FJ3

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.

Publicado el marzo 8, 2021 03:23 MAÑANA por gracey4