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Four detailed observations on MA neighborhood birds
Introductory blog:
Introductory blog:
The following blogs are collecting data for projectnoah.org. These posts are intended to record the sightings of birds in neighborhoods across america to encourage people to participate in more activities outdoors. This mission benefits people who can't find time outdoors in their day to day schedule. By spending more time in nature, it is shown to boost mental healthy and it is overall healthier for individuals. I chose to document birds because I really value my time outdoors and hope to engage in more nature activities. This data is also being collected to train computer models to recognize bird species. I also really find pleasure in observing nature, birds in particular.
Project schedule:
Tues 5/1 In-class (45 mins)
Work on introductory blog post (20 mins)
Recording observations (10 mins)
Work on first data collecting blog post (15 mins)
Wed 5/2 In-class (45 mins)
Record bird observations (10 - 15 mins)
Work on day two of data collection blog post (20 mins)
Thurs 5/3 In-class (45 mins)
Record bird observations (10 - 15 mins)
Work on day three of data collection blog post (20 mins)
Home/Resource Time (20 mins)
Record bird observations (10 mins)
Work on day four of data collection.
Fri 5/4 (No Class) Hw: 20 mins
Finish concluding blog post
Observation one
3o minutes of observations total
Sparrow 6/1/21 1:15pm
Sparrow 6/1/21 1:15pm
Today was 72 degrees and partly cloudy. It was surprisingly bright sky despite the grey sky. I observes a female sparrow around 2 in the afternoon. She was an estimated 4 inches from beak to tail and was perched on the roof of the school house. She was chirping repeatedly and did not flinch when I approached her. I assume this is because I was near her nest. She was light brown in color with white at her wing tips and dark brown on her back and head.
Robin 6/1/21 8:25am
Robin 6/1/21 8:25am
The second bird I observed was a Robin. The Robin had a dark grey head and tail with white under feathers on the tail shoot. He had a bright orange belly and a yellow beak with some white specks surrounding it. It was 8:25 in the evening and around 66 degrees. The sky was cloudy and the wind was faint. The robin was pecking at the ground in search of food. I believe it was a male robin (about 8-9 inches from tail tip to beak.). When I approached, he hopped onto the driveway and fluttered away shortly after, into a thick low hanging tree. This bird was spotted in the front driveway of a yellow house on Homer road Belmont MA. The habitat this bird was found in was grass and trees with some bushes and shrubs nearby.
Observation two
10-15 minutes of observations total
Bluejay 6/2/21 11:55am
Bluejay 6/2/21 11:55am
It was very sunny, the sky is blue with occasional clouds drifting by. It is about 80 degrees. The blue jay was flying across the field and I followed close behind. It would land to rest occasionally and then take of again spontaneously as if frightened. The photo was taken when it was swooping up and around to a large tree so it could shelter from me. It is nesting nearby which explains why the blue jay was flying around. The blue jay was dark blue with white and black stripes on the tail and wings. It had a white belly and a sharp pointed, black beak. It was letting out a large screeching sound as it flew away, probably a warning to other birds. The blue jay was approximately 10 inches from tail tip to beak. This bird was spotted above the first rock pile in Far field. The blue jay's habitat was grassy open fields and forest with tall trees.
Grey catbird 6/2/21 11:47am
Grey catbird 6/2/21 11:47am
It was sunny but the grey cat bird was in the shade. It was about 80 degrees with a light breeze. The grey catbird was small in size compared to birds like the robin or blue jay. I would say about 7 inches from beak to tail tip (slightly smaller than a north american mocking bird.) The bird was of a blueish color and had a dark blueish black stripe down the back. The bird had rounded wings and acted very timidly in my presence. It was found in the forest, generally it stayed on the lower layers of the trees. This bird was spotted along the edge of the forest bordering the right side of Archery field. This bird was silent and did not make any noticeable sounds.
Observation three
10-15 minutes of observations total
Crow 6/3/21 1:21pm
Crow 6/3/21 1:21pm
Today was cloudy and about 73 degrees. There was a flock of crows soaring just above the tree line and calling out as if looking for food. The crow had a dark black body and I notice that there was a nick in its wing. It was about 12 inches from beak to tail tip. The Crows habitat was forest and fields.
Robin 6/3/21 1:28pm
Robin 6/3/21 1:28pm
Today was cloudy and 73 degrees. I observed a male robin. He had a dark grey head and tail with an orange belly and white specks on his tail. The robin was about 7 inches from beak to tail tip. The Robins habitat was the forest and fields surrounding it. The robin was pecking at the ground and flying back and forth as I approached. I think that this is because it was looking for food.
Observation four
20 minutes of observations total
Robin 6/4/21 2:01pm
Robin 6/4/21 2:01pm
Today was cloudy and humid (around 77 degrees). The Robin I spotted was pecking at the ground in my front yard, it had a tiny worm in its beak. The Robin had a very dark grey head and tail. It had a lighter grey color on the wings and some white specks on the tail. The robin had a very saturated orange belly which stood out from the other Robins I have seen previously. It stood at around 5 inches tall and was about 9 inches from beak to tail tip. I noticed that the Robin was digging in a strip of mulch with its beak and claws, I assume it was looking for food. The surrounding habitat included low growing shrubs/bushes, trees and some grass with the occasional patch of mulch. When it sensed danger, the robin hopped into a bush for safety instead of flying away. I believe it does this so that when bigger birds come, it doesn't get caught while flying away.
No birds seen 6/4/21 1:30 - 2:20
No birds seen 6/4/21 1:30 - 2:20
After 45 minute of sitting out in my front yard, I didn't see any other birds. A few sparrows flew by at one point but other than that I didn't observe any other birds. I believe this is due to the tension in the air because a storm is coming and they were taking shelter. I also think this is because it is mid afternoon (hottest time of day) and not a very active time form them.
Concluding observations:
Concluding observations:
This project helped me think and see my surroundings differently. It showed me that sitting down and being mindful about the life surrounding me is very beneficial to me as a student, and person in general. I learned about the subtle differences between the various species of birds and how to spot specific behaviors. Due to this project I will continue to observe my surroundings and stay mindful of my impact in the natural world.
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