Field Journal #7

Date: April 24, 2021
Start time: 2:00 PM
End time: 4:00 PM
Location: Knapp Pond 1 & 2, temperate deciduous forest
Weather: Partly cloudy
Temperature: 64°F

The majority of the behaviors I could observe while birding were auditory. Of the cues I heard, the dominant call and song was that of the Black-capped Chickadees. While watching four White-throated Sparrows hopping around only a few feet away from me I was able to watch some territorial defense. One of the sparrows had made a quick movement which prompted another to loudly sing in response, it was the only time I saw a male bird defend its personal territory. As I continued watching I realized one of the sparrows had retreated into a Rhododendron bush. Knowing they will put their nests on the ground I searched within the bush but was unable to find anything. I pondered whether or not their possible nesting site was a good one: it was in the middle of a yard, food was close by, and there was just enough leaf coverage. Knowing the woods across the yard was dominated by Chickadees from earlier in the year, I came to the conclusion this was the best the sparrow could get since it didn't stay all year round. Why else would it remain in a high traffic area? In contrast to that possible ground nest, I was able to spot a nest in the woods which was placed high-up in a pine tree and was maybe 1.5 feet in diameter. Which bird it belonged to I was unable to figure out. It looked as if it were made of small sticks and perhaps straw. These materials were both located around the ponds which were 30 yards away and within the woods where the pine stood. Although I tried I was unable to find any of the Chickadee nests despite there being so many individuals. I recall that unlike the White-throated Sparrows that Chickadees were cavity nesters. Although I didn't see any of the birds within their cavities I could hear them singing around the woods. Due to there being an immense amount of dense forest around the area it was hard for me to believe that any of the Chickadees ended up with horrible nesting sites, but maybe if I asked them I would come to a different conclusion. Regarding fitness I was never truly able to compare two birds within a species. There was a time where I thought I saw one of the four White-throated Sparrows retreat into a kiwi vine which was much denser than the rhododendron bush, leading me to believe that if those were the nesting areas of the sparrows that the one in the kiwi shrub was more fit. The reason I say this is due to the kiwi shrub having more coverage and therefore protection compared to the other sparrows nest. I figure that if one of the sparrows was stronger it would have fought and won over the best nesting site.

Sound map link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/132XBttWN-b5PkfiMpKv7VRXgr4hx60bw/view?usp=sharing

Publicado el abril 25, 2021 11:34 TARDE por anniee10 anniee10

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