field journal 2

Date: 2/15/2024
Time: 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Location: Trinity Woods (behind Farrell Hall)
Weather: 20 degrees F, clear and sunny but shaded in the woods, little to no wind
Habitat: mixed deciduous/evergreen forest, small stream and frozen pond nearby, moderately regular human activity

Species list:

• Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard) definitely 1 but potentially 2
• Black-capped Chickadee (heard and seen) 10+ individuals
• Tufted Titmouse (heard and seen) 8+ individuals
• White-breasted Nuthatch (heard and seen) 5+ individuals
• Dark-eyed Junco (heard by Merlin) maybe 2 individuals
• Downy Woodpecker (seen) 1 individual

Many of the species I saw were fairly plump in their main body indicating they may have put on some extra body fat to retain heat. Few birds came down from the middle and upper canopy to the ground presumably to avoid contacting the cold ground/snow. The birds I observed were very active for most of my time there with frequent movement and call/song-making. Towards 11:00AM, though, the activity died down drastically. I’m thinking that these birds only spend a small amount of time flying around and feeding during the winter to help preserve energy and body heat. Since it was very cold, the songbirds were probably searching for nuts and berry remnants in the trees. In other seasons, there would be a greater insect population for the birds to feed on. The Red-bellied Woodpecker was probably looking for insects inside the tree and making a hole for a nest. I didn’t see the woodpecker, but I heard its call several times and think there may have been two individuals either communicating to mate or having a territorial dispute. The other birds would likely overnight in the trees with good coverage from the wind (like firs and spruces) to help retain heat. I heard a lot of activity up in the canopies of evergreen trees here.
There weren’t many snags in Trinity Woods that could see, but snags would be a good feature to have there. Snags are a great nesting area for woodpeckers and insects. The dead wood is easier for woodpeckers to chip away, and insects don’t experience the chemical defenses of the tree because it’s dead. The woodpecker (and other birds) can then eat the insects in the snag, and other birds can occupy vacant woodpecker holes. Mammals like bats and squirrels can also use snags for nesting and as a food source (insects).

Posted on February 28, 2024 02:45 PM by mfletch237