The Intervale: Bird Behavior and the Start of Spring (Hopefully)

Today I had the opportunity to visit the Intervale with Meghan, a good friend of mine. We took off relatively early this morning (March 24th, 2019); we arrived shortly after 9:00 AM and left a little after 11:00 AM. It was a sunny morning after a few less pleasant days, so we were optimistic. We followed the trail along the Winooski River for the first stretch of our walk, then looped back through the woods and past the fields to return. This route gave us the opportunity to search for waterfowl on the river and search the woods for songbirds, woodpeckers, and any other birds we may see.

Today's trip certainly didn't disappoint. Our first exciting sighting was a Brown Creeper, who was both singing and visible on the side of a tree. It's a species I haven't seen before and one that's relatively shy, so it was a pleasure to get to see one in person.

Shortly after, we encountered a large group of Mallards on the river. Most of the birds were either resting on a small island or feeding around it. A few seemed to be taking watch, including a male who notably kept his head up and remained alert while we were watching. This behavior highlights the benefits of being in a flock that we discussed in my Ornithology class. Overall scanning time is decreased, and individuals are able to spend more time foraging. They're both safer and more successful. A similar pattern was seen in groups of Canada Geese as well.

Another incident that stuck out to me was an interaction between a pair of Downy Woodpeckers. Both were pecking on a few trees and snags, and one flew in and chased the other bird off of a branch. The second bird was fluffed up and the red spot on the back of its head was particularly noticeable. The first bird didn't attempt to regain its place, and the second continued searching for food in the cavity. It seemed like the second bird was using this physical cue to lay claim to a food resource and scare the other bird off.

Before leaving, we also encountered a Red-tailed Hawk being mobbed by a group of American Crows. The crows chased the hawk into a tree and vocalized frequently in an attempt to scare the hawk off. The hawk remained perched in the tree. It was an excellent example of cooperative behavior for mutual benefit.

Overall, we encountered a wide variety of other birds today as well, including American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-breasted Nuthatch. We tried some pishing while out and about, and some chickadees actually responded pretty consistently. It was a technique we had discussed in class before; I think the "pish" sound actually resembles the Black-capped Chickadee's call. Chickadees are pretty bold birds, so they may respond and can encourage other birds to make themselves known. It's a fun technique, and a good way to attract chickadees and other birds that interact with them.

The trip was as successful as I'd hoped, and it's wonderful to see so many birds active in the morning again. Hopefully spring is finally on its way in the great Northeast. I'm looking forward to more trips as the weather improves and the migrants start to return for the summer.

Posted on 24 March, 2019 19:38 by kayley-j-dillon