Diario de gracey4

3/7/2021
Start Time: 9:03 am
End Time: 10:30 am
Location: Centennial Woods
Weather: ~15 F, no wind/precipitation
Habitats: mixed coniferous/deciduous forest surrounded by urban area

In order to maintain body heat during the winter, birds will often grow extra down feathers with their fall molt for additional insulation. Birds will also “fluff up” their feathers to better trap body heat. During the winter, birds are generally focusing less, if at all, on breeding-related activities such as singing and defending breeding territories. They focus more on immediately necessary functions, such as feeding, in order to conserve valuable energy, especially since food tends to be much more scarce in winter. Since these species are waiting until the more hospitable spring and summer months to raise young, there is no need to advertise or defend a territory until the breeding season is nearer, as they are energetically costly and not immediately necessary if they are not actively breeding. Due to a general lack of insects during the winter months, many species that normally feed on insects in the warmer months turn to more available food sources, such as berries or seeds and nuts.
Tree cavities provide excellent shelters for species to overnight in, protected from the elements. In order to maintain body heat as temperatures drop even lower overnight, many species, such as chickadees and titmice, will also roost in groups for additional warmth.
We examined three snags during our walk. Two of them had many small holes, most likely from a smaller woodpecker such as a Hairy or Downy Woodpecker. The other had larger, more rectangular holes, probably from a Pileated Woodpecker. We tapped on the first snag, but there was no reaction. There were nuthatches feeding in and around the other two snags. Woodpeckers and nuthatches hunt for insects in and on snags, and chickadees and titmice often overnight in cavities in snags during the winter.

3/30/2021
Start Time: 8:30 am 

End Time: 10:20 am
Location: Chimney Point State Park
Weather: ~20º F, 5-10 mph wind, no precipitation
Habitats: open water surrounded by open, scrubby field with some large trees near museum building and along adjacent shore of lake

The geese, ducks, and gulls I observed had formed flocks. The groups were noticeably separated by species but were loosely associated with each other. Communication appeared to be largely audial; the geese in particular were constantly honking amongst each other, and the gulls were also quite vocal. It’s possible that they were simply trying to keep track of their partners in such a large group; Canada geese form their pair bonds through winter and spring, so this chatter may have been keeping in touch with a partner, or even attempts to attract a partner.
Male Lesser Scaups and Common Goldeneyes share alternate plumages with very similar color schemes; both have black heads and tails, white bodies, and darker backs. Male Common Goldeneyes, however, have very noticeable white patches in front of their eyes that male Lesser Scaups lack. This high-contrast alternate plumage likely serves to make the males more obvious as they attempt to attract mates. Both birds also have a noticeable iridescence to their head feathers; these structural colors also likely evolved to catch the attention of females. Ducks are generally social, and form large wintering flocks, making competition for females high and making adaptations that increase one’s likelihood of attracting a female highly beneficial.
I observed at least two geese engaging in courtship activity, extending their necks and opening their bills in unison. At this time in their circannual cycle, Canada geese are traveling back to their breeding grounds and establishing and strengthening pair bonds.
Unfortunately I did not encounter any chickadees or foraging flocks on this trip, and I did not attempt to try spishing with the ducks or geese. The blackbirds were flyovers, and the starlings and grackle were only brief visitors, so I did not attempt spishing with them either. Spishing is meant to imitate the alarm or mobbing calls of chickadees; these calls often entice other individuals to investigate the source of this mobbing, and therefore they can be imitated to attract a variety of different species.