Diario de samuelmcclellan

Time: 12:00-4:00
Date: 4/5/19
Location: Lewis Creek, Ferrisburg VT
Weather: Cloudy, 40 degrees F
Habitat: Open meadow, forest edges, sparse trees, shrubs, riparian zone

I combined this bird walk with a fishing expedition to Lewis Creek, and I ended observing many more birds than fish. Th noticed many Black-capped Chickadees, a year-round Vermont resident during my walk. Chickadees, like many other birds that forego migration, save energy by not flying hundreds of miles each year. However, this means that they must be able to utilize the minimal available resources in Vermont during the winter. They are a generalist species, eating a variety of foods, ensuring they will always have something to eat. They will consume, seeds, berries, other plants, insects, suet, and sometimes bits of animal carcasses. They also need to be able to survive the harsh winter conditions present in Vermont during the winter. This means they need feathers that will keep them warm and they remain very active.

As I arrived at the river, I immediately noticed an Eastern Phoebe on the ground hopping around in fallen goldenrod and grasses. As I approached to take a picture, the Phoebe moved into a nearby tree, then across the river. On the far river bank, the Phoebe began foraging on the sandy shore. Eastern Phoebes are short to medium distance migrants, overwintering in the southern US and Mexico. The one I saw will stay in Vermont to breed most likely, being close to the northern extent of its breeding range. A variety of ultimate factors (food type and supply, climate) and proximate factors (habitat, vegetation) and well as the bird's circannual cyle influence migration.

I also saw 3 Great Blue Herons flying overhead and one in the river. These birds are just arriving from their migration. Great Blue Herons are partial migrants, moving to more southern parts of their range to overwinter. Since they eat mainly aquatic animals such as fish and amphibians, they need to be in a place where water is non frozen and their prey is active. Therefore, they can't stay in Vermont for the winter.

Mini activity: Eastern Phoebe: as far as 2,000 miles
Great Blue Heron: as far as 1,000 miles

Time: 11:00-2:00
Date: 4/22/19
Location: Shelburne Farms, Shelburne VT
Weather: Sunny, 60 degrees F
Habitat: Open meadow, forest edges, sparse trees, shrubs, wetland, lake

One of the most obvious mating related behavior I saw today was while I was watching Red-winged Blackbirds interact. There were many Red-winged Blackbirds in the trees adjacent to wetland habitat. They were all males singing and making calls, setting up their territories. While watching them, I noticed birds flying towards other birds that were perched, forcing the perched birds to fly away. This happened repeatedly. This male-male competition is for the best possible mating territory.

At the water, I saw a male and female Bufflehead together. I suspect they had recently paired up or found each other again in preparation for the breeding season. In this case, they had already selected each other as mates, so I did not witness the process of mate selection.

Both the Brown-headed Cowbird and the Eastern Bluebird that I saw were perched high up in trees singing. This behavior is either for setting up territories or singing to females once a territory is already established. I also saw this behavior today in Song Sparrows.

I also saw Ospreys which had built their nest on the man-made platform close to the Shelburne Farms visitor center. In this case, the pair had already paired up as well.

The nesting requirements for the species I saw today vary wildly. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nest of another bird species. Buffleheads nest in tree cavities made by woodpeckers. I noticed many cavities in trees in the woods nearby which would be ideal for the Buffleheads I observed. Red-winged Blackbirds build nests in trees, shrubs, or wetland vegetation low down in or near a wetland habitat. There was a lot of possible nesting habitat in cattails and shrubs in the wetland near the lake.

Mini-activity: During the course of my walk, I heard birds nonstop in all directions. I stopped to listen for an extended period of time in an area by woods and field. I heard at least 5 different species. It was difficult distinguishing all the sings and calls but I recognized American Crow, American Robin, Song Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.