Diario de clarasarantopoulos

On April 22, 2019, I went birding between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm. It was sunny and around 65 degrees with a slight breeze. I started my walk at the Redstone Lofts and made my way onto the Redstone green. There I encountered Song Sparrows in the shorter trees. They were solitary and singing from the higher branches, possibly marking their territory or trying to attract mates. I then walked along the low bushes that surround the green and saw American Robins foraging for food. They were not calling nor were they alone, which could indicate that they were a collective of males and females that shared territory or that they were females who had chosen the male who claimed that area for his own. I made my way around Wright Hall and past Slade Hall. I stopped in a small grove of fruit-bearing trees to complete the mini Activity, and while doing so saw more American Robins and Common Grackle. These trees are potential nesting sites for these birds for the American Robins, and so were the tall shrubs that made a barrier between the grass and South Prospect Street. Other potential nesting sites include the tall pine trees that are closer to the dorms and the taller trees across the street.
I then moved on and walked along South Prospect Street, where I heard Black-capped CHickadees, Tufted Titmouse, and Northern Cardinals calling and singing. These birds were most likely marking their territories or trying to attract mates. I reentered Campus near Robinson Hall and proceeded to walk along the sidewalk towards Southwick Music Hall. I concluded my walk where I started it at the Redstone Lofts.
The American RObins that I saw usually sing in the trees alone, although they were also seen in flocks. This could indicate that their territories overlap and that their nests could be closer together. They were at various heights when I observed them, but they were usually only singing in shorter trees, which indicates that their nests are not that high up. The Common Grackle I saw were only in large groups, which indicates that their nests will be closer together. They also tend to gather in high trees, which could be an ideal place for their nests. The Song Sparrow was in a shorter tree as it sang, and was solitary. This could indicate that they have lower nests and are not flocking, which means their nests may be found in large shrubs of shorter trees.

Due to health issues these past few weeks, I was only able to get to bird watching today, April 8th, between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. It was rainy and cold, about 41 degrees, and there was heavy wind. I walked to Red Stone campus, hoping to find the flock of American Robins that I have been following the past few weeks. I was able to hear them hiding in the pine trees, but I was unable to get any good pictures of them. I then walked past the Southwick Music Hall and saw a Red-tailed Hawk playing in the wind. It glided past the building and towards the athletic fields, not flapping its wings but rather using its tail to guide it through the air currents. I walked behind the Catholic center, over to the ROTC building, and then up towards LnL, only hearing faint calls and songs of American Robins and Black-capped Chickadees. On my way past the Honors College Dorms, I heard bird calls that I was not familiar with, and so I recorded them and have put them up for identification. I am hoping to learn their identity soon. On my way back towards the Red Stone Lofts, I saw a large flock of approximately 14 Ring-billed Gulls flying towards the athletic fields.
The Ring-billed Gulls that I saw do winter over in Vermont. We are located between their breeding and non-breeding territories, but it is possible that we have year-round residents. There is plenty of food here in Burlington for them and there is access to the lake, which also has water routes both to the south and to other parts of New England. When they migrate they do so along water routes, so Burlington is a perfect place for them.
The Red-tailed Hawk that I saw commonly do not migrate, although some northern hawks will migrate south. They are common year-round residents. They hunt their prey, and the snow does not cause any hindrance they cannot overcome. They have high-calorie diets that can keep them warm in the winter.
The American Robins breed in Vermont, and commonly flock migrants, but do not always travel far from their breeding grounds. They may go just a few miles south for the winter. They flock together to keep warm and staying close to breeding grounds would allow for them to ensure territory and an early start to the breeding season.
The Black-capped Chickadees are a resident species and winter over in Vermont. They are small and eat high-calorie seeds, and also have lots down and the ability to puff up to keep warm.
A long-distance migrant is a Scarlet Tanager, which bases its migration off of changes in the length of day and changes in hormones. They come up from the south, which is warm and has more food available in the winter. They might not have the ability to keep warm in the winter or have trouble finding enough calories to sustain themselves in the snow and cold. THeir color might also give them a disadvantage in the white snow.
Some advantages of migrants arriving in April are they get a jump start on claiming territory and they will experience mud season. There will be new growth to find food in and breeding can happen earlier. However, there is always the chance of a rouge snowstorm that will freeze everything over for a long period of time, which could be deadly if the birds are not able to keep warm or find food.

I went birding on Sunday, March 24th from 5:05 until 7:10 (sunset). It was about 45 degrees out and there was a slight breeze. I ventured to Restone Campus and walked around the green in between the dorms. I was greeted by four Ring-billed Gulls, who were calling to each other and flying around one of the buildings chasing each other. I walked towards the wellness dorm and heard a Black-capped Chickadee. I searched for the individual, who was singing its song in a bush near a berry tree. I sat for a few minutes but never saw the bird. A House Sparrow landed in the tree, and I was able to take a picture of it. It chirped and ate the berries until a group of students exited the dorm, at which point it flew into the same bush the Black-capped Chickadee was in. I tried "phishing" to see if they would come back out of the bush, but neither did.
I walked along the green, watching American Robins fly from berry tree to berry tree eating and singing to each other. Many individuals chased each other in the air and from tree to tree. Others sat on high branches and sang, probably marking their territory.
The House Sparrow's plumage was muted, but it was very clean. I saw no loose feathers or signs of molting. The American Robin's plumage was also a little dull. Their red feathers were a dusty orange rather than a bright brown, and they were puffing their chests a lot and looking bigger and less streamline.
I then walked out onto Prospect street, where I heard a Mourning Dove calling from above me on the telephone wire. Across the street, It was puffing its feathers, probably to stay warm, and calling toward campus.
I noticed a group of Robin-sized blac kbirds chirping and calling to each other. THeir calls were short and high pitched. They had rounded tails and curved beaks and flocked together in the high branches of the trees.
I then reentered campus near the housing building and saw two American Robins in the trees. I again tried "phishing" and noticed that when my noises were more aggressive, the birds shuffled away from me, but the volume did not seem to bother them much, nor did the frequency. It was the intensity of noise they reacted to. They were not attracted to the sound, however.

Today, I walked from Redstone campus, through athletic campus, past the Davis Center, and out to the Waterman green. I then took the Redston Express back to Redstone campus and sat in the trees listening to American Robins. I was able to listen to many species today. I heard Black-capped Chickadees, American Crows, and Tufted Titmouses as I walked through athletic campus towards the Davis Center. I observed a Rock Pigeon on top of the Davis Center bathing in the sun. I observed American Robins feeding in the trees on the Redstone campus. They were flying from tree to tree collecting berries and fluffing their feathers to stay warm. Those who were not feeding were high in the pine trees out of the wind. I then saw a European Starling feeding on the same berries. These berries are readily available, but other food sources such as worms are not easily available at this time of year. The pine trees provide shelter from the wind and would probably be a good place to sleep or rest.
I only saw a few dead trees or Snags, and upon closer inspection, I did not see any hollow cavities. Snags are an important nesting place for many birds and they also provide shelter for many species in the winter. The Snags that I saw were behind the water tower on the Redstone campus. Owls are likely to use them as a nesting place.

clarasarantopoulos

22306-journal-entry-2

On February 18, 2019, I set out for a two-hour birdwatch at 2:30 pm, just after the snow stopped falling. I ventured to the Redstone Campus of the University of Vermont to a large patch of pine trees. I sat in the snow there for about an hour and a half, silently listening for bird calls and scanning the branches above me with my binoculars and camera. I heard a few Black-capped Chickadees around 3:45 pm but saw no birds. I did find a tree with woodpecker markings, but I am unsure of which species.
I decided to move to another location to see if I would be able to spot any birds. I walked behind the Catholic Center towards Central campus and stopped at the group of pines, listening again. I saw a flock of approximately twenty individual birds fly above me. They were light in color, small (approximately sparrow-sized), and had elliptical wings. These wings would allow for explosive flight and quick maneuvering to escape predators. Their fight pattern consisted of constant flapping, but little bouncing in the flight path. The flock moved as one as they flew over the Catholic Center towards Redstone campus.
I continued to walk around the Catholic center, stopping at the small fruit-bearing trees in front but saw no birds. I walked to Southwick Music Hall and the pines in front and sat for about 15 minutes, but I heard and saw no birds. Disappointed and cold, I returned home. I then got into my car and headed down Main Street towards south Burlington. I spotted a flock of 17 large dark birds that I assume to be American Crows. They flew over Main street with a slower wingbeat and a constant altitude (no bounding). Their wings are either elliptical or High lift, but they were too far away to tell for sure. High lift would allow for gliding or fewer wingbeats, and elliptical would allow for faster and easier maneuvering in the air. If I could have seen their wings and tails better, I might have been able to better identify them.
I traveled to Williston and ventured down Beebe Lane, where I saw three Black-capped Chickadees in a patch of bushes. One individual glided into the bush, where the birds hopped from branch to branch, moving further into the bush until I lost sight of them. I then traveled to Snow Drift Lane, where I sat in the backyard of a friend until sunset. I did not see any birds, but I spotted a tree that had the markings of a woodpecker, although I am unsure which species. The cold weather and the recent storm were probably factors for why I did not see many birds, along with the late time of day. I was in lightly to heavily wooded areas, which should have provided shelter for the birds, but could have also made it more difficult for me to spot them. Next time, I will explore some fields or thickets in an attempt to spot birds more easily and have a better chance of seeing them in flight.

iNaturalist ID: clarasarantopoulos
Last part of the link: 21817-journal-entry-1