Home

URN:catalog:ICE:TRBL:add

April 29, 2011 - 5:20pm — nclipper
Observer: 
Neil Clipperton
Location: 
County Road 92B
Data Source: 
Statewide Survey, 2011 (unpublished)
Observation Date: 
2011-04-17
Best Estimate for Number of Birds Observed: 
2700
Minimum Estimate for Number of Birds Observed: 
2000
Maximum Estimate for Number of Birds Observed: 
3500
Type of Estimate: 
Visual and Untimed
Precision of Estimate: 
Scanning Blocks
Minutes spent at observation site: 
60
Singing: 
Yes
Carrying Nest Material: 
Yes
Colony quiet, Incubation inferred: 
No
Adults Carrying Food: 
No
Fledglings out of Nest: 
No
Distance to Stored Grains: 
greater than 500 meters
Distance to Water: 
over water
Area Estimate (square meters): 
2400

Colony is in native blackberry with some sparse emergent marsh vegetation (cattail?). Surrounding landscape is grassland pasture and a vineyard.

Sex ratio estimated as 50:50 but this is a very rough estimate. At times seemed dominated by males and at other times seemed dominated by females. Often could see relatively even number of males and females.

On the drive away from the site, I encountered several hundred Tricolored Blackbirds foraging in what appeared to be some sort of non-functioning agricultural operation (about 1.25 km away from the site on County Road 16). A couple modern warehouse-like structures. Also, there were a few horses at the site so it is possible that there were waste grains present.

This site should be approached from the west (off Hwy 505). I tried initially from I-5 and had a difficult time on a small dirt road and eventually had to turn back due to flooding.