadees throughout the entirety of my hour-long observation noticing that they are adaptive species.
At 11:15am, I spotted two White-breasted Nuthatches on a large deciduous tree. Unlike Black-capped Chickadees, these birds conserved their energy spiraling down the tree’s trunk. They moved more similarly to the Hairy Woodpecker, but rather than moving up they moved down. I watched the Nuthatches for about 15 minutes and witnessed one pull out what I thought was a grub from under the tree bark. After researching more about White-breasted Nuthatches, I learned that in the winter they store seeds under loose bark, caching, to maintain a steady food supply. During the winter their diet is mostly consists of seeds, changing to insects in the warmer seasons. White-breasted Nuthatches also group around Black-capped Chickadees to help spot food and predators easier, as I saw during my field observation.
At 11:25am, I saw a male Hairy Woodpecker traveling up a young tree. Hairy Woodpeckers and White-breasted Nuthatches are similar in size, but the Hairy Woodpecker seems to be slightly more active than the White-breasted Nuthatches. Hairy Woodpeckers do not migrate, being yearly birds in Centennial Woods. Their main source of diet is insects they find in trees but can switch to acorns and seed in the winter months. Switching from insects to seeds in the winter seems to be a commons diet change among the species I have observed. For overnighting, they nest in tree cavities they have excavated during the fall. These cavities can be seen throughout centennial and are also used by White-breasted Nuthatches.
Mini Activity:
Along my bird walk I took note of snags along the way as well as woodpecker cavities. There seemed to be snags throughout centennial woods and I noticed a lot of short ones with large cavities. These cavities could be useful for some winter birds, but it is likely that the cavities are too low and large exposing them to predators. The snags and cavities that seemed the most beneficial for winter birds were taller and smaller. All three species I have discussed during my journal nest in tree cavities and are small.
Winter for black-capped chickadees. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gofingerlakes.org/winter-for-black-capped-chickadees/#:~:text=The%20chickadee%20stays%20warm%20all,wind%20will%20have%20to%20do.
Campbell, V. (2024). Four nuthatches, four ways to make it through a cold winter. Retrieved from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/four-nuthatches-four-ways-to-make-it-through-a-cold-winter/#
Emma Brophy
Field Journal 1
Date: February 8, 2024
Start time: 14:42
End time: 15:50
Location: Centennial Woods
Weather: 44 degrees F, 5mph South, sunny, no precipitation.
Habitats: New growth and old forest
On February 8th I went to Centennial Woods during the late afternoon on a sunny day. Before fully entering the woods, I heard and saw a large group of Black-capped Chickadees at 14:42. The Chickadees were easy to spot as they rested on sparse young trees relatively low to the ground. The Black-capped Chickadees where easily recognizable by their call, flight pattern, and black cap and throat. I watched the chickadees as they flew from tree to tree staying on the edge between the start of the trail and deeper into the forest. The Chickadees have elliptical wings for short maneuverable flying. As they fly, they alternate from flapping their wings fast to folding them, making them look like they are bouncing. Chickadees seemed to have a generalist niche as I have spotted them in urban areas, on the edge of the forests, and deeper in the forest.
After observing the Chickadees for about 15 minutes, I moved deeper into Centennial Woods listening and looking for other species. At around 15:24 I spotted a few Woodpeckers in an area of the trail with larger older trees. After closer investigation, I identified them as Hairy Woodpeckers, based on their size, beak proportion, and red patch. I was also able to identify them by their drumming. I focused on one Hairy Woodpecker that was traveling down a mossy log, tediously picking at it. I decided to draw this bird as I was able to get quite close to him and he was moving much slower in comparison to the chickadees. I still found it difficult to sketch him though as he was moving so much, I was only able to get a couple of sketches. Once the woodpecker was done on the log, he flew to a larger tree flying in the similar flap-bounding flight as the Black-capped Chickadee. The Hairy Woodpecker moved up the tree in a spiral drumming at the bark.
The Black-capped Chickadee and the Hairy Woodpecker have very similar flight patterns. They both have elliptical shaped wings that are good for quick take off and maneuvering through trees. Both species also have flap-bounding flight patterns where it looks like they are bouncing in the air. Chickadees are much more active in comparison to the Hairy Woodpeckers. The Hairy Woodpeckers focus a lot of pecking at the same trees where the Blac-capped Chickadees are quickly moving from branch to branch. When considering habitat, Black-capped Chickadees were identified throughout Centennial woods, where Hairy Woodpeckers were only identified deeper in the woods.
