Journal 4
Field journal 4
Date: 03/24/2024
Start time: 13:00 pm
End time: 14:00 pm
Location: Patrick Gym to UVM Co-Operative Barn
Weather: -1°C, snow on the ground + trees; blue sky, no clouds, sunny
Habitats: Path between the golf court and the street protected by trees.
Species list:
-Northern Cardinal (1)
-Mourning Dove (1)
-Black-capped Chickadee (2)
-American Robin (~20)
-Cedar Waxwing (~20)
Some of the year-round species I observed are the Black-capped Chickadee, the Northern Cardinal, or American Robins. The first reason I could see to explain why these birds stay all year in Burlington would be their adaptation to resist cold temperatures. Such as the Black-capped Chickadee that can enter a state of hypothermia during winter or adaptation such as a thicker plumage and the ability to fluff up their feather that I observed earlier in the year in American Robins. These species can be territorial and have established their own that needs to be defended. They have adapted to the local environment and know where to find resources necessary for survival. Burlington seems to offer a relatively stable food supply throughout the year with many foraging sites (such as insects or berries in trees) and humans are also helping by providing food in bird feeders which might also have influenced positively the stay of many birds.
A facultative migrant that may be arriving in Burlington this period of the year could be the Dark-eyed Junco. These birds typically breed in Canada, Alaska, and North America and migrate south for the winter. They may be arriving in Burlington from their wintering ground in the southern United States or Mexico. The arrival of Dark-eyed Juncos indicates a change in the environmental conditions, especially in terms of temperatures with the arrival of spring weather. It is warmer outside (except for our last couple of days), daylight hours increase, food sources become more abundant, and the change in the environment makes suitable nesting sites and breeding opportunities more available in Burlington which might attract migratory birds.
I did not get to observe an obligate migrant, but I imagine that arriving during the spring in early April is advantageous because food sources are abundant and there are many opportunities for nesting sites, facilitated by favorable weather conditions. However, challenges such as sudden cold snaps, competition for resources, and increased predation risk accompany early arrival. Despite risks, adaptability is key for migratory birds that depend on their migration from winter sites to their breeding sites to survive.
(Wintering range:
- Northern Cardinal: Southern part of Quebec to Eastern Mexico. Found in the eastern, central part of the USA. The Northern Cardinal spends its winter in Burlington but between Burlington and the tip of Mexico on the Mexican golf side there is around 1866 miles
- Mourning Dove: It is a year-round resident almost everywhere in the USA and central Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and southern Canada and its non-breeding range goes all the way to Panama. From Burlington to Panama, it is ~2495 miles.
- Black-capped Chickadee: It is a year-round resident of Northern USA all the way to Alaska and South/Central Canada. Sends its winter in Burlington but from the furthest end of its range in Alaska to Burlington it is: 3140 miles
- American Robin: It is year-round almost everywhere in the USA and spends its winter in Florida, and the Northern part of Mexico. From Miami to Burlington there is ~1348 miles
Cedar Waxwing: Is found year-round in the Northern part of the USA and Southern part of Canada and spends winter everywhere in the USA all the way to Costa Rica. From San Juan to Burlington there is ~2464 miles.
If we add all the miles the birds have potentially traveled we obtain 6307 miles (without the Northern Cardinal and Black-capped Chickadees that do not migrate). )
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