Diario de clarasarantopoulos

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

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.