UVM Ornithology Journal Post 3
Date: 03/04/2024
Start time: 15:13
End time: 16:15
Location: Mount Philo State Park, VT
Weather: Cloudy, windy (Beaufort scale 3-4). 55ºF
Habitat: Mixed forest, lots of woody debris and leaf litter
Birds interact in a variety of ways, both physically and vocally. I saw tufted titmice call at each other and chase each other through various branches- this was probably a territorial squabble. I heard several chickadees using the 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee' call- a warning/territorial call, just as I was hiking by, to let me know that I was (and maybe other chickadees were too) encroaching on their turf and to warn each other.
The plumage of the black-capped chickadee is a mishmash of browns, whites, and black. This helps them blend in with the forests that they inhabit, which disguises them from predators. Northern cardinals, however, are bright red and make no effort to hide it. This plumage is probably in an effort to attract a mate, something that might seem silly as red is so bright, but I assume that they were able to evolve such because predators of these birds didn't have great red color receptors in their eyes. So in these two cases, plumage is used as a visual trick in two ways- one way (chickadee) to deter, one to attract (cardinal).
I spotted a white-breasted nuthatch scampering about on a dead log on the forest floor. It was looking for food, albeit in a somewhat slow manner, but they are such acrobats that it was so fun to just watch. Nuthatches have such high metabolisms that they are always searching for food, but they do it in a way that conserves energy- by crawling along logs instead of flying. I have never seen a nuthatch at rest, and I don't know if I ever will!
Pishing works because it imitates many different potential sounds. It could be the sound of a bird mobbing a predator, it could be the sound of a young bird, and it could be the sound of a predator itself. Little birds are innately curious- they have such maneuverability that they can afford to be- so anything that they are unsure of the origin of but are familiar with will entice them to check it out.
תגובות
הוספת תגובה