Field Journal 1

Date: February 8, 2024
Start Time: 1:45 PM
End Time: 2:45 PM
Location: East Woods Trailhead
Weather: The weather today was 44 degrees Fahrenheit and extremely sunny (clear blue skies). There was slight wind at 5 mph North and no precipitation. Although it was sunny, there was a lot of shade in my location, so it felt a little bit cooler.
Habitat: The East Woods Trailhead is a small loop trail in South Burlington; the spot I was located in was filled with an abundance of tall, coniferous trees; there were some deciduous trees present, but I did not see many. Dead/fallen/broken conifers and other dead matter covered a lot of the forest floor.
Species Observed: Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker

There was only one bird species I could really observe today, for the other species were mainly just heard or too far away to really analyze. I watched a particular chickadee fly around for a while, which was quite entertaining. Its movements were very quick and ‘jumpy’ in a way, or bouncy. It would not stay in one area for very long and often fluttered quick flaps. This flight pattern is understandable for a chickadee because of their small size and habitat; it allows them to maneuver through the many trees quickly and effectively. The chickadee also did not fly for very long periods and would go from tree to tree frequently; given the habitat and the bird’s smaller wings, this also translates.

I did happen to spot a Hairy Woodpecker today, which was a very exciting find! I am also glad I was able to identify it properly based on its beak size. The woodpecker did not stay at the dead conifer I spotted it at for long, but it analyzed the tree for a little while (circling the trunk), made a couple ‘pecks’, and went on its way to a tree farther away. Its flight was swift but not too quick and (from a quick google search) had an "undulating flight pattern".

The weather and time of day definitely played a major role in bird distribution during my visit. While it was very sunny today, potentially aiding in some bird activity, I still did not visually observe too many birds up close. Many were a distance away and were caught on my Merlin Sound ID; I heard Black-capped chickadees and Brown Creepers the most, however, the sounds would come and go because they were constantly on the move. If I had gone to this location in the morning, I am sure I would have observed/heard many more birds up close. Also, being closer to the forest's edge may have led me to discover more birds, especially the Black-capped Chickadees, due to habitat preferences.

Posted on 09 de fevereiro de 2024, 08:11 PM by aharjala808