Post-burn Foraging

These two birds (and other birds) were foraging in a Duke Farms meadow after a controlled burn had been done (probably weeks before). You can still see blackened plants out in the meadow, though also some green suggesting grow-back was already occurring.

I'm not sure what effect a controlled burn has in the short term for birds. I'm sure some arthropods and seeds burned. On the other hand I'd imagine some arthropods will begin to move in, and certainly the burn increased visibility for foraging birds. Though I'm uncertain what the short term effects are, long term these controlled burns are probably the most natural way to retain a meadowland [1].

The 1st bird is the frequently-seen American Robin.

March 24, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 269154677, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Not far away was the easily-recognized Northern Cardinal.

March 24, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 269154677, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] Left to its own devices, a meadow will transition into a forest. 


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