{"id":152,"date":"2023-02-20T15:05:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T20:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/?p=152"},"modified":"2023-02-20T15:16:03","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T20:16:03","slug":"burlington-wildlife-sightings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/2023\/02\/20\/burlington-wildlife-sightings\/","title":{"rendered":"Burlington Wildlife Sightings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This week, I explored Burlington with a friend in hopes of identifying wildlife as the weather warmed. I observed several flocks of birds on the UVM campus, but the majority of my sightings were in downtown Burlington and along the waterfront of Lake Champlain. INaturalist made every new sighting feel like an accomplishment and I really enjoyed seeing my peers&#8217; observations as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sightings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On campus:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>American Crows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Canada Geese<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ring-billed Gull<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/7DBF6E6B-AF8C-497F-B32B-0F4CA62ECC60-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>American Crows<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/091E9F75-6A26-4BCF-8271-12B4BF367626-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Canada Geese<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Downtown:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Herring Gulls<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feral pigeons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/8B97664B-C528-4452-92A7-868C49BEABB8-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-164\" width=\"398\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/8B97664B-C528-4452-92A7-868C49BEABB8-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/8B97664B-C528-4452-92A7-868C49BEABB8-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/8B97664B-C528-4452-92A7-868C49BEABB8.jpeg 978w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Herring Gull<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/6C99AC29-24A4-4CB4-8211-87872C717779-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Feral Pigeons<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Battery Park:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Downy Woodpecker<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feline and canine prints, most likely domestic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-5.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-5-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Feline tracks<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-3.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-3-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Various canine and human tracks<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Waterfront Park:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mallards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/E6B0555B-8324-40F1-A699-95ACDF8CCF5A-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Identification Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I had the most difficulty identifying the gulls and woodpecker, as they were quite far away. The most common gulls in Burlington are Herring and Ring-billed, the most notable difference being the Ring-billed gull has a black ring on its bill. The gulls I saw downtown did not appear to have this marking, so they were probably Herring. I did not physically identify the gull on Redstone campus, but I believe it was Ring-billed as they are often seen inland in human-dominated spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-156\" width=\"840\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-1.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Herring Gull<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-2-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-2-768x480.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Ring-billed Gull<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The woodpecker in Battery Park was small and black and white with a red patch on its head. Unfortunately, this describes both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. The main distinction between these two species is that Downy Woodpeckers have a much smaller bill, which I believe aligned with the one that I spotted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"732\" height=\"743\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image.png 732w, https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-296x300.png 296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The only mammal signs I encountered were prints along park trails. The vast majority were canine but did not have a clean direct register and seemed to wander, which makes me suspect they were all domestic dogs. The only other prints I found had four toes and were feline in shape. They were about 2.5&#215;2.5 cm, had a diagonal pattern, and had some direct registering that varied in overlap. I believe they were slightly too small and in too urban a location to be a bobcat, so it was likely a feral or domestic cat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"262\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/files\/2023\/02\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-170\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week, I explored Burlington with a friend in hopes of identifying wildlife as the weather warmed. I observed several flocks of birds on the UVM campus, but the majority of my sightings were in downtown Burlington and along the waterfront of Lake Champlain. INaturalist made every new sighting feel like an accomplishment and I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8259,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogposts"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"mgrady2","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/author\/mgrady2\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8259"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":179,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions\/179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/mgrady\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}