Field Journal 2

Date: 02/17/2024
Start time: 12:30 pm
End time: 14:00 pm
Location: College St. from UVM Green to Lake Champlain and the beginning of the walk to the beach.

Weather: -3°C, partially cloudy, a little bit of snow, some rays of light
Habitats: Street with trees near the houses on both sides of the road. Lake Champlain (sort of a dyke along the side of the lake).
Species list:
-American Robin (2)
-Cedar Waxwing (4)
-House Finch (2 females)
-Mallard (4 males – 2 females)

Saturday was not the coldest day of this winter, and I first observed the American Robins, the Cedar Waxwing, and the House Finch at the same location enjoying the rays of sunshine. They were all in trees protected from the wind by the houses all around the trees. The two American Robins I observed were fluffing their feathers probably to trap more air to create insulation against the cold. The 2 female House Finch were eating berries on a tree. And the Cedar Waxwing were huddling for warmth. Then I observed a group of Mallards in the lake. They mostly had their bills tucked in their feathers to conserve heat. Some of them were looking for food under the water.

Other information I found looking more specifically at each species was that American Robins; Cedar Waxwings and House Finch have a similar way of spending their winter, more of them are searching for food (which is mostly insects, worms, and fruits for the Robins; berries, fruits, and insects for the Cedar Waxwings; and seeds, grains, and fruits for the House Finch) and resting between foraging. They are searching for warmth or sheltered areas such as dead snags. I believe that these birds would spend their nights either on the same trees or in shelters maybe in holes on houses or trees they managed to find. The Mallards live near aquatic environments, so they have a different way of spending their winter. They forage aquatic plants, insects, and small fish. They mostly rest and preen during the day and roost overnight near water bodies on the water or on banks. These birds' diets might vary during other seasons when more food sources are available. They might search for more protein-rich food during the breeding season.

Dead snags are crucial for birds passing winter in cold areas like Burlington. They house cavities that birds and other species can use to protect themselves from the cold. It is also a place where birds can find food such as insects or fungi, and it is a good nesting place. Other than protection, dead snags are important for nutrient cycles, dead wood enriches the soil and provides resources for other organisms. It also prevents erosion. Species that are likely to use snags are Woodpeckers, Owls, Bluebirds, Nuthatches, Chickadees, and Titmouse (probably Passerines in general).

Posted on February 22, 2024 04:45 PM by maudmarmo