Didn’t get everything noted on our white board, so we checked our Feederwatch notes too (see below). What a nice mix of birds. I’m sure we’d see more if we just sat by the window all the time!
- Common Redpoll (both mail and female; the larges flock was about 30 birds)
- Common Raven (overhead, not at the feeders)
- Blue Jays
- Mourning Doves (the largest flock seen was about 2o birds)
- Wild Turkey (7 on the 21st, 1 male) (this flock was seen several time, perhaps because of Audubon Vermont’s nearby logging demo? Or perhaps just for the corn!)
- Black-capped Chickadees
- Tufted Titmouse
- Downy Woodpeckers
- Hairy Woodpeckers
- Evening Grosbeak (the female with the drooping wing was noted on January 9th and 22nd. She fluttered up to the platform on the 22nd!)
- Northern Cardinals (male and female)
- White-breasted Nuthatch
Of course we had some red and gray squirrels. Funny little things! Some of them you can tell apart somewhat easily, but subtle marking or differently-colored fur patches.
Project Feederwatch started November 10th. We usually do our observations at lunch. This is a great project to do with kids. The Great Backyard Bird Count (in February) is another beginner-friendly (and expert-friendly!) citizen science project. We do that do, and the Museum will be open on February 16 so you can count, learn, and enjoy it with us.
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.