During spring break, my family and I went skiing at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. While skiing, we stopped along the side of a trail to visit a bird sanctuary. Since we were at a high elevation, tree species I saw include Yellow Birch, Fraser Fir, and Balsam Fir. More shrubby coniferous trees were here, compared to my Burlington site that located at a lower elevation with less species diversity. While at the sanctuary, I saw (and held) Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches, both being small woodland birds. The latter species are interesting as they have the unique ability of climbing down trees head first. Black-capped Chickadees are adaptable, and can accommodate a mixed diet of seeds. The low clearings and availability of seeds creates a hotspot for birds like these, unlike my site in Vermont, where the Hemlocks grow too tall.
New Phenology Site – Lincoln, NH
March 18, 2019 by gmccarth