Field Journal 3

Katelyn Beskind

Field Journal 3

Field Journal Basic Information
Date: 3/3/2024
Start time: 1:15pm
End time: 2:20pm
Location: Centennial Woods

Weather
Temperature: 41 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind speed & direction: 8 mph north-northwest
Precipitation: Not raining or snowing
Humidity: 96%
Visual appearance: Overcast & cloudy

Habitat(s):

1. Deciduous edge
2. Mixed deciduous / coniferous edge

Prompt Response

Most of the birds I saw were Black-capped Chickadees. The individuals that I saw hung out in groups of two-three and seemed to follow each other around. They would call to each other and jump between branches. I would assume that the birds are telling each other about any threats (or lack thereof) in the area, if there is any food nearby, and potentially where they are going if traveling in a group. Black-capped Chickadee’s have black heads and chins with a white strip on their cheeks that start at the beak and extend back. Their belly feathers are a light gray/tan color, and their back and wing colors are a gray/brown color. The darker wing colors would have more pigment in them, which could help strengthen the feathers. The distinctive pattern on a Black-capped Chickadee’s head could be a way to identify other members of the species or provide extra sun absorption for heat during winter. The second species of bird I saw was a Tufted Titmouse. Tufted Titmouse have gray backs and heads with a tan/white belly and rusty sides under the wing. Tufted Titmouse have similarly colored undersides to Black-capped Chickadees but very different heads. The lighter color on the Tufted Titmouse could be an evolutionary in-between to provide extra strength to the feathers without costing too much in terms of producing pigment.

When I focused on an individual Black-capped Chickadee, they seemed to be mainly preening and fluffing their feathers. In terms of the rhythm of a bird’s day, I assume this would be a period in which birds are either beginning to look for a place to rest or trying to warm up. Since it was a cloudy day without much sun, birds would probably be focused on sheltering or using their plumage to stay warm. This fits with what the individual I was studying was doing, since it was puffing up their feathers to create more insulation and shifting around the feathers to cover up the apteria.

When I tried sphising to some Black-capped Chickadees, they did not seem interested, and I felt very foolish. Truthfully, my attempts to sphish seemed to scare the birds away more than it attracted them. However, considering sphishing is known to alter bird behavior, it is worth using when birding. Sphishing could work if the sound we make mimics the call of another bird. If this were the case, other birds could be attracted to see who is in their territory, or if there is food or a predator nearby – depending on what the call means. Small birds tend to group together more than larger birds, especially those that are songbirds. Therefore, mimicking the sounds of another small bird might attract other birds to join the group in search of food, shelter or protection.

Posted on March 3, 2024 11:27 PM by katelyn282