FJ5: Field Observation: Migration

Date: 3/27/23
Start time: 9:55 am
End time: 11:00 am
Location: Outback Road, Fairfax, VT
Weather: Sunny, 40°F, light breeze
Habitat: Mixed coniferous-deciduous forest and open area swamp/brook

Black-capped Chickadees and Northern Cardinals are definitely some of the first species that come to mind when I think of birds that are always here year-round. These species can survive the cold winters we have up here by holing up in trees and can rely on seeds, nuts, and winter berries to survive. Northern Cardinals actually haven’t always been year-long residents except in the past century or so due mainly to people putting out bird feeders, which I found interesting. Species that rely on insects or nectar or do not have heavy insulation like chickadees will have to go further south to find food.

When I checked All About Birds, I learned that most of the species I saw in this area are here year-round. However, I definitely feel like some species come out in the spring or at least are more visible, such as the American Robin. I feel like this bird is like the poster child for spring starting.

I was lucky to hear and see off in the distance a Red-shouldered Hawk. I’ll admit I thought it was a Cooper’s Hawk based on the tail silhouette until I used the Merlin app to identify it. I researched this species a bit and learned that these are facultative migrants; some will go south for the winter and some won’t leave at all. This specific hawk was circling and calling out non-stop for the whole hour I was birdwatching over the marshy river area in the distance. I learned they eat fish and amphibians as well as small mammals, so now that the water is thawing and the ground is warming up, more food is becoming readily available. They are some of the first hawk species to return in the spring, and their mating season typically starts in April, which means this is a great time for this species to return up north.

Mini Activity (miles traveled from wintering location):

American Robin: 0 (Year-round)
Downy Woodpecker: 0 (Year-round)
Canada Goose: 0 (Year-round)
Dark-eyed Junco: 0 (Year-round)
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 0 (Year-round)
White-breasted Nuthatch: 0 (Year-round)
Song Sparrow: 0 (Year-round)
Black-capped Chickadee: 0 (Year-round)
Red-shouldered Hawk: 163 miles
Red-winged Blackbird: 43 miles
Northern Cardinal: 0 (Year-round)
Blue Jay: 0 (Year-round)
American Crow: 120 miles

Total: About 326 total miles. These are the shortest distances from their year-round or wintering location to my location.

הועלה ב-מרץ 30, 2023 01:58 לפנה"צ על ידי isabellecollum