3/24/23 Field Journal: Centennial Woods Natural Area

4:00-5:00pm, 3/24/2023, Centennial Woods Natural Area, Burlington, VT, sunny with partial snow covered ground, 40 degrees Fahrenheit, forested area.

Birds observed: 16 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Tufted Titmice, 4 House Finches, 10 White-breasted Nuthatches, 3 American Crows, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 1 Northern Cardinal, 5 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Blue Jays, 1 Hairy Woodpecker

On this trip to the forest within Centennial Woods Natural Area, I specifically watched how birds that I observed interacted with each other. Having it be one of the few sunny days I have seen here this month, I was not surprised to see a ton of birds out and about and interacting amongst each other. I found that there were a lot more birds interacting with each other through calls than I would typically hear. I noticed that a lot of birds of the same species were foraging for food and would stick close to each other. When one would stray from the group, I observed that certain calls or noises were made, for what seemed to be, keeping the location of each other in check. Typically when close together it would sound quieter, short cheeps and chirps but if one would get a little further away, they would get sharper and louder. I observed this in both Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches that I watched for a while on my trip to the woods.

I also thought a lot about differences between bird species and the evolutionary advantages to each color/pattern that each plumage had. For instance, comparing a Hairy Woodpecker to a White-breasted Nuthatch is interesting. Hairy Woodpeckers spend a lot of time up in the trees, and when you look at them, they almost blend in with the bark due to their dark color and are sometimes difficult to spot in the trees. The White-breasted Nuthatch on the other hand has a gray back that can blend in with bark as well, but also has a white underside and can blend in with snowy areas. It is interesting to see just how different birds fit into their environment so nicely. It is clear that evolution of colors/patterns of the bird affected their plumages which is really cool to see!

Lastly, I also looked into bird behavior in regards to circadian/circannual rhythm. It is clear that a bird’s biological clock has a huge effect on its behaviors and how it allocates its time and resources. It determines when a bird wakes/rests, when they forage for food, when they sing and make the most calls, etc. When I went out to the woods, I began my observations at 4:00pm and the birds were very active with their calls and I noticed many of them foraging for food. Specifically, I heard many White-breasted Nuthatches out and about and foraging for food. They were very vocal at this hour as well. At the end of my trip a little after 5:00pm, the birds seemed to be slightly less active in their calls and foraging, but there was still a great deal of activity. I wonder what I would observe if I made separate trips throughout the day and made comparisons of activity of different species. It is definitely something I plan on doing looking forward!

הועלה ב-מרץ 25, 2023 02:32 לפנה"צ על ידי