Journal Entry #4 - Spring Break

Date – 03/15/24
Start time – 9:00 am
End time – 10:00 pm
Location – 148 Flynn Road Lunenburg MA
Weather (temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation) – About 50 degrees, low/no wind speed, sunny
Habitat(s) – Developed suburban lakeside coniferous forest

I took the time over this spring break to get outside and observe some birds in my home state of Massachusetts. My house sits on a lake surrounded by a mostly coniferous old-growth forest. This environment is amazing for birds. It also helps that the neighbors have multiple bird feeders.

Of the birds I observed, I saw many species that are year-round residents of both Massachusetts and Vermont, namely a Black-capped Chickadee, a Downy Woodpecker, three Blue Jays, a Tufted Titmouse, and a couple of Northern Cardinals. The majority of these species forego migration as their food sources remain somewhat constant during the winter months. They are able to remain warm due to highly insulated feathers which some of these species are able to fluff up. I recently learned that species like the Black-capped Chickadee are able to lower their body temperature during the night to conserve energy.

During observation, I also saw two mourning doves building a nest. This behavior is a clear indication of the onset of the breeding season in the area. As temperatures rise and daylight hours lengthen, these mourning doves, likely migrants from southern regions, have migrated northward to take advantage of the nesting opportunities and food sources available. I can only assume the same will be happening in Burlington very soon.

I unfortunately did not observe any obligate migrants.

Mini Activity:
Blue Jay: Facultative migrant, with potential long-distance migrations ~ 500 miles
Mourning Dove: Facultative migrant, typically undertaking short-distance migrations ~ 200 miles
Canada Goose: Long-distance migrations ~ 1,000 miles

The rough total miles traveled by the species observed in Massachusetts, considering only one representative of each species, would be approximately 1,700 miles.

Posted on March 25, 2024 12:45 AM by lammieli