Diario de g_underhill

Today, on May 22nd, 2020, I went to Geprags Community Park in Hinesburg, Vermont. I arrived around 6:30 in the morning and met my friend Taylor for a day of birding. As we began, it was about mid 50's outside. However, within an hour of arrival, it warmed up into the high 60's and was warm enough to be in shorts and a tee shirt. Later into the day, we reached high 70's, and the suns warmth was beating down upon us. Every once in awhile we felt a cool breeze that was blowing about 7 mph in the SW direction. We stayed at Geprags until about 11:30 in the morning. This location provided a large array of trails and a mixture of habitats. Some areas were heavily forested and encompassed either side of the trail in hardwoods. We also came across some shrubland habitat that included shrubby vegetation, such as staghorn sumac. This is where we were able to hear and spot a Wood Thrush! Additionally there was a huge open field that was off one of the trails where we were able to see a male turkey and four hens. Overall, this area allowed me to see multiple new species that I never thought I would see. Geprags Park is a great birding spot that I will have to return to!

Today, on March 21st 2020, I went to Delta Park in Colchester, Vermont. I was originally assigned to Macrae Farm Park in Colchester only to find that it was closed. My friend Taylor, who was also originally assigned to Macrae Farm Park told me that she received a follow up email telling her that the location was closed and to go to Delta Park in Colchester instead. I was never given this follow up email, but I decided to go to Delta Park anyways since I assume the email was also meant to be sent to me. I arrived around 7 am and remained at this location until around 11:45 am. It was a beautiful day, beginning around the low 50’s and quickly warming up to high 60’s and low 70’s around 10 am. The skies were blue with some faint hazy clouds, but the sun was shine nonetheless. There was a cool breeze blowing SSW about 7 mph when we came across areas that weren’t surrounded by trees. This location followed mostly along the Burlington Bike Path, but also provided some beach areas off of the path. On either side of the bike path the habitat was forested with birches, conifers, cherries, and other trees that were beginning to bloom. It was semi-residential because we came along some houses that were lined along the bike path, as well as all the folks walking the path. We came across some areas that had small ponds as well. Further along the bike path we came across a bridge that provided us with water and shore habitat. This area is where we were able to see the Herons, Barn Swallows, and Canada Geese. Additional beach habitat was found on side paths off the original bike path and allowed us to see some Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls. Overall, this location allowed me to see the most species that I have all week. This was a very good day for me, and I will definitely be back here!

Today, on May 20th 2020, I went to Camels Hump State Park to go birding. I met my friend Taylor around 7:15 in the morning and ran into a few other people from our class that we ended up birding with for the day. Heading up the Burrows Trail, we got to the summit around 10 am and made it back to the bottom around 12 in the afternoon, just in time to make it home for our afternoon meeting. In the early morning it was in the low 50’s and chilly enough for a jacket. However, around 8:30 am it became warm enough to drop some layers. We ended up with weather in the low 70’s and complete blue skies with no wind. Camels Hump took us into a densely forested habitat that had two distinct sections. In the lower elevation, we were surrounded by mostly hardwoods and pines. This area consisted of many roots and rocks and mud on the trails. When we reached a higher elevation there was a distinct change to birch trees. In the higher elevation area there was also quite a bit of snow and hard ice on the trail that made making it to the summit rather difficult. Throughout the hike, there was a stream that followed along the side of the trail as well. Overall, this area allowed me to see many new warblers and other forest birds that I had never heard before.

Today, on May 19th 2020, I went to the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, Vermont. I hopped in my car and drove 15 minutes to this location after our morning meeting ended around 6:20 am. Here, I met my friend Taylor for a morning of birding. I arrived around 6:35 am and was walking around the trails at this location until 12 in the afternoon. Upon arrival, it was in the low 40's and felt very cold. However, the day quickly warmed up and allowed me to take off several layers around 10 am. From this point on, it was extremely sunny and in the mid 60's. Although the sun was keeping me warm, there was occasionally some northwest wind blowing around 10 mph that allowed for a little chilliness. The parking lot that I pulled into provided many different trails in the surrounding area. These trails provided habitat that included shrubby bushes that lined the perimeter of open areas, and a lot of shrubby vegetation and bare trees that were scattered throughout these open areas. A few of the trails led to a denser coniferous forest that surrounded me on either side and made it difficult to find birds that were hiding. Additionally, there were also some areas that had small ponds and provided wetland and marsh-like habitat. The entire outdoor area was relatively flat and provided few inclines and hills. Overall, the Catamount Outdoor Family Center gave me access to see a lot of shrubland and grassland birds that I had never been introduced to before. This is definitely a location that I will be coming back to in the near future.

Today, May 18th 2020, I went to Colchester Pond in Colchester, Vermont in pursuit of some waterbirds. I left after our morning teams meeting, and arrived at Colchester Pond around 6:45 in the morning. I met up with my friend Taylor who is also in our field ornithology class to help with taking pictures and identifying birds. This birding excursion lasted until around 12:30 in the afternoon until I had to head back home for our second teams meeting of the day. When I first arrived in the morning it was overcast and chilly with temperatures in the low 50's. However, around 10:30 in the morning it began to warm up enough to take off a few layers and was a beautiful day despite a few gusts of wind here and there. By the end of the excursion, the skies were completely blue with only a few clouds in the sky. The area of Colchester Pond consists of a 3-mile round-trip trail around the perimeter of the pond. Throughout this trail, there were multiple different habitats. Most often, I came across open fields on my right-hand side that had tall grass and scattered shrubby trees. This open habitat is the area where I saw most of the songbirds that I identified. I also often came across areas on the trail that were adjacent to the pond in which I saw more of the waterbirds, such as the spotted sandpipers. Most of the habitat next to the water consisted of tall and dense tan vegetation that allowed for the birds to hide very well. There was also a large portion of the trail that was dense forest and had a lot of new growth shooting up in front of the older trees. When I came across these forest habitats, I noticed that there were far fewer birds compared to the open and water habitats. However, this could have something to do with the time of day considering I was near the open and water habitats earlier in the morning. Overall, this was a very worthwhile trip that taught me many new species and allowed me to gain a better grasp on my identification skills.

Yesterday, April 28th, 2020, I went to Oakledge Park in Burlington, Vermont. I arrived around 4:30 PM and left around 5:30 PM after a birding adventure. It was around 54 degrees and the sun was shining in blue skies with very few scattered clouds. The wind was minimal, only blowing every once in a while. Oakledge is a large park, so I stayed in some of the open fields near the parking lots for this trip. There was a forest and a walking path to my left, where I saw many people and animals. In front of and behind me there was a large open space with minimal scattered vegetation and obstructions, such as a few planted trees and buildings. To my right, there was another open area and a parking lot on either side of it. Although this was an open area, there were many trees near me which is where I heard most of the birds singing. This park is also surrounded by Lake Champlain, which was visible from the patch where I was birding.

Yesterday, on April 21st, 2020, I went birding in the Greenmount Cemetery which is across the street from where I live. I went around 5:00 in the evening and stayed until about 6:00 PM. It was raining for most of the day, but cleared up towards the evening when I went outside. The sun was out with a few scattered clouds and minimal wind. However, it was still pretty cold and felt like it was in the mid-40's. The Greenmount Cemetery is a mostly open habitat that is lined by coniferous and deciduous trees on the perimeter. There is scattered vegetation, as well as graves throughout the open area. The Cemetery has houses on either side of it and is near Colchester Avenue, a rather busy street. I would classify the Cemetery as being in a residential neighborhood, but it has a very secluded feeling about it because of the perimeter of trees.
Throughout my time birding, I did not see any visual mating behavior. Most of what I encountered were singing males that were likely trying to attract females through their song. I heard the song of the Tufted Titmouse most often. This bird would begin his song, finish it, wait a few moments, and begin it again. I believe this lasted for about 10 minutes. As far as nest selection goes, I did not see any bird nests. I looked up in the trees to see if there would be any there, as well as around a few of the graves. There was one snag that I noticed had a cavity in it which seems like an ideal place for a bird to nest. It is possible that is where the Pileated Woodpecker could be nesting. I also do not have binoculars, so it is likely that some of the smaller songbirds could be nesting high up in the tree-tops where I am unable to see. There are also a few homes nearby that surround either side of the Cemetery. It is possible these homes have birdhouses where the songbirds nest, or it is possible they nest within the crevices of these homes. I would assume that the habitat requirements are similar for the Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, and Pileated Woodpecker. However, it seems like the Woodpecker can obtain better access to habitat because it can peck out a nest within a dead snag. The other songbirds are likely left to build nests in trees that are in areas where the wind is blocked. As for territory selection, I did not witness any aggression between males. However, it is possible that the male that I heard singing was attempting to defend his territory boundaries, rather than attract a potential mate.
There was a Black-capped Chickadee that I noticed was singing somewhere in front of and above me. I spotted him sitting on the branch of a tree on the perimeter of the cemetery. However, I didn't notice any food sources near this bird. It is possible that the trees near him are full of insects to eat and that is why he is protecting this area. It is also likely that some of the trees produce berries or seeds that will be available to the Chickadee later in the spring. However, I was unable to identify any of the trees, other than some of the coniferous ones nearby. Since I was unable to identify any food sources, I would assume that the bird's fitness is not very good during this time of the year. However, it may become more fit as the Spring continues and food sources become more abundant. Although there was a lack of evidence to say whether this was a prime or a poor territory, I would assume that it is a prime territory. The other Black-Capped Chickadees that I saw were in the same area as this one, and sat either on the same tree or trees close by. For this reason, I am not sure how this territory compares to the other territories that may be nearby.
The Pileated Woodpecker that I saw seemed like it was attempting to create a cavity in a snag. My assumption is he was doing this to create a spot to have a nest. I would assume that the bird would use small twigs that it finds on the perimeter of the Cemetery. The Woodpecker would find twigs here because trees likely have snapped some limbs off and they have fallen onto the ground. I would also assume that fallen leaves or grass would be used for a softer bed in the nest. These could be acquired from anywhere on the open area because leaves are scattered all over, and grass is abundant.

Link to my mini-activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1coTj-YzbLlLuxFOUdlitPOGhnKABC-TxW1W79mJzQGY/edit

Today, April 15th 2020, I did my birding excursion from my home. Due to the quarantine and mandatory stay at home order, I figured that doing my birding from my house was the smartest decision for this week. I went out my yard at around 3 PM and was out until around 4:15 PM. It has been in the mid-40's today with the sun peeping in and out from behind the scattered clouds. The wind made it feel rather cold outside, as it blew west at about 10-15 mph. My apartment is located on Colchester Avenue in Burlington, VT. My house sits just a few minutes down the hill of UVM's Trinity Campus. I do not have much of a yard to work with, but I have a small patch of green in front of my house next to the road where two deciduous trees reside. This is a very residential area, and I am surrounded by two other apartments on either side of me. Across the road there is a small hill that is lined with many coniferous trees that block other apartments from the road in between us. Overall, this was not the most ideal habitat to go birding in, but I was still able to see four species of birds.

Yesterday I went to the Sand Bar State Park in Grand Isle, VT. I went around 3 in the afternoon to take advantage of the sunny skies and 50 degree weather. There was a light breeze throughout my trip, but not any significant amount of wind. I pulled into the parking lot and found a habitat that was surrounded on both sides by bodies of water. There was Lake Champlain on one side, and a small bog on the other that served the purpose of a waterfowl refuge. Sandwiched between the two bodies of water was a small park area that had a sandy beach near the shore, and some scattered trees. There were some areas that had more clumped areas of trees, such as near the bog and near a residence. Overall, this habitat was a pretty open area, with some scattered vegetation.
Out of all the birds that I observed on this trip, only one of them was a year-round migrant. At least, I think so. After doing some research, I found conflicting results on whether American Robins migrate or not. It seems like some of them migrate to the Southern US, while others move around within the northeast. This species is more influenced by the abundance of food, rather than temperature. Therefore, when food is abundant, American Robins seem to forego migration. To survive in the colder climates, Robins must change their diet as well as eat more. They survive off of berries that stay on vegetation throughout the winter, such as crabapples and hawthorn berries. Robins also change the social aspect of their life, moving on from being territorial to clustering in flocks. This allows Robins to increase their foraging efficiency and have a smaller chance of being predated. As for the other species that I observed, the Canada Goose was one of the more prevalent migrants. Similar to the American Robin, the Canada Goose is also primarily driven by food resources. Beginning in the late summer, these birds fly to the southern US to find more productive feeding areas. These birds migrate in a distinct "V" formation among their flock, as I am sure we have all seen before.
Using Cornell University's "All About Birds" site, I was able to see what the migration map looks like for the species that I observed at Sand Bar State Park. Canada Geese tend to fly towards New Mexico and Texas, which is about 2,000 miles from Grand Isle, VT. Ring-billed Gulls tend to fly towards the southern US , to states such as Florida, which is about 1,500 miles from Grand Isle, VT. The migration pattern of American Crows and American Robins is difficult to decipher from Cornells website, but it appears they migrate short-distances, or stay as residents. Overall, it seems that there was about 7,000 miles round-trip that these birds traveled during migration.

I went to the Salmon Hole in Winooski yesterday at about 5 PM. I parked in the lot and walked the short distance to the trail and continued down the trail until I reached an area that was surrounded on one side by the Winooski river, and the other side by trees. In the main spot where I decided to plant myself and look for birds there was a large deciduous tree on my right side that was growing on the edge of the river and some scattered vine-like brush beside it. To my left, there was a small hill where houses and restaurants sat at the top and trees covered the hillside. It was about 38 degrees, and very sunny with some sparse clouds floating in the sky. Although it was rather cold, the sunlight and absence of wind made it feel much warmer.
The two main birds that I saw interacting were the House Sparrows and the Black-capped Chickadees. The House Sparrows interacted mainly with each other through calls. In the tree ahead of me, there were about 4 of them sitting near each other on separate branches at the top of the canopy. It sounded like when one bird would sing a call and finish, then another one would begin to call. It was difficult to tell if these back and forth calls were just one bird or multiple, but I believe it was coming from multiple birds as a way of communication. The birds seemed to all be looking down at me from the tree so my assumption is that they were making calls to alert other birds that something was in their territory. I did not see much visual communication happening between the birds, but I also was not sure what to be looking for. I saw the House Sparrows fluttering their tails and poking their beaks into the bark of the tree, but none of them got very close to each other.
The House Sparrows were a little far away, and I did not have binoculars, so it was a little difficult to discern the exact color patterns. However, they had dark beaks, a light brown cap, and a white underbelly. Their wings appear to have a pattern that is black and orangish-tan, a pattern that reminds me of tiger stripes. Overall, the House Sparrows are dark birds. I would assume this is a type of cryptic coloration that allows them to blend in with trees, brush, and dark surfaces. This would be an advantage over predators that are unable to see them against these habitats and would allow them to not be eaten. On the other hand, the Black-capped Chickadees had dark black caps, with white patches stemming from their beaks. Their wings were black and white, and their bellies were a tannish-white color. The black and white contrast of the Chickadee does not seem beneficial for blending into a wooded environment. This leads me to believe that their plumage is a type of countershading; dark on the cap and the back, and white on the belly. This would be beneficial to protect themselves from predators that are flying above, and energy-saving by the whites of their bellies reflecting color off of their surroundings.
I focused on one particular Black-capped Chickadee that was resting in a viney-plant beside me. It was sitting there for a long time, seemingly doing nothing but staring into space. The sun was beginning to set at this point, so I assume it was about the point in the day when the bird was winding down and becoming less active. It's possible this bird was experiencing the part in its circadian rhythm where it was working on slowing down its metabolism and saving energy to prepare for activity later in the night. I decided to make some "pssh" noises at this Chickadee to see what kind of reaction it would have. At first, I made the noise at a normal pitch. The bird did not have any reaction and still just sat in the vines. After trying it at a more high-pitched level a few times, the bird eventually flew away. However, I was making advances at it at this point and getting closer to it which could be the reason that it ended up flying away. In this case, the noise did not seem to be enticing to this bird. However, I would assume that birds are generally enticed by this sound because it sounds like it could be a new kind of bird that is entering their territory and they want to figure out where the noise is coming form. In my opinion, it seems like the noise would gives rise to a fight reaction from the small birds.