Field Journal 3

Date: 3/8/2024
Start Time: 2:13 pm
End Time: 3:13 pm
Location: Golf Course behind redstone

Weather: 45 ℉, sunny, 4 mph winds from NNW
Habitat:Field, with tall oak and coniferous trees. Some brush along road

List of birds seen
3 x tufted titmouse
10+ chickadees
1 female cardinal
1 male cardinal
6 robins
Birds heard but not seen
White breasted nuthatch
American Crow

I walked for an hour along the road regarding the golf course behind redtsone campus.
Two birds I saw side by side were a black capped chickadee and a female and male cardinal

Northern Cardinal:
Male Northern Cardinals have red plumage, while females have a more muted brown coloration. This is sexual dimorphism and helps in mate selection. The bright red coloration also aids in territory defense and establishing dominance. Cardinals are known to be aggressive defenders of their territory, and the vibrant color helps. The contrast between the red plumage and the green foliage makes the male Northern Cardinal highly visible to potential mates and predators alike. This visibility can be advantageous for attracting mates. The brown coloration of female Cardinals provides camouflage while nesting, helping them blend into their surroundings and reduce the risk of predation.

Black-capped Chickadee:
Black-capped Chickadees have a distinctive black cap and chin, white cheeks, and grayish wings and back. This coloration provides them with camouflage in their habitat which consists of wooded areas and shrubs. The black cap helps in visual recognition among conspecifics and may play a role in establishing social hierarchies within the flock. The white cheeks of the Black-capped Chickadee act as a form of disruptive coloration breaking up the bird's outline and making it more challenging for predators to detect. Their muted coloration also helps them blend into the environment during both nesting and foraging activities; this reduces the risk of predation.

I saw a group of chickadees in some neighbor's shrubs. I tried to pshh pshhl them but I got no reaction. None to my eye. I would assume it works as you are making a familiar sounding noise to the chickadees themselves. Sometimes it may sound like a warning and some birds would leave. You just signal safety and food and attract more little birds. Some calls may mean predator, while others may mean safety. It's also nearing mating season, so some different calls may appear.

Unfortunately the road was busy and the cars started some away. A few stayed and I got a video of that. In the video there are several chickens foraging in the bushes, a female cardinal and tufted titmouse make their appearance too. You can hear the squeaks of the chickadee and some other calls in the background including a white-brested nuthatch.
Video linked on brightpsace

Posted on March 8, 2024 11:27 PM by rmarti20