Ethan Allan Homestead April 7th, 2020

The sun was shining and walking around without a jacket didn't mean regret. Early spring in VT can be a gamble with mud-season rains popping up in the forecast. Luckily during my excursion to the Ethan Allen Homestead, the weather was clear sunny skies with a temperature of 55 degrees. I hadn't left my apartment for the two days prior and seeing the landscape of open fields, tree buffers, and the Winooski river made my day.

Heading toward a field adjacent to the parking lot at 1:25 pm I saw the first bird of my walk. The American robin was perched on a tree branch eating the buds. American robins are residents of the United States anywhere south of the Canadian border. Sometimes migrating to lower elevations and latitudes in the Southeastern U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico or remaining close to their winter grounds American Robins have a variable migration route. During breeding months the American Robin can travel to Northern Alaska. American robins that live in areas with poor food availability would be more likely to migrate further in search of resources.

Walking further away from the parking lot I started following the Peninsula trail. A tree-filled border habitat was bordered by the trail on one side and the Winooski River on the other. The border habitat is where I saw the rest of the birds I was able to ID: 3 Northern Cardinals, 4 Downy Woodpeckers, an American Goldfinch, and a Song Sparrow. Northern cardinals and Downy woodpeckers do not migrate and are permanent residents of Vermont.

Song sparrows are similar to the American Robin and migrate mostly dependent snow cover, winter temperature, and seed presence. (Song sparrow migration path length: 2299mi)

American Goldfinch in northern populations migrate. The length they fly depends on sex, age, and latitude. Depending on almost only seeds for nutrition Goldfinch will move in their wintering habitat to find a better food supply. (American Goldfinch migration path length: 2073mi)

Northern cardinals and Downy woodpeckers are able to survive in the cold winters of Vermont by nesting in tree cavities, dispersing to areas where food resources are present, and pack on body weight prior to winter.

After enjoying more sunshine I walked out to the parking lot and left the park around 3:00 pm. I was able to ID 10 birds in total.

Posted on 08 de abril de 2020, 11:25 PM by