Journal Entry 4
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.
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