UVM 2022 Ornithology 4

Lost Dutchman State Park, Tonto National Monument, and Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
03/06: sunny, mildly windy, 54 degrees (8:47am-3:55pm)
03/07: partly cloudy, 61 degrees (11:43am-1:00pm)
03/10: partly cloudy, windy, 65 degrees (10:14am-5:19pm)
Desert scrubland, brush, and cactus habitat.

Species List
*Bendire's Thrasher
-6 individuals
-foraging on ground
*House Sparrow
-3 individuals
-nesting in saguaro
-foraging under feeder with Bendire's Thrasher
*Black-throated Sparrow
-most common species; ~25 individuals
-foraging in flocks on ground, perching and singing on chollas.
*Mourning Dove
-3 individual
-perched on saguaro and foraging on ground with White-crowned Sparrow
*Phainopepla
-5 individuals
-3 males and 2 female
-flying and feeding on mistletoe
*Turkey Vulture
-5 individuals
-soaring overhead
*White-crowned Sparrow
-~8 individuals
-foraging in flock on ground (males and females)
*Northern Cardinal
-2 males
-singing from large bushes
*Gambel's Quail
-2nd most common species; ~20 individuals
-running in-between cover in groups
-1 male perched in palo verde tree
*Northern Mockingbird
-1 individual
-feeding on nightshade berries
*Gilded Flicker
-3 individuals
-perched on saguaros
*Verdin
-4 individuals
-nesting in palo verde tree
*Gila Woodpecker
-2 individual
-perched on cholla before flying to saguaro
*Common Raven
-2 individuals
-soaring overhead
Abert's Towhee
-2 individuals
-foraging on ground below feeder
*Curve-billed Thrasher
-2 individuals
-nesting in cholla; feeding lizard to young
*Lesser Goldfinch
-3 individuals; 1 male, 2 females
-perched on palo verde
*Cactus Wren
-3 individuals
-singing from saguaros
*Anna's Hummingbird
-3 individuals
-1 male
-female feeding fledgling
*Yellow-rumped Warbler
-~4 individuals
-swooping around trees
Costa's Hummingbird
-1 male
-perched on branch
Red-tailed Hawk
-~6 individuals
-perched on telephone poles by road
-2 soaring overhead together
*American Coot
-~10 individuals
-swimming and diving in group

Journal
The most notable visual differences used to communicate with others of the species were the male hummingbirds. Both the male Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds have bright, shimmering colors on their heads and throats. These colors come from structural color and they serve to broadcast the fitness of the male to potential mates. This specific display is beneficial to a small bird like a hummingbird because, for one, they are mostly bull colors to allow for blending into surroundings. The iridescent quality of the color allows for the ability to hide or show off based on position. In addition, structural color takes less energy to create and maintain which can be important for a bird with as high of a metabolism as a hummingbird. In addition, the male Anna's hummingbird was flying in circles, periodically landing of bushes, all while singing and flashing his throat colors. This is a display for females to attract a mate. A female Anna's hummingbird was feeding her fledgling who was also making noise. The fledglings calls were to alert the mother that it wanted food while it was still limited in its own ability to forage. The Gambel's Quail make a variety of noises. One in particular, should you get too close, is an alarm call. This is usually performed by the head male and alerts the group that there is a threat in the area. If you don't leave after that, they will often take off on a short flight to get away. The Cactus Wrens are very vocal. There is singing that is meant to attract mates but they are commonly involved in squabbles with other birds for perching/roosting spots and will often use their voice to claim territory. The Black-throated Sparrows were often found singing. The males would sing for the female from a high place, possibly to distinguish themselves from the foraging flock. Lastly, the male Cardinals were singing and looking for mates. It is very unusual for me to see a lone male Cardinal, especially this time of year so he was trying to attract females by raising his crest and singing.
Mini-activity
I attempted to "pish" for several species including Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Black-throated Sparrows, and Verdins. However, I was unable to find the right frequencies before scaring them away. I think it didn't work for me because, rather than making them interested, I just alerted them to the fact that I was closer to them than they though.

Publicado el 15 de marzo de 2022 por lnolaker