Field Journal 6

Date: 04/22/2024
Start time: 11:00 am
End time: 12:20 pm
Location: Loop from Patrick Gym, to UVM Horse Barn and coming back to Patrick Gym by East Terrace Street.
Weather: 4°C, Sunny, blue sky
Habitats: Path between the golf court and the street protected by trees and then a neighborhood with houses and trees (angiosperms and a bit of conifer) on each side of the road.
Species list:

• Song Sparrow (1)
• Dark-eyed Junco (4)
• Northern Cardinal (~5)
• Downy Woodpecker (1)
• American Goldfinch (2)
• Tufted Titmouse (1)
• European Starling (2)
• Chipping sparrow (1)
• American Robin (~10)

At the beginning of the Bike path, a female Northern Cardinal is constructing her nest in a hedge in front of a house. I heard Northern Cardinal responding to one another and I am not sure if these were several males competing for territory or to attract females or if it is communication between mates.
The Song Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow were singing complex songs, which are often associated with mate attraction and territory defense. The Song Sparrow that I observe at the beginning of the Bike Path is there every time I do this walk which is almost every day. I am guessing that it is singing to establish its territory and to advertise its presence to potential mates. I did not see where they were nesting. But these two species would typically nest in dense vegetation such as shrubs or thickets, where they can find cover and protection for their nests.
The Downy Woodpecker I observed was drumming on a tree, which I learned after doing some research, is associated with territory defense. It might have defended a prime territory with suitable nesting sites and abundant food resources. A prime territory indicates the bird’s fitness and ability to secure resources necessary for survival and reproduction.
Usually, European Starlings are observed in a flock. But, I only saw two, which might be just a normal foraging activity in a reduced group since it is the mating season or an already formed mating pair foraging together. Still, the latter seems unlikely and sadly I did not observe any courting behavior.
The Tufted Titmouse was carrying nesting material, such as twigs and leaves, indicating nest-building activity. The Dark-eyed Juncos were foraging on the ground near a bird feeder and did not look at all in the process of courtship, nest building, or territory defense. Same for the American Robins that I saw mostly alone and foraging.

Posted on April 22, 2024 09:58 PM by maudmarmo