Diario de helen235

I did not see the duck fly. I believe it is a female common golden eye based upon the dark brown head, white band on the neck and then mottled body.

The duck would swim on the surface and then dive for around 15 seconds.

I did not see many birds on my initial day when I went to watch birds. I walked to centennial woods and didn’t manage to see any birds. I observed this duck for roughly 15 minutes when I was at middlebury falls. The first day was probably due to the poor weather. It was around 30 degrees, cloudy and kind of rainy.

I think that I’d have the best luck on a clear day around mid morning. I should probably go to a place with out incredibly dense trees so I can see them but somewhere where there are a few trees just with more space between them.

April 8, 2020, around 50 degrees, cloudy with a bit of sun, light breeze. Around 4:30-6 pm. Prairie with some trees next to lake michigan.

I saw a bunch, probably 15 or so Red-winged Blackbirds. Northern Illinois is a part of their all year territory. During the winter they roost in large flocks to conserve heat during the winter. Since they do not migrate, to stay warm in the winter they roost in large flocks at night. They also feed on seeds including corn and wheat. These food sources are readily available in the winter.

As the amount of daylight gets longer and the weather gets warmer, the birds that migrated south get the signal to start migrating back north for breeding season.

Cloudy, about 40 degrees. Around 5-60:30 pm on 4/14.

April 18, about 50 degrees, light wind and partially cloudy. Habitat is on the Fox river in Yorkville, on a fishing ladder next to a low head dam. with long grass on the banks, in a semi, suburban neighborhood.

At this river I saw a Canada Goose with 8 chicks. Canada geese females build a nest low to the ground, and near water. They use dry grass and down feathers to build their nest. The females pick the territories they are defending. They choose areas with open space. This territory appeared to be prime for a goose. There are wide unobstructed views, and plenty of dry, tall grasses and relatively clean water. The better a territory is, the more fit the geese is. To be able to defend a good territory with plenty of resources, the bird has to have good fitness. The young stay with the parents for about a year.. As far as mate selection, birds choose mates assortively, ie: larger birds will go with larger birds.

There were also a lot of mallards at this river. Mallards build their nest by sitting in a depression in soft mud and then they pull grasses that they can reach to the nest. The female also pulls in twigs and leaves. She also pulls tall grasses to hide the nest.