Field Journal 2: ID and Flight Physiology

I went out with Allan's field trip group Saturday morning, leaving at around 9:05 am. It was sunny and partly cloudy, with a 5-10 mph NW wind and a temperature of 21 degrees Fahrenheit. When we returned at 10:38 am, the sky had become fully cloudy and the temperature had raised to 23 degrees. We walked through Athletic campus, Redstone, and down South Prospect St. This was a mostly urban/suburban area, with a few more wooded areas around Redstone. One particular area was the Redstone Woods, just across from the church. This is area is made up of mostly Eastern White Pines and we saw a few birds here. Going down S. Prospect St. there more scattered trees, mostly deciduous but also some pines and spruces.

At one point in this excursion, while in front of the Southwick music building on Redstone campus, a group of maybe three or four Ring-billed gulls flew over us, coming from the direction of the water. I know that gulls have high aspect ratio wings, which are good for endurance and gliding, which fits their lifestyle. If they're going to be living most of their lives over water, it's important to be able to glide and dive easily, although personally I can't think of a time when I've seen a gull actually diving for fish. Most of the time its just trash.

Compare this to American Crows, which have low aspect ratio wings that are better for breaking and maneuvering. Crows may often have to swoop down to grab prey and these wings would be best for that. I also noticed that when crows are flying, they don't seem to glide at all, they just flap their wings over and over again. My guess is that this style of flying is more going faster over shorter distances by using more energy and gliding less.

Posted on 22 de fevereiro de 2021, 11:02 PM by emma2forsythe emma2forsythe

Observações

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Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Corvo-Americano (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

Seen in a tree on UVM Athletic Campus, making a clicking sound, maybe clicking its beak?

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Pica-Pau-Felpudo (Dryobates pubescens)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

three birds, two were flitting around lower branches, the third was sitting very very still on the lowest branch of a crabapple tree. It seemed like it wasn't even breathing, probably out of fear.

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Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Corvo (Corvus corax)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

Two ravens flying overhead.

Fotos / Sons

What

Pica-Pau-Grande (Dryocopus pileatus)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

High up in a white pine in a stand. Chipping away at the trunk.

Fotos / Sons

What

Tordo-Americano (Turdus migratorius)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

at least 20 sitting on the grass.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Gaivota-de-Bico-Riscado (Larus delawarensis)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

four birds flying overhead.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Gaio-Azul (Cyanocitta cristata)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

sitting on a transformer box on a telephone line.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Pardal-Dos-Telhados (Passer domesticus)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

at least six individuals flying between bushes.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Pintassilgo-Americano (Spinus tristis)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

flitting between lower branches of a maple tree.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Pintarroxo-de-Queixo-Preto (Acanthis flammea)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

flitting between lower branches of a maple tree.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Trepadeira-Azul-Do-Canadá (Sitta canadensis)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

in an old maple tree.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Trepadeira-Branca (Sitta carolinensis)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

In an old maple tree.

Fotos / Sons

Nenhuma foto ou som

What

Chapim-de-Cabeça-Preta (Poecile atricapillus)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

flitting between two rhododendron bushes.

Fotos / Sons

What

Cardeal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observador

emma2forsythe

Data

Fevereiro 20, 2021

Lugar

UVM Campus (Google, OSM)

Descrição

A male and female in a bush, maybe courting?

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