Field Journal 6
On Monday, April 22, I decided to head to the Colchester Causeway. I started my walk at 1:48 pm (end: 3:02 pm) when it was around 44 degrees Fahrenheit with a 8-12 mph breeze. There were a few clouds in the sky, but was very sunny. I spent most of my time close to the forest, as the wind along the water made it difficult to use the scope.
I started my walk on the bike trail next to conifers. Here, the birds were mostly quiet due to the wind gusts. When there was a particularly strong breeze, the birds remained silent for around 15-30 seconds. The two Black-capped Chickadees were singing, mostly around denser forest cover. This area provides more cover from predators compared to areas closer to the water. Black-capped Chickadees, or any species, that are defending prime territory would have a higher fitness, as that bird is competing with many others for that territory.
I also saw a single Wood Duck swimming next to snags, possibly close to where it has its nest. Wood ducks likely line their nests with nearby reeds inside cavities. The cavity itself provides some outside protection from the elements, and lifts the nest off the ground which can prevent the nest from being threatened by changes in water level.
The mini activity allowed me to focus on the birds that surrounded me, without focusing too much on movement from the birds themselves. Sound was concentrated away from the path itself, but if a bird was calling close to the path, they were high up in the trees. Sound ID was also easier the closer birds were to the trail. Some species, like Ruby-crowned Kinglets, were difficult to pinpoint where they were because they moved constantly.
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