Field Journal 1

Date: 2/7/24
Start Time: 12:55 p.m.
End Time: 1:56 p.m.
Location: Centennial Woods
Weather: cloudy, dry air, 33℉, no wind
Habitat(s): edge habitat with old trees and small dry shrubs
central forest habitat with old and dead trees, maples, pines, smaller growth, frozen river

For this first field journal, I decided to walk through Centennial Woods to observe birds in a slightly quieter environment away from the bustle of campus and downtown Burlington. I did go in the middle of the day which is far from the ideal time for birding so I wasn’t expecting much activity. It was also very cloudy and cold so this also led to decreased bird activity. I would have had better luck if I had gone first thing in the morning when the birds are considerably more active or maybe on a day when the sun was shining.
Overall, there were the most Black-capped Chickadees throughout Centennial Woods. It was hard to keep track of how many individuals I observed due to their quick movements and potential overlap of individuals who would fly away and then return. The chickadees have very quick wing flaps that help them ‘jump’ and maneuver stealthily from branch to branch and through tight spaces within trees. They have short and rounded wings that as we discussed in class are useful for quick maneuvers. This is common in small birds that fly quickly through the brush. I also saw a similar flight pattern with the Tufted Titmouse that I observed in a similar habitat as the Chickadees.
I compared this flight and wing flap pattern to that of an American Crow that I observed flying above the tree canopy. The American Crow has slotted high lift wings that are made for soaring. Their wing flaps seemed a tad slower and more controlled. In class, we learned about 4 different types of wing shapes. The slotted high lift wings as mentioned are used for soaring which can easily help identify a bird in this way. Long and thin high aspect ratio wings are present in birds such as gulls and albatross. High speed low aspect ratio wings allow for more thrust and allow for birds to hunt animals that are relatively fast. Finally, elliptical low aspect ratio wings are used for higher wing loading and maneuvering quickly. It is useful to know these flight patterns and wing shapes to help narrow down and identify the bird you are observing.
At the end of my birding time, I heard the alarm call of an American Robin and sure enough when I looked up to where the sound was coming from, there was a plump robin sitting on a small branch sounding its call for others to hear.

Posted on 07 de fevereiro de 2024, 09:01 PM by lydiathibault