FJ4 3/21/21

21 March 2021 15:06-16:40
Location: Niquette Bay State Park- Ledge Trail
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 50ºF
Habitat: Mixed wood forest including, but not limited to Paper Birch, Eastern Pine, and Shagbark Hickory. These trees ranged in ages with many new growths occurring throughout the landscape with larger, older trees scattered throughout. Exposed bed rock peppered the cliff sides where there were steep drop offs. Leaf litter was prevalent here as well as moss on the rocks.
During my time sitting up in Colchester looking out at the mountains and bay, I got to hear many birds talking to each other. The best example would be the Barred Owls that I heard and happened to capture the audio and my precious reaction on video. It began with a typical call coming from my left and then a few seconds later one from my right calling the same way. This happened multiple times. It seemed as if these two individuals were trying to figure out where the other one was. Perhaps they are a pair and they were trying to communicate locations and actions to the other. It was about 16:00 when this occurred, so although owls are usually active at night, they could have been out hunting during this time of day as well. These calls were very load and seemed to take much energy to communicate a clear call to the other individual.

Plumage of Barred Owls is a mostly brown back and feathers with dots of white and a bright white belly with streaks of brown. Around the neck and eyes, the feathers are almost like a condensed checkerboard of brown and white. This plumage is ideal for hiding in both the winter and the summer. Neither color particularly stands out amounts its general habitat of mixed forests. Its plumage is a perfect camouflage, especially on the back, that would deter any predator from recognizing it as a form of prey. Contrastingly, the Northern Cardinal heard throughout the walk has a plumage of bright red and brown, depending on the gender of the bird. To use the most extreme example, I’ll talk about the male cardinal with the fire truck red plumage over its entire body. This bright red color may be advantageous when attracting females. Generally female birds are attracted to bright colored, shiny, and extravagant things. This coloration of the male’s feathers not only is attractive aesthetically but may be paired with the health and general fitness of the bird. Females want a healthier mate to ensure that their offspring are also healthy and successful.
A group of Turkey Vultures were observed sitting on tree limbs that were exposed to copious amounts of sunshine. They sat in pairs on limbs that were across from each other with the trunk of the tree in between them. A couple of them occasionally spread their wings out to increase the surface area of their body that was absorbing the sun’s heat; however, they were usually met by protect from their partner for invading their personal space. This sunning activity falls in-line with the circadian rhythm of birds have to keep their body temperatures regulated. Although it was an amazing sunny spring day, it was windy at higher elevations and could still cause the birds to get cold. Taking the time to sun themselves ensures that all of the birds’ internal cycles are operating at the necessary pace for the birds to be able to fly and hunt when the opportunity arises.
Mini Activity-Spishing:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/192385826@N04/51063499302/in/dateposted-public/
Spishing might work to attract small songbirds because they think it sounds like another one of their species, occasionally more specifically a Black-capped Chickadee. Although I don’t really hear the similarity, spishing could sound different to birds and different as you move away from the source. This also might just be an interesting noise that makes birds want to come investigate. Smaller birds are usually more susceptible to following their curiosity and will likely come see what someone is doing or what the noise they hear is. Usually larger birds are timider and more cautious around humans.

Publicado el marzo 22, 2021 06:08 TARDE por catherinegullo22