What’s in your world?
| | November 13, 2009
Barnet, VT - Why do Canada Geese fly north, as seen over Barnet, before heading south for the winter? |
Charlie Browne responds: Canada Goose populations have grown tremendously over the past two or three decades thanks in part to a reduction in environmental toxins and advances in wildlife management practice, but also in part to the adaptability of the geese themselves. There are more healthy habitats for them, and they have learned to exploit new habitats in response to human activity (just ask any golf course manager in coastal Connecticut!) So there are more Canada Geese, and their breeding range now encompasses grasslands near water throughout New England, including floodplain farms, riverine wetlands, public parks, and sprawling estates. This means there are a lot of Canada Geese here in the Northeast Kingdom and the rest of Vermont and New Hampshire all summer long. These flocks, often composed of several families, will stay as long as food, safe cover, and open water are available to them, and they are often joined for a period in the fall by dallying migrants from farther north. In years with open winter ground and Connecticut River waters kept open by hydroelectric dam practices, we may see geese through most of the winter.
The daily movements of these semi-resident flocks of geese in autumn are driven less by a migratory impulse than by commutes from safe overnight locations such as the broad shallow pools of the River just below Barnet Village to feeding areas such as nearby ponds, marshes, hayfields, and even large lawns. So they may move north a few miles on any given autumn day, but it is not because of an impaired internal compass. Instead it's because of a weakened migratory imperative and the successful exploitation of more local habitats.
A couple of frigid days and nights in early December and a blanket of snow should be enough to get these geese to "move along" southward to the greener pastures, and golf courses, of Connecticut and the Middle Atlantic states.
September 6, 2009
Question of the Week
Why do so many of our song birds migrate so early in the season? They seem to disappear from our neighborhood by mid-August.
Charlie Browne responds: Once the breeding season is over, with the young fledging by late July or early August, the lives of our song birds take on a very different rhythm. Their territorial boundaries, once vigorously defended begin to break down, and their insistent songs – declarations of territorial defense – become far less frequent. In late summer birds roam freely wherever food, water, and cover may lead them, without pugnacious response from former rivals. At this time they tend to concentrate in areas of particularly favorable habitat.
Many birds molt their worn feathers in the weeks between nesting and migration. During a molt, which is extremely stressful to a bird’s energy budget, the individual birds may limit their activities to productive feeding, becoming temporarily more quiet and secretive.
There is also a period of active learning for the newly fledged first-year birds. In addition to developing feeding prowess and efficiency, they may be learning and practicing their species song and dialect from their fathers and other males (late summer often produces a cacophony of these imperfect, still-developing songs). They may also be actively exploring, often moving away from their parents’ breeding territory to find their own potential breeding territories for the next spring. This youthful roaming sometimes results in individual birds being found far out of the traditional range for their species.
Seasonal rhythms, such as daylength and the first cool weather of late summer, including localized frost, may affect supplies of local wild foods, including insects and other invertebrates and small fruits. Affected birds often leave their breeding territories in search of more abundant foods nearby. Late summer often produces large foraging forest flocks of Blue Jays, family troupes of Black-capped Chickadees and Chipping Sparrows in shrubs and gardens, and riotous assemblages of crows on freshly mowed hayfields.
Long distance neo-tropical migrants, such as most warblers, can’t risk waiting for cool weather. They respond to dwindling daylength by adding stores of fat and generating hormones that stimulate the migratory instinct. Some Arctic breeding shore birds actually begin their long southward journey in early July! Warblers and flycatchers headed for South America begin to depart our region in August, with Wood Thrushes, sparrows, blackbirds, and others not far behind. These song birds typically migrate at night and feed at stopover locations during the day, so early mornings, especially following stormy or windy nights in late summer, sometimes produce a “fall out” of large mixed flocks that are of special interest for birders seeking local rarities.
Last to leave each fall are the migrants headed just far enough south to find food. These song birds seek open, unfrozen ground without a blanket of snow and persistent fruits on trees and shrubs, such as crabapple, viburnum, sumac, and juniper. These lingerers include American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, and Cedar Waxwings. Some of these may hang on in our area all winter!
August 25, 2009
Question of the week
St. Johnsbury, VT -- There has been so much talk about "Late Blight Disease" affecting tomato plants. What is it? How do I know if my plants are infected with late blight? What course of action should I take if I confirm Late Blight Disease on my tomato plants?
Tara Holt responds: According to Dr. Vern Grubinger, vegetable and berry expert with the University of Vermont Extension Service, "Late Blight Disease is caused by a fungus, Phytophthora infestans, and it's the same disease that led to the Irish potato famine almost 150 years ago. The disease is not directly harmful to people as it only infects potatoes, tomatoes, and some related weeds."
"The good news is that the disease does not persist in the soil from year to year, so with proper action, farmers and gardeners should be able to avoid this problem next year. In addition, infected potato crops may still yield edible tubers if the diseased foliage is destroyed soon after infection is observed."
Late blight needs living plant tissue to survive, so infected tomato plants should be destroyed as soon as the disease is identified. In small gardens, this means removing plants in trash bags and sending them to the landfill; in larger gardens and farms the plants should be gathered into piles and burned, or simply turned into the soil so they can decompose. There is still plenty of warm weather that will allow plant residues to break down before winter. A month or so after initial incorporation, the residues should be lightly tilled and mixed with soil again, and then a winter cover crop should be sown. Winter rye or oats planted in early fall will protect the soil over winter and further promote biological activity. Do not put plants in the compost pile just in case some portion is protected from the elements and makes it through the winter."
For more information, and to learn how to handle Late Blight Disease in potatoes, visit the University of Vermont Extension's website, at http://www.uvm.edu/extension/?Page=News&storyID=14774
The following link has a brief video, showing the three key identifying characteristics of Late Blight Disease on tomato plants: http://www.growit.umd.edu/Late%20Blight%20Tomatoes/LateBlightVideo.cfm
We welcome your questions and observations about the fields, forests, and waterways around you. The Fairbanks Museum is your guide, leading you to recognize homes and habitats of the animals that share our trails and treasures. We'll help you identify what you see along the way. Send us your sightings -- whether you spy a bird, spot a wildflower, see a moose. Send us your observations! Let us know what you discovered. Or, ask us what's out there, and we'll do our best to uncover the answers.
Feb 9: Eagle Scouting
This morning while driving to work on I89 between the Wilder and Norwich exit, I spotted an Eagle. Wonderful to see and oh my, how big it was. No mistaking it either! |  |
Charlie Browne responds: Bald Eagles have made quite a comeback in the Upper Valley and the northern reaches of the Connecticut River in recent years. They are opportunistic feeders, finding fish, waterfowl, and carrion in our region year-around. The large hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut River operated by TransCanada, from the Moore Dam in Waterford, VT and Littleton, NH, to the Wilder Dam in Hanover and Wilder, provide open water even in the coldest depths of winter. The growing eagle population has found these sites convenient for feeding on fish, ducks, and dead fish.
Winter kills of deer and other large wildlife, as well as farm carcasses, offer other good food sources as well. Six eagles were tallied in the Upper Valley during the 2009 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey, while 17 were found in the Champlain Valley. They're coming back! Vermont has been the last of the 49 continental states to see the return of successfully breeding Bald Eagles, but in 2008 we had an exciting discovery in the Northeast Kingdom, a probable Bald Eagle nest. We hope to confirm their reproductive success in 2009.
 | Jan 29: A Sign of Spring?
Snow shoeing in Claremont NH by the CT river I saw 10 to 15 Robins. Did they decide to spend the winter? | Several people have reported seeing flocks of Robins in northern New England in January. Although some Robins have been known to spend the winter months in the north, most travel to where the food they like -- fruit and insects -- can be found. For Robins to stay in northern New England, where we have experienced low temperatures and plenty of snow this year, there must be a bumper crop of some delicacy in trees and shrubs, and they are enjoying the feast.
Robins tend to stay away from feeders, preferring crab apples, sumac, berries, and other fruit when snow covers the ground. Once the snow melts, you'll find them foraging for worms and insects.
While not a sign of spring yet, it's always a pleasure to see the bright colors and cheerful marks of Robins against the snow!
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