Field Observation 2

I went on a 2 hour excursion to Centennial woods on Wednesday, March 8. I started the excursion at about noon. Right on the edge of the woods when I got there I saw 3 American Crows in a yard. They weren't doing anything, just standing in the middle of the yard. I got into the woods and immediately saw a white-breasted nuthatch. The nuthatch was fluttering from tree to tree, so I followed it and eventually it stuck to one of the trees and started hopping vertically down the trunk. This was the foraging pattern of the nuthatch; that's how it moves down the trunk to hunt for bugs. Nuthatches also forage for nuts and seeds to store for winter so they have enough food to survive.
Black-capped chickadees were all over the woods, but I only saw a few of them. I was able to hear their call and song pretty much everywhere I went, but only was able to spot about 5 of them. The ones I saw were pretty high up in the branches as well, so that may be why I didn't see many. If I buy some binoculars I may be able to see some more. Black-capped chickadees survive the winter by having thick winter coats and storing food in secluded roost cavities. Titmice are similar to chickadees and nuthatches because they forage for nuts and seeds and store them for winter as well. Titmice also nest in nooks in trees, but can't make them themselves, so they have to find ones that are already made.
I spotted one downy woodpecker near the exit of the woods. I had heard the pecking noise so I followed it until I saw the bird on a tree. I could tell this was a downy woodpecker rather than a hairy woodpecker because the beak was relatively short compared to its body.There were several holes below the bird, which meant that the woodpecker was most likely moving up the tree after pecking each hole. The woodpecker would peck, a few times, stop, and repeat. Downy woodpeckers peck holes in trees to find bugs that are under the surface of the tree bark. They also don't sing songs; they use the pecking sound for communication.

Posted on 10 de março de 2017, 05:50 AM by nickvance17